The Friends of Franklin County State Parks Inc., Florida State Parks and the Florida Public Archaeology Network are teaming up to conduct test excavations at the Ormon property in Apalachicola.

APALACHICOLA, FL- November 2, 2010 The Florida Public Archaeology Network, University of West Florida (www.flpublicarchaeology.org), will be assisting the Friends of Franklin County State Parks, Inc and the Florida Park Service with ongoing archaeological research related to the restoration/reconstruction of the “Tenant House” at the Ormon House Historic State Park in Apalachicola.  The desired outcome of the excavations is to provide information regarding whether a slave dwelling stood at the location now occupied by the “Tenant House” and, indeed, if the “Tenant House” is of sufficient age to be a candidate for such a slave dwelling.

The Florida Public Archaeology Network is conducting this excavation as a public outreach event, and will be allowing volunteers from the Friends of Franklin County State Parks, Inc and the community to participate in the excavation process.  Volunteers must sign up in advanced by contacting Barbara Hines, Outreach Coordinator, at bhines@uwf.edu or 850-933-5779.  Volunteer forms must be completed prior to volunteering at the dig site and all volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Because this is to be a volunteer project, the Florida Public Archaeology Network plans to conduct field work over a series of weekends between the start of November and the end of January.  The project is scheduled to start Veteran’s Day weekend (November 11-14).  Future excavation dates can be acquired by contacting Barbara Hines at the above email address or by visiting www.flpublicarchaeology.org/ncrsc and clicking on the events calendar.

Interested members of the public are welcome to visit the excavation during any scheduled work days, observe progress, and discuss findings with the archaeologists on duty.

We will conduct test excavations in the vicinity of the “Tenant House” to supplement the limited work done at this location in 2003.  During the project, volunteers may have the opportunity to conduct excavations, screen excavated soils, and assist with field processing of recovered artifacts.  We are hoping to draw volunteers from the local chapter of the Florida Anthropological Society in Tallahassee (PAST) as well as from the Friends of Franklin County State Parks, Inc and the community of Apalachicola.

If you would like to volunteer or if you have questions about this project please contact FPAN Outreach Coordinator, Barbara Hines, RPA, at bhines@uwf.edu .

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