1981 LAMAR Institute founded on top of Mound A, Scull Shoals Mound Group, Greene County, Georgia by Mark Williams, Gary Shapiro, and Chester DePratter; SEAC, 1st Issue of LAMAR Briefs compiled by Gary Shapiro; Assisted in founding of Northeast Georgia Chapter, Society for Georgia Archaeology;
Conducted Teacher's Workshop as a Continuing Education Course at UGA.
1982 Incorporated on November 17th in the State of Georgia by Mark Williams; Founding Board of Directors were Chester DePratter, Gary Shapiro, Mark Williams, and Jacqueline Saindon; Mark Williams elected as President.
1983 Scull Shoals excavation project in cooperation with UGA and USDA Forest Service; Conducted Teacher's Workshop as a Continuing Education Course at UGA.
1984 Articles of Amendment filed on February 1st as part of Federal 501(c)(3) tax exempt status acquisition; Little River excavation project in cooperation with UGA with the aid of a Wenner Gren Grant; Lower Cherokee Town of Tamassee excavation project in cooperation with USC/SCIAA; Chester DePratter leaves the LAMAR Institute Board for a teaching position in South Carolina; Marvin Smith and Dean Wood added to the Board of Directors; Conducted Teacher's Workshop as a Continuing Education Course at UGA; San Luis Resistivity project, Tallahassee, Florida.
1985 2nd Scull Shoals and 1st Shinholser excavation projects in cooperation with UGA and USDA Forest Service; Conducted Teacher's Workshop as a Continuing Education Course at UGA;
1986 South Appalachian Mississippian Symposium (aka LAMAR conference), Macon, Georgia, in cooperation with National Park Service (NPS); Shoulderbone Mounds excavation project in cooperation with UGA;
1987 2nd Little River excavation project in cooperation with UGA; 2nd Shinholser excavation project in cooperation with UGA; Daniel T. Elliott added as Research Associate; Fortson Mound reconnaissance project; New Ebenezer Initiative begins with New Ebenezer survey project; Oconee Valley of the Chiefs video project with grant from Oglethorpe Power Company and WGPA-TV Atlanta.
1988 King Bee excavation project, in cooperation with USDA Forest Service; Bullards Landing excavation project, in cooperation with Mercer University; Wildcat Creek survey and excavation project, in cooperation with UGA; Gary Shapiro dies at age of 34.
1989 Museum exhibit of contemporary Native American artwork entitled, Native Americans as Creative Adaptors, in cooperation with UGA State Botanical Gardens and Madison-Morgan Cultural Center and funded in part by a grant from the Georgia Humanities Council and The National Endowment for the Humanities, The Georgia Council for the Arts, and The Institute for Museum Services; Mount Pleasant excavation project, privately funded; New Ebenezer excavation project, privately funded; Yarbrough Cave excavation project, privately funded; Lost City survey project, Chatham and Effingham Counties, Georgia, funded by a Historic Resources Survey grant from NPS and GDNR; Bethany Cemetery delineation project in cooperation with Historic Effingham Society and Georgia Salzburger Society; Browns' Mount excavation project in cooperation with Mercer University and Macon Museum; 2nd Bullards Landing excavation project in cooperation with Mercer University;
1990 2nd Mount Pleasant Excavation project; 2nd Ebenezer excavation project; 2nd Bethany cemetery delineation project in cooperation with Historic Effingham Society and Georgia Salzburger Society; 3rd Bullard's Landing excavation project in cooperation with Mercer University; Smithsonian Institution Research on undocumented archaeological sites in Georgia, including Clark Hill Reservoir sites and Roland Steiner collection; Publication of Lamar Archaeology (Williams and Shapiro) by University of Alabama Press; Production of Ramblings with Kelly report; Publication of fictional diary of Rupert Schrempff, Locksmith and Blacksmith at Ebenezer, Georgia; Production of excavation report on Punk Rockshelter under contract with Georgia Power Company.
1991 Rita F. Elliott added as Research Associate; 2nd Brown's Mount excavation project in cooperation with UGA; Fortson Mound excavation project in cooperation with UGA; Copeland site excavation project in cooperation with UGA and USDA Forest Service; Liberty Church Clearcut Survey project in cooperation with UGA; Compartment 132 and 148 Survey project in cooperation with UGA and USDA Forest Service
1992 Jamestown Survey project in cooperation with Diachronic Research Foundation, Inc.; Participated in 260th Purysburg Anniversary Celebration (Jasper County, South Carolina); Dig It! Children's Archaeology Workshop in cooperation with Emory University; West Effingham Survey project in cooperation with Historic Effingham Society; Archaeofest (Athens, Georgia) cosponsored with UGA, State Botanical Gardens; Conducted Teacher's Workshop entitled, "The Archaeology of Georgia: A 12,000 Year Human Ecological Experience" in cooperation with UGA; Editorship of special edition of The Society for Georgia Archaeology's Early Georgia Vol. 20, No.1, entitled, "Used Archaeology: Practical Classroom Ideas for Teachers, by Teachers" in cooperation with SGA; Production of Stubbs mound excavation report; Production of Hitchiti dictionary; New Ebenezer Excavation project in cooperation with Georgia Salzburger Society and Elderhostel, Inc. (two sessions)
1993 Vernonburg Survey, Excavation, and National Register Nomination project (Chatham County, Georgia) in cooperation with Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR); Vernonburg Savannah Country Day School Field trip; Dig It! Excavation and Children's Archaeology Workshop in cooperation with Emory University; Teacher's Workshop in cooperation with Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University; Children's Archaeology Workshops, Springfield Elementary School, Springfield, Georgia; Ellijay Middle School Archaeology Workshop, Ellijay, Georgia; Swift Creek Conference, Macon, Georgia in cooperation with NPS; Dry Creek/Long Cane creek survey project (Abbeville County, South Carolina); Continued New Ebenezer Excavation project in cooperation with Georgia Salzburger Society and Elderhostel, Inc.; Teacher's Archaeology Workshop at 1993 Georgia Studies Symposium entitled, "Georgia's Prehistoric Native American Population" (Cartersville, Georgia) in cooperation with Carl Vincent Institute of Government and Georgia Humanities Council; Old Evans' Place reconnaissance project (Burke County, Georgia) in cooperation with Southeastern Archeological Society and Augusta Archaeological Society; David A. McKivergan, Jr. and Tad Britt added as Research Associates; Rita F. Elliott promoted to Education Coordinator; Production of LAMAR Briefs terminated with Issue Number 22.
1994 Supported the 1st Georgia Archaeology Awareness Week with lectures, open house at two archaeology consulting firms, and public library displays in Athens, Hartwell and Royston; Roland Steiner Georgia artifact collection short-term study grant funded by Smithsonian Institution; Archaeofest II (Athens, Georgia) cosponsored with UGA, State Botanical Gardens; Ellijay Middle School Archaeology Workshop (Ellijay, Georgia); Children's Archaeology Workshop, Sarah Smith Elementary School (Atlanta, Georgia); Children's Archaeology Workshop, Morris Brandon Elementary School (Atlanta, Georgia); Children's Archaeology Workshop, Warren T. Jackson Elementary School (Atlanta, Georgia); Teacher's Workshop in cooperation with Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University; Symposium on Teaching Archaeology for teachers entitled, "Making Use of Archaeology in Georgia Studies: A Hands On Approach" at the Georgia Council for the Social Studies conference in Atlanta cosponsored by SGA; Continued New Ebenezer Excavation project in cooperation with New Ebenezer Retreat Center and Elderhostel, Inc.; USDA Forest Service Passport in Time/LAMAR Institute Teacher's Workshop and excavations at a rock shelter in northeastern Georgia; Survey and Testing of Sawyer Site, Laurens County, Georgia with UGA; Paul A. Webb added as Research Associate.
1995 Cooperated with the Diachronic Research Foundation's John De La Howe excavation project (McCormick County, Georgia); Tate Mound (Elbert County, Georgia) mapping and excavation project in cooperation with UGA; Clark Hill River Basin Survey report published in cooperation with USC/SCIAA Savannah River Archaeological Research Project and Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc.; Archaeology Visiting School Children Workshop Development and Docent Training, Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University; Ellijay Middle School Archaeology Workshop (Ellijay, Georgia); Teacher's Workshop in cooperation with Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University; Archaeofest, Athens, Georgia in cooperation with UGA, State Botanical Gardens; Children's Archaeology Workshop, Nesbit Elementary School (Atlanta, Georgia); Children's Archaeology Workshop, Norton Elementary School (Snellville, Georgia); Children's Archaeology Workshop, Tritt Elementary School (Marietta, Georgia); Children's Archaeology Workshop, Brownie Troop 526 (Athens, Georgia); Participated in Site File Workshop at UGA Sponsored by NPS; Transcription of Isabel Patterson and Arthur R. Kelly correspondence; Oconee Old Town excavation project (Baldwin County, Georgia) in cooperation with UGA; Supported the 2nd Georgia Archaeology Awareness Week with several professional lectures; New Ebenezer Parsonage Relocation Project in cooperation with Georgia Salzburger Society; Continued New Ebenezer Excavation project in cooperation with Georgia New Ebenezer Retreat Center and Elderhostel, Inc.; Jerry Lilly and Thomas Pluckhahn added as Research Associates; Lewis Mound excavation project (Bryan County, Georgia) in cooperation U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Army; Established World Wide Web presence with the aid of UGA, Skidaway Oceanographic Institute, and Mike Matthews.
1996 Organizers and major sponsor of the 3rd Georgia Archaeology Week in cooperation with SGA and others; Sponsored Children's Archaeology Pavilion, funded by Walmart; Sponsored lecture by Gregory Waselkov on William Bartram, funded by Georgia Humanities Council Grant; Sponsored week-long public archaeology events at New Ebenezer, Georgia; Children's Archaeology Workshop, Cedar Shoals High School (Athens, Georgia); Children's Archaeology Workshop, Tritt Elementary School (Marietta, Georgia); Presentation at Ocmulgee Teacher's Workshop, (Macon, Georgia); Teacher's Workshop, Aiken, South Carolina in cooperation with USC/SCIAA SRARP; Continued New Ebenezer Excavation project in cooperation with New Ebenezer Retreat Center and Elderhostel, Inc. Lamar site excavation project (Bibb County, Georgia) in cooperation with NPS and UGA; Fort Argyle excavation project in cooperation with U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Army; Production of Interview with Arthur Randolph Kelly report; Reprinting of Robert Wauchope's Archaeological Survey of Northern Georgia in cooperation with the Society for American Archaeology and others.
1997 Survey and Testing, Hartley-Posey Site, Taylor County Georgia with UGA; Survey and Testing, Kenimer Site, White County, Georgia with UGA; Survey Carolina-Walker clearcut Morgan County, Georgia with UGA and Georgia Pacific Corporation; Supported the 4th Georgia Archaeology Awareness Week with Children's Workshop entitled, "Indians, Art, and Archaeology for Children" and Adult Workshop entitled, Indians of the Southeastern United States (Royston, Georgia) in cooperation with Madison County Library; Teacher's Workshop in cooperation with Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University; Continued New Ebenezer Excavation project in cooperation with New Ebenezer Retreat Center and Elderhostel, Inc.; Old Governor's Mansion Teacher's Workshop (Milledgeville, Georgia) in cooperation with Georgia College; Maureen S. Meyers added as Research Associate.
1998 Kolomoki excavation project in cooperation with UGA and Georgia Department of Natural Resources; Assisted in Community Open House Program, Annual Meeting of Society for Historical Archaeology (Atlanta, Georgia); Supported the 5th Georgia Archaeology Awareness Week with a financial donation and several professional lectures; Presentation at the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Heritage Education Teacher's Workshop (Washington, Georgia); Presentation in Georgia DNR Workshop, "Learning About Archaeology with Georgia's Historic Sites and Parks" (Brasstown Valley Resort, Georgia); Old Governor's Mansion Teacher's Workshop (Milledgeville, Georgia) in cooperation with Georgia College; Completed Ebenezer Greenway survey project in cooperation with Effingham County government; Continued New Ebenezer Excavation project in cooperation with Georgia Southern University and Elderhostel, Inc.; 3rd Little River excavation project in cooperation with UGA; Publication of A World Engraved, Archaeology of the Swift Creek Culture (Williams and Elliott) by University of Alabama Press
1999 4th Little River excavation project in cooperation with UGA; Continued New Ebenezer Excavation project in cooperation with Georgia Southern University and Elderhostel, Inc.; Cosponsor of the 6th Georgia Archaeology Awareness Week with SGA and others; Roland Steiner Georgia artifact collection study, Field Museum, (Chicago, Illinois); Participated in Stallings Island Stabilization project with the University of Florida and the Archaeological Conservancy; Vacation Bible School Archaeology Class, New Ebenezer Retreat Center, New Ebenezer, Georgia' Transferred LAMAR Institute web page from Skidaway Marine Institute to new host server. 2000 Implemented the Bettye Broyles Data Repatriation Project (Chattanooga, Tennessee); Cosponsor of 7th Georgia Archaeology Awareness Week with SGA and others; Presentation in Old Governor's Mansion Teacher's Workshop (Milledgeville, Georgia) at Georgia College; Georgia Forts Initiative officially launched; 5th Little River excavation project in cooperation with UGA; Presentations at Fort Frederica Historical Archaeology Education Workshop for Teachers sponsored by NPS; Vernonburg designated a National Register District by the Keeper of the Register in June, 2000; 4th Little River excavation project in cooperation with UGA; New Ebenezer Excavation project in cooperation with Jerusalem Lutheran Church, Labor Day, 2000; Daniel T. Elliott elected as President.
2001 Completed the Bettye Broyles Repatriation Project; Cosponsor of 8th Georgia Archaeology Awareness Week with SGA and others; 6th Little River excavation project, in cooperation with UGA; Presentations at Fort Frederica Historical Archaeology Education Workshop for Teachers sponsored by NPS; LAMAR Institute awarded research grant from National Park Service, American Battlefield Protection Program, Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Initiative for study of Revolutionary War Headquarters at New Ebenezer, Georgia; Designed and constructed museum exhibit for the Georgia Salzburger Museum entitled, Earthly Possessions: Archaeology of New Ebenezer; Conducted Teacher's Workshop (entitled, Teaching with Archaeology) for Weber County School District, Ogden, Utah; Conducted Archaeology Workshop at H. Guy Childs Elementary School, Ogden, Utah; Launched revamped LAMAR Institute web page with more than 45 reports online.
2002 Completed fieldwork and laboratory analysis of the New Ebenezer Revolutionary War Headquarters Grant Project; Completed museum exhibit entitled, Earthly Possessions: The Archaeology of New Ebenezer, for the Georgia Salzburger Society Museum, New Ebenezer, Georgia; Completed report on Point Peter and St. Marys River Forts; University of Georgia Department of Anthropology Field School [led by Mark Williams] Bullard Bottom, Putnam County, Georgia; Completed fieldwork for the Jerusalem Lutheran Church Expansion Archaeological Salvage; Presentations at Fort Frederica Historical Archaeology Education Workshop for Teachers, July, 2002, sponsored by NPS; Cosponsor of 9th Georgia Archaeology Awareness Month with SGA and others.
2003 Completed report of the New Ebenezer Revolutionary War Headquarters Grant Project; LAMAR Institute awarded research grant from National Park Service, American Battlefield Protection Program, for study of Sunbury Battlefield, Liberty County, Georgia; LAMAR Institute awarded historic resources survey grant from Historic Preservation Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources for study of Sunbury, Liberty County, Georgia; LAMAR Institute awarded research grant from National Park Service, American Battlefield Protection Program, for study of Fort Mt. Venture Massacre, Wayne County, Georgia; LAMAR Institute awarded research grant from Plum Creek Foundation, for study of Fort Mt. Venture Massacre, Wayne County, Georgia; University of Georgia Department of Anthropology Field School [led by Mark Williams] revisits King Bee Site, Putnam County, Georgia, Bullard Bottom, Putnam County, Georgia and Cedar Creek Mound, Jones County; Presentations at Fort Frederica Historical Archaeology Education Workshop for Teachers, July, 2003. sponsored by NPS; Old Governor's Mansion Archaeology Workshop (Milledgeville, Georgia) in cooperation with Georgia College; Designed and constructed Johannes Kronberger interpretive display for the Great Hall at the New Ebenezer Retreat Center, Ebenezer, Georgia. Conducted survey, limited testing and report of Bostwick tract in Hudsons Ferry locale, Screven County, Georgia. Conducted reconnaissance survey and report of Clapp Factory Cemetery, Muscogee County, Georgia.
2004 Completed fieldwork on Sunbury and Sunbury Battlefield studies, sponsored by ABPP, NPS and HPD, GNDR; Completed fieldwork on Fort Mt. Venture Massacre study, sponsored by ABPP, NPS and Plum Creek Foundation; Conducted topographic mapping, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey, and report at Woodbine Mound, Camden County, Georgia, in cooperation with Valdosta State University field school (Carolyn Rock, instructor); University of Georgia Department of Anthropology Field School [led by Mark Williams] Bullard Bottom, Putnam County, and Nacoochee Mound, White County, Georgia; Presentations at Fort Frederica Historical Archaeology Education Workshop for Teachers, July, 2004. sponsored by NPS; Old Governor's Mansion Archaeology Workshop (Milledgeville, Georgia) in cooperation with Georgia College; Conducted archaeological reconnaissance of tabby house, Delegal Fort vicinity, St. Simons Island, Glynn County, Georgia; Conducted archaeological survey and report at Glen Mary plantation, Hancock County, Georgia; Launched revamped LAMAR Institute web page; Completed survey and report on Estatoe Site, Stephens County, Georgia; Completed report on the Zack and Leah Site, Putnam County, Georgia; Completed report on Southwest Georgia Survey for HPD, GDNR; LAMAR Institute awarded research grant from HPD, GDNR for Flint River Basin Archaeological Survey project.
2005 Completed reports on Sunbury and Sunbury Battlefield studies, sponsored by ABPP, NPS and HPD, GNDR; Completed reports on Fort Mt. Venture Massacre study, sponsored by ABPP, NPS and Plum Creek Foundation; Completed fieldwork on the North End Plantation, Ossabaw Island, Chatham County, Georgia. Sponsored by Save America's Treasures, NPS, The Ossabaw Island Foundation, and the HPD, GDNR; Conducted archaeological reconnaissance and Ground Penetrating Radar Survey at Greenwood Plantation, Thomas County, Georgia; sponsored by the HPD, GDNR, the LAMAR Institute, and the Nature Conservancy. The results were presented in a Symposium, which was part of the Georgia Trust's Spring meeting; President Elliott received the Preservation Achievement Award from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources; Began field excavation at Fort Hawkins (9Bi21), Macon, Georgia. Sponsored by the Fort Hawkins Commission, The Society for Georgia Archaeology, the LAMAR Institute, and the City of Macon; Presentations at Fort Frederica Historical Archaeology Education Workshop for Teachers, July, 2005. sponsored by NPS; Assisted Coastal Heritage Society in discovery of Spring Hill Redoubt, Savannah, Georgia [CHS News!]; LAMAR Institute address moved to Savannah, Georgia with offices in Rincon, Georgia. Presentations at Fort Frederica Historical Archaeology Education Workshop for Teachers, July, 2005. sponsored by NPS.
2006 Completed additional fieldwork at Tabby Number 2 on the North End Plantation, Ossabaw Island, Chatham County, Georgia. Sponsored by Save America's Treasures, National Park Service, The Ossabaw Island Foundation, and the Historic Preservation Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources; Completed the Flint River Basin Archaeological Survey Project for Georgia Department of Natural Resources ; Completed field excavations at Fort Hawkins (9Bi21), Macon, Georgia. Sponsored by the Fort Hawkins Commission, The Society for Georgia Archaeology, the LAMAR Institute, and the City of Macon; Completed report on 2005 survey and test excavations at North End Plantation, Ossabaw Island, Georgia; Completed report and website for the Flint River Basin Archaeological Survey Completed monograph summarizing past archaeological and historical research at Crowfield and Broomhall Plantation, South Carolina; Completed reconnaissance and report on unidentified Tracy D on Ossabaw Island; Completed survey and report on Fort Hill Site, Dougherty County, Georgia; Completed GPR Survey and shovel test survey adjacent to St. Simons Lighthouse, St. Simons Island, Georgia; Completed GPR Survey, topographic mapping and grave recordation on Gould-Bethel Cemetery, Chatham County, Georgia; Completed GPR Survey on portions of Chocolate Plantation, Sapelo Island, Georgia; Completed GPR Survey on portions of Button Gwinnett plantation, St. Catherines Island, Georgia; Completed GPR Survey on portions of Fort St. Andrews, Cumberland Island, Georgia; Completed GPR Survey on portions of Bullhead Bluff Cemetery, Camden County, Georgia; Participated in NPS Remote Sensing Workshop, Fort Frederica National Monument, St. Simons Island, Georgia; Old Governor's Mansion Archaeology Workshop (Milledgeville, Georgia) in cooperation with Georgia College; Presentations at Fort Frederica Historical Archaeology Education Workshop for Teachers, July, 2006. sponsored by NPS; Co-sponsor of 13th Georgia Archaeology Awareness Month with SGA and others.
2007
Completed fieldwork at the Nash Farm Battlefield in Henry County, Georgia for Henry County;
Completed report on 2005 and 2006 excavations at Fort Hawkins (9Bi21), Macon, Georgia. Sponsored by the Fort Hawkins Commission, The Society for Georgia Archaeology, the LAMAR Institute, and the City of Macon;
Completed report on 2006 excavations at the North End Plantation, Ossabaw Island, Chatham County, Georgia. Sponsored by Save America's Treasures, National Park Service, The Ossabaw Island Foundation, and the Historic Preservation Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources;
Partipated in the 1st annual Archaeofest, hosted by the Coastal Heritage Society, Battlefield Park, Savannah, Georgia;
Rita Folse Elliott, Education Outreach Coordinator for The LAMAR Institute, receives the coveted Joseph Ralston Caldwell Award from the Society for Georgia Archaeology;
Contributor to South Carolina Archaeology Month Poster;
Co-sponsor of 14th Georgia Archaeology Awareness Month with SGA and others; the theme was Georgia's frontier defenses;
Presentations at Fort Frederica Historical Archaeology Education Workshop for Teachers, July, 2007. sponsored by NPS;
2008
Completed survey fieldwork at Kettle Creek battlefield, Wilkes County, Georgia. Sponsored by Preserve America, National Park Service, City of Washington, Georgia and others;
Completed GPR Survey, Theus Plantation, Beaufort County, South Carolina;
Partipated in the 2nd annual Archaeofest, hosted by the Coastal Heritage Society, Battlefield Park, Savannah, Georgia;
Sponsored excavation (1 Week) in "Savannah Under Fire" Project, Coastal Heritage Society, Savannah, Georgia;
Presentations at Fort Frederica Historical Archaeology Education Workshop for Teachers, July, 2008. sponsored by NPS;
Completed fieldwork at 9CH155, South End Plantation, Ossabaw Island, Chatham County, Georgia. Sponsored by Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Council on American Indian Concerns;
Led GPR Workshop and Fieldwork in Saipan, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands;
Thomas H. Gresham, Secretary-Treasurer for The LAMAR Institute, receives the coveted Joseph Ralston Caldwell Award from the Society for Georgia Archaeology;
Co-sponsor of 15th Georgia Archaeology Awareness Month with SGA and others.
2009
Completed fieldwork and reporting at Jameson Cemetery, Pickens County, South Carolina;
Researchers Dan Battle, Dan Elliott, and Rita Elliott volunteered on NPS excavations at Fort St. Andrews, Cumberland Island, Georgia.
Numerous research reports completed and uploaded on the LAMAR Institute's website;
Three of the LAMAR Institute's Research Associates, Daphne Owens, Tracy Dean, and Dan Elliott, were dispatched to Louisiana to work under contract on Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Historic Preservation. Dan returned to Georgia in October.
Presentations by Rita Elliott at Fort Frederica Historical Archaeology Education Workshop for Teachers, July, 2009. sponsored by NPS;
Rita Elliott participated in the 275th Anniversary Event at New Ebenezer, Labor Day 2009 with a Display on Silk and the Silk Industry.
History
