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Expedition Background
and
History
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Introduction
As a natural history museum, we have long felt that
while laboratory and classroom science experiences are available
to state youth, many of the field-oriented disciplines such as geology,
archaeology, paleontology, field biology, and practical ecology
are not. In an effort to provide such experience, the Alabama Museum
of Natural History conducted the first in its series of Museum Expeditions
in 1979. In the ensuing 21 years we have had great success in providing
field experiences to over 2,000 young people and adults.
The program was originated in 1979 by former Director
of Museum Interpretation, Dr. John C. Hall, who had observed that
opportunities for experiential science education were lacking in
our state. The present staff of educators, museum professionals,
and volunteers was trained by Dr. Hall. Some of the staff received
their field training in the program and have as many as 10 years
of expedition experience. Our staff is composed of teachers, credentialed
scientists, and naturalists who are dedicated to providing an intense,
meaningful experience Ð both in the scientific discipline and the
experiential aspect of living and working in the field.
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Our
method is to contact a scientist who is conducting field research
and offer him/her the use of our camp, equipment, and physical
help in exchange for providing our participants with experience
and instruction. In this way, we make available the opportunity
for students to become full participants in an actual research
project directed and supervised by a scientific professional.
Expedition
participants spend six days and nights living in the Expedition
camp. Everyone shares in the daily camp operations, which include
cooking, cleanup, and maintenance. An hourly breakdown of the
week shows 70 hours of planned time including: 16 hours of formal
instruction in archaeology, geology, paleontology, ecology,
and lectures by guest scientists; 30 hours of supervised participation
in archaeological excavation and mapping; 8 hours of camp duties;
10+ hours of lab work; and 6 hours of seminar and discussion.
Participants generally spend 16 hours each day immersed in the
scientific atmosphere at the site.
Past
Expeditions
| 1979 |
Excavation of 16th
century Native American site in Tuscaloosa Co., AL.
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| 1980 |
Excavation of protohistoric Native American
site in Hale Co., AL. |
| 1981 |
Exploration of Dinosaur Age fossils in Greene
Co., AL.
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| 1982 |
Excavation of 500-year-old Native American
village in Dallas Co., AL. |
| 1983 |
Archaeological survey of Bankhead National
Forest, Winston Co., AL.
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| 1984 |
Exploration of cave in Lauderdale Co., AL
for Ice Age fossils and Paleo-Indian artifacts. |
| 1985 |
Excavation of giant ground sloth in a Colbert
Co., AL cave. |
| 1986 |
Excavation of Old Cahawba, site of the first
state capital, Dallas Co., AL. |
| 1987 |
Excavation of 16th century Native
American site at Hightower Farm in Talladega Co., AL. |
| 1988 |
Excavation of 80 million-year-old mosasaur
fossil specimen in Lowdnes Co., AL; excavation of fossil turtles
in Dallas Co., AL. |
| 1989 |
Excavation of 40 million-year-old fossil whales
in Choctaw Co., AL. |
| 1990 |
Excavation of Mississippian Indian mound site
at Hogpen Hill, Tuscaloosa Co., AL.
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| 1991 |
Excavation of 17th century Creek
Indian village, Fusihatchee, in Elmore Co., AL.
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| 1992 |
Excavation of Mississippian Indian mound at
Moundville Archaeological Park in Tuscaloosa Co., AL.
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| 1993 |
Exploration of the Black Belt Region for Dinosaur
Age Fossils, Dallas Co., AL. |
| 1994 |
Exploration of the Black Belt Region from
Dinosaur Age fossils, Greene Co., AL. |
| 1995 |
Excavation of 17th century Creek
Indian village, Fusihatchee, in Elmore Co., AL. |
| 1996 |
Excavation of Archaic/Woodland Indian site
at Indian Hill, Wilcox Co., AL. |
| 1997 |
Excavation of Mississippian Indian mounds
at the Anna Site near Natchez, Adams Co., MS. |
| 1998 |
Excavation of a Mississippian Indian village
at the Ebert-Canebreak site in Macon Co., AL. |
| 1999 |
Excavation of Citadel barracks building foundations
at the Fort Morgan State Historic Site, Baldwin Co., AL. |
| 2000 |
Continuation of excavation of Citadel barracks
building foundations at the Fort Morgan State Historic Site,
Baldwin Co., AL. |
| 2001 |
Excavation of earthlodge foundations at Moundville
Archaeological Park, Tuscaloosa Co., AL. Click
here for a retrospective of Expedition 23. |
| 2002 |
Excavation of the Globe Hotel site, Old St. Stephens,
Washington County, AL.
Click here for a retrospective of Expedition 24. |
| 2003 |
(25th Aniversary) Continuation of excavation at Old St.
Stephens, Washington County, AL.
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| 2004 |
Excavation at Fort Toulouse/Fort Jackson, Wetumpka, AL
Click here for a retrospective of Expedition 26
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| 2005 |
Exploration of Black Belt Region for Cretaceous Fossils,
Greene County, AL
Click here for a retrospective of Expedition 27
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| 2006 |
Excavation at Moundville Archaeological Park, Tuscaloosa
County, AL
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| 2007 |
Excavation at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park
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