By Patrick Carmody, Museum Educator
Did you know that Jekyll Island has an active archaeological research program that informs museum interpretation? Jekyll Island’s Curator, Andrea Marroquin, ensures that historical sites are documented and preserved, including the prehistoric remnants of the Native American cultures that once called Jekyll Island home. Andrea’s most recent archaeological project has been spearheading an analysis of a decades-old project.
The current initiative revisits a series of excavations from the 1990s, when another archaeologist was leading a field school around the Horton House on Jekyll Island. A field school is a mentored experience in which students participate in hands-on work as part of an off-campus class. In this instance, the mentor was Professor Crook, and the students’ coursework focused on learning best practices in archaeology through participation in archaeological digs on Jekyll Island. Dr. Ray Crook served as director of the University of West Georgia’s Waring Archaeological Laboratory from 1991 until 2007. In the early 1990s, Dr. Crook led a series of field schools on Jekyll Island with the intent to conduct excavations, teach students how to safely carry out archaeological digs, and expand knowledge of both the prehistory and history of the island.
Through those field schools, several artifacts were carefully unearthed, documented, and shipped to Carrollton, Georgia, for future analysis at the University of West Georgia. The artifacts recovered by the teams, along with site maps, research notes, and additional records, have since remained at the university. With financial support from the Jekyll Island Foundation, and in partnership with the University of West Georgia, the Jekyll Island Authority has recently contracted Brockington and Associates to analyze these discoveries. Given the variety of artifacts uncovered during the excavations, the findings are expected to reveal valuable insights into the island’s ancient history.
These pieces of the past may contribute to further interpretation at the Jekyll Island Museum, inspire additional educational programming, or lead to new wayside panels highlighting the island’s story on the north end. Evidence from these digs may offer deeper understanding of the cultures that once lived on the island, including details about diet, lost structures, and evidence of trade.
Financial support from the Jekyll Island Foundation has been critical in processing these findings. To support the Jekyll Island Authority’s Historic Resources team and help preserve this unique history for future generations, click HERE.
