Attention history buffs and the archaeologically curious: Mark your calendars for the upcoming annual archaeology conference hosted by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Division of Archaeology. According to an announcement on TDEC’s website, this year’s gathering is slated for Saturday, January 24, at the Tennessee State Library and Archives, running from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with no cover charge or need to register.
State Archaeologist Phil Hodge underscored the significance of the event, telling TDEC’s news site, “Our Current Research conference is a great event that showcases the range of archaeological research happening across the Volunteer State” adding that it “provides an opportunity to learn about new discoveries and for students and the public to meet the archaeologists doing this work and learn firsthand about their research.” The agenda is packed with diverse topics, including presentations on underwater archaeology and the utility of drones in remote sensing.
Attendees can expect in-depth presentations on studies highlighting Tennessee’s rich history, including research at the Gray farmstead in Williamson County that explores local lore. Another project, led by a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga team, documents shipwrecks such as the Chattanooga Packet, which sank in 1921. Researchers will also share findings from an overgrown Memphis cemetery, where more than 80 ground depressions suggest unmarked graves hidden beneath the wooded canopy…