UM Students Guide, Teach at Public Archeology Event

In April, students enrolled in Anth 415: Historical Archaeology helped guide more than 500 students through the site excavation of the historic Hugh Craft House in Holly Springs as a part of this year's Behind the Big House program.

"It's important for students and young people to have access to these historical sites and learn about them," said Jodi Skipper, associate professor of anthropology and Southern studies.

"We want the local community to be involved, but why would the community want to preserve this history if they don't know about it? That's why they need this kind of access."

Behind the Big House began in 2012 to include stories about slave houses in Holly Springs during the annual Pilgrimage Tour of Historic Homes and Churches, where visitors gather to learn about antebellum and historic homes and structures. This year's event lasted three days and hosted K-12 students from five schools in the surrounding area.

Students from Southern studies, anthropology and other majors across campus also volunteered to help guide the event. The Ole Miss students helped set up informational tables and posters, showed findings and displayed historically accurate items such as children's toys and tools.

"It was really fun to see the different interest levels between the students," said Cecilia Pullman, a senior anthropology major from New Albany who created corn husk dolls for the event. "They seemed really into it. I think that's why this is an important project: people can just walk up and learn something new.

"I hope it planted a seed and now they've seen the Craft House, I hope they get even more curious."

Brook Eisenhuth, a junior anthropology major from Dickson, Tennessee, and Wes Newton, a senior anthropology major from Guntown, showed visitors the sites where researchers have found artifacts.

"I loved seeing the community engagement from Holly Springs," Newton said. "It was really nice to see the community come together like that for this project."

Skipper and associate professor Carolyn Freiwald joined the Behind the Big House team in 2013, where they have since uncovered pottery, bones and other evidence of life in the 1800s.

Ron Counts, associate director of the Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute and research associate professor of geology and geological engineering, has helped conduct geophysical surveys to help researchers see remains of buildings that are no longer there.

"This year he also brought a drone for some aerial photography, much to the delight of the schoolkids taking the tour on Thursday," Freiwald said. "This was his third year, and it's fantastic instruction for our students and cross-campus collaboration."

Students who helped coordinate the event will spend the rest of the semester learning about and categorizing the artifacts – such as animal bones, pottery and nails – that have been found on the property.

"This class gives them the opportunity not just to have an applied project, but to also learn several skills and have hands on work in the field," Skipper said. "It's field experience in a class, and some folks don't get that type of experience until their master's program."