94-07-26 Free Event to Offer Clues to Buried Past

            FREE EVENT TO OFFER CLUES TO BURIED PAST

     CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., July 26 -- An archaeology open house
Aug. 6 will allow people to dig into the past.
     From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. volunteers and archaeologists will
conduct tours of the Venable Lane excavation site, which is
yielding clues about how a neighborhood and community have changed
since the 19th century.
     Located behind 1512 Jefferson Park Avenue, south of the
University of Virginia's Cabell Hall, the site was the home of an
African-American family, Catherine Foster and her descendants, for
more than 70 years.  
     During the event, designed to show the results of this
summer's initial excavation, tour guides will discuss cultural and
historical issues relating to African Americans and women in the
19th century South, according to Drake Patten, who is directing a
field course at the site.
     Local residents will also display, demonstrate and sell modern
art works as well as crafts reminiscent of the era.
     "Because we know that some of the Foster women were
seamstresses, we've invited African-American seamstresses to
demonstrate their handiwork during the event.  The demonstrations
will show a continuity of art over the century and serve as another
way of interpreting archaeology," Patten said.
     Special activities for children, such as molding and painting
artifacts, identifying items found at the site, participating in an
oral history project and coloring a mural, will also be offered
during the open house.
     Several musical groups including local band Soma, will play
during the event.
     A variety of food will be offered for sale.
     Free parking will be available in the University's B1 lot, an
area between Brandon Avenue and Oakhurst Circle, across from Cabell
Hall.
     Sponsored by U.Va., excavation started in June after
preliminary work for a parking lot extension a year ago uncovered
a burial site.
     Patten noted that there are numerous ways volunteers have
become involved with the archaeological work.  "Volunteers can dig,
wash and identify artifacts, collect oral histories, conduct
research or organize tour groups.  We hope the festival will
promote people's interest in archaeology and the site," she said.
     For more information, contact Patten at (804) 982-2611.
                               ###
                                                    July 25, 1994

Karen A. Castle
University News Office
kac@uva.pcmail.virginia.edu
(804) 924-7116


[Submitted by: Karen A. Castle  (kac@uva.pcmail.virginia.edu)
               Tue, 26 Jul 94 10:08:58 EDT]