LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / October 18, 1999

WALLACE – People interested in participating in an archaeological “dig” at Evergreen Plantation are urged to call 497-3231 and get involved.

Adults and students are encouraged, according to project director Jane Boddie. “This is to get us started,” she added.The program begins this weekend and continues through Nov. 19, openFridays through Mondays each weekend, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (except on Sundays,which will start at 10:30 a.m.).The project is coordinated through the African-American Archaeology Research Program under the direction of Dr. Scott E. Simmons ofSoutheastern Louisiana University.

The work will aim at examining the lives of slaves and later freedmen who worked at the sugar plantation and lived in the 20 still-surviving cabins on the property.

Last May, Simmons conducted the first-ever archaeological research in the Evergreen Plantation’s history. The site of the kitchen garden wasdiscovered during the one-week study, as well as cultural artifacts including ceramic and glass, metal objects, buttons, marbles, doll parts and bone fragments.

“We expect to do very well here because nothing was ever moved,” Boddie commented.

All volunteers are asked to commit to at least two hours of work at the site for each day they volunteer. Site tours will also be available to theorganized groups of at least 10 people.

Field equipment, such as shovels, brushes and the like, will be provided, as well as drinking water.

Volunteers are asked to provide their own appropriate work clothing, shoes, hats, sunscreen, gardening work-gloves, insect repellent, kneeling pad or kneepads and their own bag lunch and snacks.

Professional archaeologists will be on hand to provide guidance and tips.

The project is being funded through a $1,700 matching grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.

To schedule your participation, call 497-3231 or fax 497-3232.

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