Dressing for the 18th century

Aliene Humphries presents this program in 18th century attire and brings a mannequin and additional period clothing to the presentation. She invites volunteers to help dress Molly, the mannequin, in the many layers of traditional 18th century apparel. Humphries explains these layers and why women would wear them in the 18th century. This is a … Read more

The Great Pee Dee River is Named for an Indian Tribe

The State of South Carolina recognizes several Pee Dee Tribal entities in Eastern South Carolina. Since Colonial times, the name Pee Dee has appeared in numerous historical records, but we know so little about them. This lecture illustrates what is known historically and archaeologically regarding the Pee Dee Indians.

Are the Congaree Indians Descendants of Cofitachequi

Named for a Native American group who appear in colonial records for the first time in 1691, generations of historians, ethnohistorians, and archaeologists have lamented the meager data that exist regarding the Congaree Indians. This lecture provides an overview of the Congaree, addressing the possibility they are descendants of the Chiefdom of Cofitachequi, visited by … Read more

The Elusive Cheraw Indians of South Carolina

The Cheraw Indians of the Carolinas were an important entity in the Colonial era. In this lecture, Judge will discuss an ethnohistoric process to identify the cultural affiliation of two individuals interred at the Johannes Kolb Site, in Darlington County, South Carolina. He traces the movement of the Cheraw across the Piedmont of North Carolina … Read more

Native American Archaeology in South Carolina

This lecture presents archaeological data on Native American cultures since the last Ice Age. From the coast to the mountains, archaeological evidence abounds in our state. This lecture looks at the sites and artifacts that tell the history of the state’s Indigenous peoples prior to the arrival of Europeans.  The lecture can be tailored to … Read more

Archaeology and How We Know Things About the Past

This presentation will discuss the ways archaeologists learn about the past and use it to help us understand the present and plan for the future.  Examples will be drawn from Ireland where the speaker has researched for 40 years, and focus on such modern day issues such as climate change over the past 10,000 years … Read more

Why No Snakes in Ireland (It’s Not Saint Patrick)

This presentation lays out the rich and complex archaeology of Ireland, perhaps the most recently inhabited part of the planet.  Discussion will begin with when the first colonizers arrived, where they came from and where they landed.  The presentation will include slides, music, video and requires no previous knowledge about archaeology. And yes, it will … Read more

Brethren of Spade & Pruning Knife: The Naturalists & the Carolinas

This presentation tells a story of international trade, natural history, and science from the days of exploration & colonization. This was a time of transfer, the movement of people, animals and plants; it is the Age of the Natural Historians who looked around the world and tried to understand what they saw. Carolina has an … Read more