Let's not forget the importance of Stone Mountain for the reemergence of the Ku Klux Klan in 1915, "under a blazing, fiery torch the Invisible Empire was called from it slumber of half a century to take up a new task and fulfill a new mission for humanity's good and to call back to mortal habitation the good angel of practical fraternity among men" (Chalmers. 1981. Hooded Americanism: The History of the Ku Klux Klan, page 30). Of course, as Chalmers's book demonstrates, the Klan was an issue across the US, not just the Southern States.
In addition to the enticing theme, Stone Mountain seems a fitting place to host a session on historical archaeology and reconciliation.
-Ed Gonzalez-Tennant
-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Natalie Adams Pope
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2014 9:49 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE ON HISTORIC SITES ARCHAEOLOGY
The third annual SECHSA Conference is scheduled for September 19-20, 2014 in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Named for the nearby granite monadnock, the Stone Mountain community was established along the old Augusta Road in the 1820s, and formally established as a village in 1834. As part of the Atlanta Campaign, Union and Confederate troops skirmished in and around the village in July 1864. After the war, the area became closely associated with quarrying operations and recreational activities at what is now Stone Mountain Park, encompassing Stone Mountain (carved to commemorate Robert E.
Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis), and surrounding areas.
As a local community on the edge of a modern metropolis, Stone Mountain inspires this yearıs theme of ³Looking In, Looking Out.² Archaeology in SECHSAıs region of interest explores places, happenings, and developments at the local level that had regional significance or that reflect the influences of wide-ranging processes or events on local places. For instance, rock quarried from the Stone Mountain vicinity was put to use locally but was also shipped throughout the country. At the same time, changes in engineering, construction, and other industries influenced local quarrying technology and practices. In keeping with this yearıs theme, we encourage submissions that have studied the widespread forces that impacted localities as well as the small-scale developments that reverberated throughout the southeast. Because SECHSA is primarily an opportunity to share research and exchange ideas, however, papers touching on all aspects of southeastern historical archaeology are invited.
For more information, including the call for papers and registration, please go to SECHSA.org.
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