The South Carolina (Charleston) Society of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) has been selected to receive the AIA’s Society Outreach Grant in support of an archaeological conference to be held at Charles Town Landing in February 2011. Only a handful of these grants are awarded in a given year. The initiative is the result of collaborations between Scott de Brestian, Jim Newhard, and Tessa Garton of the South Carolina Society and Cicek Beeby of Charles Towne Landing.

The conference will focus upon Lowcountry archaeology and its contributions to wider understandings of the past, and will be open to both professional archaeologists and archaeology enthusiasts. The event is co-sponsored by the Archaeological Society of South Carolina, South Carolina State Parks, the Charleston Museum, and the College of Charleston,

The Archaeological Institute of America is the largest professional/avocational organization in the United States, dedicated to promoting understanding of the world’s cultural heritage. Local societies, found throughout the United States, support local initiatives and cultivate interest in archaeology at both the local and global level. The public lecture series sponsored by the South Carolina Society is free and open to the public.