March 2026 Arkansas Archeology Month was an outstanding success, featuring more than 50 programs held across the state. We reached over 1,600 people in museums, libraries, state parks, churches, and research stations. Communities across Arkansas gathered to explore archeology.
The celebration began with Celebrate Archeology Day, co-hosted by the Arkansas Archeological Society and the Arkansas Archeological Survey at the ARAS Coordinating Office. Despite cool temperatures and brisk winds, the event drew an impressive crowd. Participants included ARAS station archeologists, members of the Arkansas Archeological Society, representatives from the University of Arkansas Museum and Anthropology Department, Arkansas State Parks, and the Choctaw Nation. The public enjoyed a wide variety of interactive activities, including blow dart target practice, demonstrations of GIS technology, drones, and 3D scanning and printing, pottery making, and hands-on exploration of historic and precontact artifacts.
We proudly and gratefully acknowledge the many organizations that conducted and hosted a diverse array of events throughout the month:
Arkansas State Parks
Arkansas Archeological Society local chapters: Three Rivers, Ouachita, Ko-ko-ci, Central Mississippi Valley, and Red River
Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
Choctaw Nation
Delta Gateway Museum
Fayetteville Public Library
Fort Smith National Historic Site
Garland County Public Library
Lincoln Public Library
Old Independence Regional Museum
Pauline Baptist Church, Monticello
Prairie Grove Public Library
Quapaw Nation
St. Francis County Museum
University of Arkansas Museum
A special thanks goes to Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park and Survey Research Station staff, who together hosted more than ten events during Archeology Month. Their outstanding commitment and energy truly exemplified the spirit of the celebration—kudos to all involved!
We deeply appreciate the time, effort, and creativity required to organize archeology-themed programming. In 2026, offerings spanned a wide range of topics and appealed to audiences of all ages. Highlights included cemetery preservation tours and talks; programming on the historic Dwight Mission School for Western Cherokee; explorations of Civilian Conservation Corps architecture in Arkansas State Parks; Native American games, stories, and weaponry demonstrations; pottery and cordage-making demonstrations; and numerous exhibits showcasing Native American pottery and other artifacts.
March concluded as energetically as it began, with gusty winds accompanying the final Celebrate Archeology Day in Monticello at the Pauline Baptist Church. ARAS archeologists, staff, and representatives from the Choctaw and Quapaw Nations captivated a highly engaged local audience. Attendees learned about animal bone analysis, cemetery preservation, local archeological research, and the ways traditional Choctaw games and weapons teach youth lessons about hunting, warfare, discernment, and restraint.
We were especially honored to be recognized by Arkansas leaders who proclaimed March as Archeology Month, including:
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, State of Arkansas
Mayor Molly Rawn, City of Fayetteville
Mayor David Faulk, City of Prairie Grove
While March is our flagship month for celebrating archeology, archeology in Arkansas thrives year-round. You can read about this year’s theme for Archeology Month on the Arkansas Archeological Survey website. We encourage you to explore your local public cemetery to learn more about your community’s history, fraternal and religious organizations, and the symbolism found on memorial markers. Even the plants and trees in cemeteries can inhabit symbolically significant meanings.
Those interested in learning more about archeological methods and research are encouraged to participate in the 2026 Training Program in Archeology, sponsored by the Arkansas Archeological Society and the Arkansas Archeological Survey at Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park. Registration is open, and scholarships are available for students.
To stay informed about upcoming events and ongoing archeological work across the state, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, BlueSky, and YouTube. If you or your organization are interested in hosting an event for 2027 Archeology Month, please contact Michelle Rathgaber at mmrathga@uark.edu to be added to our Call for Programs list. We look forward to another exciting year of discovery and celebration.
