Photo: Volunteer Jeanena Whitewilson (l) and Chelsea Rose (r) with artifacts from previous dig at the same site.
Well-known archeologist Chelsea Rose and her team from the Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology will resume digging for artifacts in Jacksonville in mid-October. In collaboration with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the City of Jacksonville, Rose’s team will conduct archaeological excavations at the Chinese Quarter Site. The site is open to the public Saturday, October 12, 10:00am-2:00pm, and makes for an interesting peek into real world archeology.
The Jacksonville Chinese Quarter Site was established in the mid-1850s and has been described as the “earliest urban Chinese Quarter in Oregon,” making it significant on both a regional and national level. The site served as a vital resource for the thousands of Chinese miners who worked in southern Oregon in the 19th century.
This round of archaeological work at the Chinese Quarter will expand on previous excavations in an attempt to uncover buildings associated with the neighborhood when it burned-down in the late-1880’s.
Rose notes, “While Jacksonville is known for its 19th century past, it was not frozen in amber. Key neighborhoods like the Chinese Quarter are no longer present, so the excavations provide us with an opportunity to bring that neighborhood back to life—and to learn about its people, businesses, and the important role it served in the larger community.” Rose adds that hosting an “open site” public day allows for visitors to learn about archaeology and to share in the excitement of discovery. “We want to provide an opportunity for people to learn about the importance of our local archaeological resources, why we work so hard to preserve them, and how they contribute important data to our understanding of the dynamic history of the American west.”
Public Archaeology Day will be hosted by SOU and the Southern Oregon Historical Society (SOHS). Visitors will be able to speak with archaeologists and SOU students about the excavations, view artifacts, and learn about the archaeological process. To participate, join the team at the site near the intersection of Main Street and Oregon Street.
For more information, please contact Chelsea Rose at rosec@sou.edu or call 541-261-3087.
Posted October 7, 2013
Sounds very interesting. Thank you miss Rose and team for allowing the public to observe. I enjoy learning from our past. Thank you once again.
I love hearing about the digs from Jeanena Whitewilson. What would we do without the amazing volunteers in Jacksonville! They keep our future alive by learning about our past. Thank you to everyone involved!