Established: 1967
Joined system: 1977
archeology.uark.edu

At a Glance

The mission of the Arkansas Archeological Survey is to study and protect the 13,000-year archeological heritage of Arkansas, to preserve and manage information and collections from archeological sites and to communicate what is learned to the people of the state. The survey has 11 research stations across the state, each with a full-time Ph.D. archeologist associated with regional higher education institutions and state parks. The archeologists conduct research, assist other state and federal agencies and are available to local officials, amateur archeologists, landowners, educators and students in need of information about archeology or archeological sites.

Points of Pride

• Research activities during the 2013-14 year included development of an interactive web site on ancient and historic uses of Ouachita Mountains novaculite for manufacture of stone tools; investigations of the ceremonial plaza at Toltec Mounds State Park; a study of artifacts related to the 16th century exploration of Arkansas by Hernando de Soto; excavations at Native American-French contact era sites in eastern Arkansas; investigations of Civil War battlefield sites across the state, and documentation of a World War II Italian prisoner of war camp in Monticello.
• The Survey’s state-of-the-art computer databases provide online access to information on nearly 47,000 archeological sites and 6,500 projects to state and federal agencies and Native American tribes involved in preserving cultural resources in Arkansas.
• Survey staff taught 18 college classes to 450 undergraduate and graduate students at campuses across the state; provided two dozen lectures and demonstrations to more than 650 public school students and teachers; and gave 86 public lectures across the state reaching thousands of Arkansas citizens.