NEWS

Archaeological excavations in North Carolina are topic of Oct. 16 talk in Fuquay Variana

CHAPEL HILL -- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill anthropology professor Dr. Vin Steponaitis will discuss "Recent Archaeological Excavations in North Carolina" at 2 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Town of Fuquay Variana Community Center, 820 S. Main St.

The free public talk will be sponsored by the town's parks, recreation and cultural resources department. Call 919-552-1431 for more information and directions.

Steponaitis focuses on ancient Indian culture of the American South. Steponaitis, director of UNC's archaeology research labs, said: "People have been living in the South for 12,000 years, but history books only talk about the last 500. I’d like to correct that imbalance by teaching people something about the first 11,500 years."

Steponaitis has been president of the Society for American Archaeology and edited the scholarly journal Southeastern Archaeology.

The talk was arranged by Carolina Speakers at UNC, a statewide outreach program. Since 1993, the program has brought more than 90 faculty members to business, civic and community groups. The

speakers share their expertise on more than 150 topics, including 46 on North Carolina and the South.

For more information or to schedule a Carolina Speaker, contact Sandy Roberts at 919-962-1993 or sandy_roberts@unc.edu, or visit the Carolina Speakers web site at www.unc.edu/depts/uncspeak.

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