Archeology in Pajamas: Virtual Lecture Series

The Arkansas Archeological Survey and Arkansas Archeological Society are co-hosting a new Virtual Lecture Series, called "Archeology in Pajamas," from fall 2024 through spring 2025.

Have you been interested in attending a talk but weren't wanting to travel far distances, battle inclement weather, or leave the house because you aren't feeling up to coming to an in-person talk? Then, this virtual Zoom lecture series is for you! We have a wide range of topics presented by speakers from varied parts of the country, so there is sure to be something for everyone.

To attend, please register using the QR code on the attached flyer, or by visiting the "related links" section at the top right corner of this page. These lectures are free and open to the public; anyone is welcome to (virtually) attend. You will need to individually register for each talk, and more information about each will be released as the dates approach in new announcements.

Our first webinar will feature "Liz" Ibarrola, who will be presenting "Rising Tides: Climate Change and the Untold Stories of Fort Mose." Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose was a small, fortified settlement founded in 1738 by the Spanish governor of East Florida and populated by emancipated Africans, many of whom had escaped slavery in the adjacent British colonies.

The fort, and its surrounding town and agricultural fields, was a manifestation of the freedom offered to enslaved people in Florida under the Spanish. Today invisible to the untrained eye and tucked away in a small state park, Fort Mose reflects the little known but central role played by freedom-seeking Africans in the early history of Florida.

Furthermore, the threats to heritage preservation currently faced at the site highlight the ways which social marginalization of Afro-diasporans has continuously impacted the site. Fort Mose was vulnerable by design, and while today recognized for its symbolic role in the colonial era, it is threatened not only by rising sea levels and increased storm activity, but also Florida's history of anti-blackness.

Archeology in Pajamas Lecture Series

Learn about current archeological research from all over the world, even from your couch. Register for any of the following lectures:

• Oct. 10, 6:30 p.m., Mary Elizabeth "Liz" Ibarrola of the University of Texas at Austin
• Dec. 10, 6:30 p.m., Julie Zimmerman of Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville
• Feb. 6, 2025, 6:30 p.m., Katherine Chiou of the University of Alabama
• April 7, 2025, 7 p.m., Carlton Shield Chief Gover of the University of Kansas

Learn more about the Arkansas Archeological Survey and the Arkansas Archeological Society.