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UA Little Rock Garden Site Archaeology Project Engages Community at Open House

News — The welcomed students, employees, and community members to an open house on March 14, offering a firsthand look at the university’s ongoing efforts to uncover the historical significance of its campus.

The event, held in Stabler Hall, featured artifact displays, mock excavation activities, and a guided tour of the dig site off Fair Park Boulevard. The open house, hosted as part of Arkansas Archeology Month, drew a diverse crowd, including anthropology students, faculty members, and local residents.

“I was really surprised at how many people came,” said Dr. Maureece Levin, assistant professor of anthropology and lead researcher on the project. “We had a lot of engagement. A lot of my students were getting up and talking to visitors. We even had a site visit at 2 p.m., where people could see the excavation site firsthand.”

The archaeology project began during the Fall 2023 semester as part of the Archaeological Investigation class. Students have since uncovered the foundation of the former Safeway Ice Cream Plant and recovered more than 700 artifacts, ranging from bricks and tiles to nails and glass. The project is supported by the Arkansas Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and UA Little Rock’s College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (CHASSE).

For students like Noah Welch, an anthropology major from Cabot, the hands-on experience has been invaluable.

“I’ve always been interested in archaeology but actually applying it and getting to do what archaeologists do has been amazing,” Welch said. “We’ve done shovel testing, and we found a large piece of tile, concrete foundation, asphalt, and nails—basically everything you’d expect at an old factory site, except the actual ice cream, which is a real shame.”

The open house also highlighted the educational impact of the project beyond the university. Paige Blair, a senior anthropology student and project intern, noted how she had engaged with many different members of the community through the project.

“We had a high school student come out who was interested in archaeology and wanted to get a feel for it,” Blair said. “A father and his 10-year-old daughter also came out to dig with us, which was really special.”

Rebecca Hardcastle, a double graduate in psychology and anthropology from the University of Arkansas and project intern, found the experience personally rewarding.

“It’s been so great to get back into applied anthropology,” Hardcastle said. “I even enjoy cleaning the artifacts because it’s nice to see what we’ve found once the dirt is washed away.”

The open house also served as an opportunity for students to develop leadership and public outreach skills. Levin emphasized the benefits for interns and volunteers.

“They’re not just learning excavation techniques,” Levin said. “They’re also gaining experience in public engagement, historical research, and artifact documentation. I’ve seen them gain confidence in their archaeological skills and leadership abilities.”

With more than 100 volunteer hours logged from more than 30 volunteers so far, the project is set to continue through the spring semester, with potential for further excavations in future years. Levin and her team are also working on an Ottenheimer library display and a possible permanent exhibit in the School of Human Inquiry.

For those interested in volunteering, opportunities remain open to volunteer on Sundays from 12-5 p.m. through the end of the semester.

For more information about the project or to get involved, contact Dr. Maureece Levin at [email protected] or .