Digology program to be held Saturday
LEARN THE BASICS OF AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG

Have an adventure learning about archaeological digs on Saturday, Jan. 26. Everyone is invited to join in the free event, and with the variety of jobs to choose from, even those who can't do strenuous labor can participate.

Jobs will include digging, sifting, recording, measuring, dusting and more.

Digology will be the fifth "ology" program presented by the City of Port Aransas Parks and Recreation Department.

The session will start at 9 a.m. in the Pollock Center, 129 S. Alister St.

Pam Wheat-Stranahan will give an hour talk about how an archaeological dig is performed.

Wheat-Stranahan is the executive director of the Texas Archeological Society (TAS). She has served the TAS as chair of the Education Committee, editor of the newsletter and as president. She is on the Advisory Board for the Museum of the Coastal Bend in Victoria. Wheat-Stranahan also serves as a trustee of the Aransas County Historical Society and on the Aransas County Historical Society.

Wheat-Stranahan's interest in interpretive archaeology began when coordinating student field trips to historical exhibits. Her contributions to archaeology education include a traveling exhibit, "Archeology in Texas"; a teacher's manual with Brenda Whorton, "Clues from the Past"; a video production, "Evidence of the Past"; numerous articles; and most recently "La Salle in Texas: A Teacher's Guide to the Age of Exploration and Colonization".

Wheat-Stranahan specialized in archaeological topics while pursuing a career in education. She taught in an intermediate school for fifteen years, serving as curriculum writer, chair of the social studies department and principal. She also taught history at San Jacinto College. Before becoming executive director for TAS, Wheat- Stranahan was director of education at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. She also was education coordinator for the La Salle Shipwreck Project with Texas Historical Commission and director of education at Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, Cortez, Colo.

After the talk, the dig will begin in a predetermined site on the property of the old Mercer House, 315 Oleander St. This part of the event will include the making a grid, mapping the grid and site, digging and unearthing artifacts, and cataloging artifacts.

A break for lunch on site will be held around noon. The event will resume about 12:45 p.m. and run until around 2 p.m.

Artifacts then will be washed and discussed at the Pollock Center as participants find out what the objects mean.

The digology program was designed to teach the basics of an archaeological dig, find out what can be found in Charlie's Pasture, analyze and record that data and, of course, have a lot of fun, said Rachael King, assistant director of the parks department.

Participants should wear clothes that can get dirty and that are warm, as most of the day will be spent out of doors. Bring a lunch, snacks and water, and something to sit on while taking breaks.

Hiking for the event will be limited to about 20 feet, as participants will drive to the site. The ground around the area is fairly flat and comprised of soft sand/clay.

Anyone with questions may call King at the parks department at 749-4158.