About Us
Digging Savannah is a public archaeology initiative at the Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern University. Through community-wide networks and partnerships in coastal Georgia, Digging Savannah engages students in solving the problem of archaeological site loss.
Although Savannah is widely known for its historic preservation efforts, the buried archaeological record has received less attention. For 2018, ‘Underground Savannah’ was listed as one of ten ‘Places in Peril’ by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. The list is intended to raise awareness about particularly threatened resources, and Savannah has no archaeological ordinance. Broader public understanding of archaeology as a nonrenewable and threatened resource will be essential to mitigate the destructive impacts of development, erosion, and sea level rise at archaeological sites.
Digging Savannah connects Georgia Southern University students to Savannah’s historic landscapes, in partnerships with stakeholders who help to document the “hidden history” of our community. Students are able to gain hands-on experience with archaeological fieldwork and other forms of documentation, both in the classroom and in the wider community. Dr. Kara Bridgman Sweeney is Director of the Digging Savannah initiative, based in University Hall.
Digging Savannah was founded in 2013 by Anthropology faculty members Barbara Bruno and Laura Seifert at the former Armstrong State University, with funding provided by a Strategic Planning and Resource Council grant for design of a walking tour app and a visiting speaker series.
About You
We are always looking for more community partners to share Savannah’s history. Do you have concerns or questions about an archaeological site on your property or elsewhere in our community?
We are happy to visit classrooms, businesses, and other organizations to discuss archaeology and preservation with you. Stay tuned as we develop more opportunities for Savannah students and citizens to participate in the history beneath their feet!
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Last updated: 11/12/2019