* * * Apologies for Cross Posting * * *


Prior to the formation of the Society for HistoricalArchaeology, in the days before papers on historical archaeology were regularlypresented at the Society for American Archaeology, the SoutheasternArchaeological Conference (SEAC), and many other regional, state, and topicalmeetings, there was the Conference on Historic Sites Archaeology (CHSA).
As told in his autobiography, An Archaeological Evolution, the CHSA was organized by StanleySouth as an effort to reach out to colleagues who worked on historic sites toshare and discuss common findings.  Firstheld in November 1960 on the day prior to the annual SEAC Conference in Macon,Georgia, the CHSA flourished and grew. It spawned numerous annual proceedings that helped historicalarchaeology evolve from a once perceived orphaned and antiquarian activity intoan archaeological science, complete with unique methods and theories tailoredto the historic past.  CHSA continued tomeet until 1982 when, as noted by South, “no papers were submitted forpublication, removing the primary reason for its existence.”
In the 30 years since the original Conference on HistoricSites Archaeology regularly met, presentations on historical archaeology topicscan now be heard at almost every conference. In fact, between 800 and 1000 papers are regularly presented at theannual Society for Historical Archaeology conference.  For those of us who attend such meetings itmeans a hectic schedule with overlapping sessions and often a difficult choicebetween many different presentations, with no time for questions or discussionwith the presenter.  Travel to all ofthese conferences also tends to be prohibitive in terms of time and money (toboth join the organization and to attend its conference).
To address this topical growth as well as the sheer volumeof conferences and presentations, through the collective vision and efforts ofNatalie Adams, Carl Steen, and David Jones, last year the Conference onHistoric Sites Archaeology was re-inaugurated with a meeting at Charles TownLanding State Park in Charleston, South Carolina.  Designed to mirror the original CHSA and tohonor original founder Stanley South, this meeting provided a venue to shareprofessional research on southeastern historic period sites in a platform thatis larger than a single state, yet in a smaller and more intimate setting withquestions and discussions that followed each presentation.  And as with the original CHSA, there was noprofessional organization to join and no annual dues to pay, only a smallnominal fee to attend.
This year, the Southeastern Conference on Historic SitesArchaeology will meet on September 20-21 at Fort Caswell, a historic thirdsystem brick and mortar Civil War era fortification on Oak Island, NorthCarolina.  The overall theme for thisyear is to “Revisit Our Past”. Presentations on new looks at sites with previous excavations and recentreanalysis of older excavated collections are especially encouraged, but presentationson all forms of current research are welcome.  
The 2013 conference is hosted through Brunswick Town/FortAnderson State Historic Site and the Friends of Brunswick Town.  Thomas Beaman of Wake Technical CommunityCollege is the Program Chair, and Jim McKee and Shannon Walker of BrunswickTown/Fort Anderson State Historic Site are overseeing the local arrangements.And once again, there is no professional organization to join and no annualdues to pay, only a small nominal fee to attend.
Details on the 2013 Southeastern Conference on HistoricSites Archaeology, including registration information, lodging options, and aschedule of events can be found on the conference website at http://www.sechsa.org .  The final program will be posted by the endof July, when all submissions have been received.  
Please mark your calendars and plan to joinus on September 20-21 at Fort Caswell as we “Revisit Our Past”.


Tom Beaman
[log in to unmask]