The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) presented the Georgia Department of Education with an Archaeology Teaching Trunk to display at schools across the state.

The trunk contains educational games and activities, as well as actual artifacts recovered from GDOT project sites.

The trunk was compiled by Southern Research, Historic Preservation Consultants Inc. (SRHPC), the department’s archaeological contractor on the highly-significant Leake Site complex in Cartersville, GA.

The trunk and its contents focus on grade school children and will help to reinforce the Georgia Performance Standards providing students with different group activities.

Located near Cartersville along the Etowah River the Leake site is a woodland mound complex and village dating back to 100 B.C. through 600 A.D. Portions of the Leake site were excavated by SRHPC before the widening of Highway 61 and 113 began.

In many cases archaeological sites are protected by law and federal laws require GDOT to scientifically study or avoid the area if practical.

“Our function at GDOT is not just building and maintaining roads, but also to ensure that proposed road projects don’t disturb any significant areas,” said Eric Duff, archaeology manager with GDOT.

For more information, visit www.bartowdig.com.