Tag Archives: Beaufort
Lowcountry Fair
Posted in Events, Hilton Head Essentials
Tagged Beaufort, Bluffton, Hilton Head, lowcountry
Local Tradition Continues with the Santa Elena Regatta in Port Royal Sound
The Santa Elena Foundation and the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club will sponsor the Santa Elena Regatta for PHRF sailboats on March 16 and 17, 2019. This event is the major big boat sailing event in Beaufort each year and commemorates 453 years since the founding of Santa Elena on Parris Island in the spring of 1566.
This regatta is a combination of the Jean Ribault Cup which will be sailed on March 16, and the Pedro Menendez Cup on March 17. The Ribault and Menendez Cups are sailed as separate events and the results from them will be combined to determine the winner of the Santa Elena Regatta and the recipient of the Founder’s Cup.
The Founder’s Cup trophy is unique and quite an honor for the winner. Their name will be etched on the base of a bronze statue of Pedro Menendez, Santa Elena founder, which was donated by Count Alvaro Armada of Spain, the 20th generation descendent of Menendez.
Geography not only plays a major role in the historical references but also in the race logistics. The plan is for the Ribault Cup to be sailed in Port Royal Sound and the Menendez Cup in the Beaufort River starting at the Waterfront Park.
“What a great partnership. The Regatta is a wonderful tradition for the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club and, now, the Santa Elena Foundation,” says Megan Morris, Foundation Director. “Its significance is further realized as we think back 450+ years ago… when earliest European settlers too sailed into Port Royal Sound to establish their settlements in the New World.”
The Regatta is open to boats with a PHRF rating that are at least 22” LOA. Boats that are 18’ LOA and over will be considered on a case by case basis. Trophies will be awarded for both the Ribault and Menendez Cups as well as to the overall winner of the Santa Elena Regatta.
There will be several social events associated with the Regatta including a kickoff Skippers Meeting and cocktail party on Friday night before the racing starts, an Awards Dinner on Saturday night and an Awards Presentation on Sunday after the racing is over. All social events will take place at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club.
For more information about the historic, local significance of Pedro Menendez and Jean Ribault, and to learn more about the Santa Elena Foundation visit www.Santa-Elena.org.
Full details of the Regatta are in the Notice of Race which can be found on the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club web site at http:www.byscnet.com/about/racing/santaelena
or by contacting Regatta Chairman, Jim Thomas through the Beaufort Yacht & Sailing Club.
The Santa Elena Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Beaufort County, South Carolina. The mission of the foundation is to discover, preserve, and share the untold story of America’s first and lost century through the rise and fall of Santa Elena.
Pedro Menendez 500th Birthday Party
Party Like it’s 1519! Celebrate a 500th Birthday at the Santa Elena History Center
The year 2019 is a big one for Santa Elena founder Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, born in Spain in 1519! Join in a community commemoration of his 500th birthday with an all-day, family-friendly fiesta brimming with Spanish inspiration in downtown Beaufort at the Santa Elena History Center.
From 11 am – 5 pm on Saturday, March 2, regular-priced admission to the History Center will afford visitors extra special ways to enjoy Spanish culture and learn about the man who oversaw the first European capital in America. In the courtyard of the Santa Elena History Center, visitors will meet members of the Santa Elena Living History Company in an authentic 16th Century Spanish Encampment, where weapons demonstrations and flint knapping will add extra flavor! Take a step back to a time when living was much simpler, yet surviving was uncertain.
The festivities of the day kick off with a special lecture by distinguished professor emeritus Dr. Lawrence Rowland at 11am. Then, performances highlighting authentic, 16th century Spanish and Renaissance music will feature classical guitar virtuoso Ulyana Machneva and the Taylor Festival Choir of Charleston, at 1pm and 4pm respectively. All of this is included in the admission price and seating is a first come, first served basis.
Visitors will also explore the newly-enhanced main exhibit, “America’s First Century”, with dynamic new features and perspectives. Knowledgeable docents will guide you through the many displays including the debut of videos from the La Floridainterpretive digital archive, the Evolution of 16th Century Maps, a display of Native American information, and a chance to don your own armor and weapons for a photo!
Another neat display for the birthday party will be birthday cards from students. All ages are invited to send in their artwork for display in the main corridor through the Spring for all to enjoy! Contact us to arrange and let your creative juices flow!
And what’s a birthday party without cake or a Spanish fiesta without sangria? Guests can have both during their explorations of the Santa Elena story and its leader Pedro Menendez! Additionally, local food trucks will be onsite for those seeking lunch fare, or you may hop on the free shuttle for a ride to the delicious downtown restaurants.
“We are excited to host the community for this birthday party – 500 years is quite the occasion!” says Megan Morris, Director of Santa Elena Foundation. “Whether you’re visiting Beaufort and looking for a local experience, have not yet explored our exhibits, or have not visited recently – this is the perfect time to come downtown to experience the Santa Elena History Center.”
The logistics of the day are simple – plenty of activities, entertainment and treats throughout the event, and parking is plentiful and free of charge too! The “Free Shuttle” will run its route through the Beaufort Cultural District all day, so hop on! hop off! to get to other destinations around town.
A fun time is ahead as we wish Feliz Cumpleanos a Pedro Menendez!
For more information on this and future events, visit www.santa-elena.org.
Main contact for the 500th birthday Party is Tedi Light, tlight@santa-elena.org.
Finalists Named for Beaufort International Film Festival 2019
Filmmakers from Around the World Prepare to Attend the 13th Annual Beaufort International Film Festival in February
The 13th annual Beaufort International Film Festival will host thousands of film lovers from around the world starting February 19 and continuing to February 24 in the historic coastal town of Beaufort, SC. Considered one of the fastest growing film festivals in the southeast and a top 100 best reviewed film festival in the world according to FilmFreeway, festival organizers are expecting their biggest crowds yet. BIFF 2018 established new attendance records with attendees coming from 31 states and 3 countries and more than 70 filmmakers from around the world in attendance. More than 14,000 people took part in some or all of the festival.
BIFF 2019 will be expanded by a day. It is now a six day festival with awards being presented in the areas of features, documentaries (feature and short), short films, student films, screenplays, animation, comedy and audience choice. Also, winners will be named for best actor, best actress, and best director.
In addition to the category and individual awards, the Pat Conroy Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to legendary actor, author, cook and opera singer Paul Sorvino. “If you look at his body of work in the film and television industries, his work on broadway, his philanthropic efforts over the past six decades, you can see why we’re so very honored to present the Pat Conroy Lifetime Achievement Award to the legendary entertainer Paul Sorvino,” stated Beaufort Film Society President, Ron Tucker. The award is sponsored by Leslie and Landon Thorne.
South Carolina based Hairdresser and Make-up Artist Joyce Gilliard will be presented with the prestigious “Behind-The-
BIFF 2019 will also present the inaugural Susan A.K. Shaffer Humanitarian Award to the filmmaker whose work best exemplifies the need for positive social, cultural and/or environmental change in our time. This award transcends category and genre. Sponsored by Mark Shaffer and Nevermore Books.
The 2019 Beaufort International Film Festival Finalists are as follows:
Animation
A Drawing
Directed by: Brad Condie, Albany, IN
Blue Note
Directed by: David Donar, Anderson, SC
Huggins
Directed by: Keith English, Ventura, CA
L’homme Et Le Poisson
Directed by: Lewis Leon, Toronto, Canada
Meraki
Directed by: Austin Piko and Taylor Johnston, Orange, CA
Night Light
Directed by: Yamiset Trujillo and Jane Suarez, Orlando, FL
Documentary (Feature)
Elephant Path
Directed by: Todd McGrain, Ithaca, NY
Hillbilly
Directed by: Sally Rubin and Ashley York, Los Angeles, CA
The Need to Grow
Directed by: Rob Herring and Ryan Wirick, Los Angeles, CA
While I Breathe, I Hope
Directed by: Emily Harrold, New York, NY
Documentary (Short)
Care & Cure
Directed by: Dora Wu, Orange, CA
Empire on Main Street
Directed by: Jessica Congdon, Guernerville, CA
Last Dance at Johnson’s Barn
Directed by: Dylan Nelson, Colorado Springs, CO
No Sanctuary
Directed by: Nathan Knox, Winston-Salem, NC
The Conqueror
Directed by: Timothy Blackwood, Philadelphia, PA
Feature
Electric Love
Directed by: Aaron Fradkin, Los Angeles, CA
In the Orchard
Directed by: Christopher Knoblock, Arcadia, CA
The Iron Orchard
Directed by: Ty Roberts, Hideaway, TX
The Price for Silence
Directed by: Tony Germinario, Mendham, NJ
Weight
Directed by: Rob Margolies, Los Angeles, CA
Shorts
After Work
Directed by: Susan Howe, George Town, Cayman Islands
An Autobiography
Directed by: Mari Mantela, Helsinki, Finland
Black Dispatch
Directed by: Shea Sizemore, Charlotte, NC
Bob and Edgar
Directed by: Bill Redding, Arlington Heights, IL
Casey229
Directed by: Nick Marshall, New York, NY
Details
Directed by: Sally Lomidze, New York, NY
Grandpa
Directed by: Chris Niespodzianski, Boiling Springs, SC
History Day
Directed by: Victor Martin, Los Angeles, CA
Kiko
Directed by: Felix Martiz, Los Angeles, CA
Lucha: Fight, Wrestle, Struggle
Directed by: Eddie Rubio, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
Memory Box
Directed by: Karl Shefelman, New York, NY
Molly
Directed by: Phyllis Jackson, Atlanta, GA
Moon Rabbit
Directed by: Kae Ho, Tokyo Japan
Nightingale
Directed by: Jay Clemente, Fords, NJ
Passive Aggressive Dads
Directed by: Jim Picariello, Brookesville, ME
Path of Dreams
Directed by:Tamara Ruppart, Long Beach, CA
Portrait of a Woman at Dawn
Directed by: Cullen Douglas, Los Angeles, CA
Pushing Skills
Directed by: Michael Krehan, Los Angeles, CA
Quiet Things No One Sees
Directed by: Andrej Landin, Stockholm, Sweden
Rachel’s Pitch
Directed by: Julia Fulmer, Marion SC
Safety Net
Directed by: Andrew Rudd, Canton, OH
Tin Can
Directed by: Pat Battistini, Santa Clarita, CA
Therapy Bro
Directed by: John Hedlund, Montvale, NJ
Unearthed
Directed by: Brandon Smith, Charleston, SC
Unorganized Crime
Directed by: Nick Vallelonga, Los Angeles, CA
You Didn’t Forget
Directed by Simon Intihar, Postonja, Slovenia
Student Films
Akeda (American Film Institute, Los Angeles CA )
Directed by: Dan Bronfeld, Los Angeles, CA
Amal (California State University, Northridge, CA
Directed by: Dilek Ince, Northridge, CA
American Letters (Chapman University, Dodge College, Orange, CA)
Directed by: Kevin Keck, Orange, CA
Athena (Chapman University, Dodge College, Orange, CA)
Directed by: Nick Walker, Orange, CA
Homecoming (California State University, Los Angeles, CA)
Directed by: Jennifer Blair, Los Angeles, CA
McCarthy (Chapman University, Dodge College, Orange, CA)
Directed by: Adam McClaughry, Los Angeles, CA
The Liberty (Chapman University, Dodge College, Orange, CA)
Directed by: Jill Sachs, Orange, CA
Riverment (American University, Washington, DC)
Directed by: Shayla Racquel, Washington, DC)
Best Comedy Nominations
After Work (short film)
An Autobiography (short film)
Bob and Edgar (short film)
Casey229 (short film)
Electric Love (feature film)
Homecoming (student film)
Molly (short film)
Passive Aggressive Dads (short film)
Rachel’s Pitch (short film)
Therapy Bro (short film)
Weight (feature film)
Screenplay
Invisible Prisoners
Written by: Lawrence Nelson and Hoyt Richards, Los Angeles, CA
The Lady Pirate
Written by: Theresa Ann Carey, Los Angeles, CA
Last of the Burly Girls
Written by: John Pisano-Thomsen, Toronto, Canada
Never Goodbye
Written by: Edina Kishonthy, Los Angeles, CA
Robert Smalls
Written by: John Harris, Charlottesville, VA
Sweetgrass Village
Written by: Margaret Ford Rogers, Charleston, SC
Take the Shot
Written by: Jim Norman, Ft. Lauderdale, CA
Best Actor
Phil Abrams (Portrait of a Woman at Dawn- short film)
Jonas Ball (In the Orchard – feature film)
Lane Garrison (The Iron Orchard – feature film)
Chazz Palmenterii (Unorganized Crime – short film)
Richard Thomas (The Price for Silence – feature film)
Best Actress
Ali Cobrin (The Iron Orchard – feature film)
Ashley Johnson (Weight – feature film)
Lynn Mancinelli (The Price for Silence – feature film)
Elizabeth Roberts (Portrait of a Woman at Dawn – short film)
Dana White (In the Orchard – feature film)
Best Director
Cullen Douglas (Portrait of a Woman at Dawn – short film)
Aaron Fradkin (Electric Love– feature film)
Christopher Knoblock (In the Orchard – feature film)
Felix Martiz (Kiko – short film)
Ty Roberts (The Iron Orchard –feature film)
For more information about the 13th annual Beaufort International Film Festivall, visit beaufortfilmfestival.com. The festival is produced by the Beaufort Film Society.
The Beaufort Film Society is a nonprofit, 501 (c) 3, member-supported organization, dedicated to providing the highest levels of entertainment and education to the public from all areas of the film industry.
History Day for Students at the 2018 Lowcountry Fair with Historical Flair
Santa Elena History Center is putting the “FIELD” in “Field Trip!” This year the Lowcountry Fair with Historical Flair is opening a day early, exclusively for a STUDENT HISTORY DAY, to allow local students the opportunity to experience the unique culture and heritage of South Carolina first hand on the grounds of Cotton Hall Plantation.
Although the annual Lowcountry Fair and Marsh Tacky races are open to the general public on Saturday, November 3 from 11 am – 5 pm, students and their teachers are invited to take a field trip to see living history re-enactments, weaponry demonstrations, and selected other educational (and fun!) activities on Friday, November 2, from 10 am to 2 pm. The richness of our Spanish, French, English , Scottish and Native American history will be the focus of the day’s activities, along with exploring the plantation colonial sugar mill, walking through the petting zoo, and learning about Marsh Tacky horses.
As students meet and greet the gentle marsh tacky horses, they will learn about South Carolina’s heritage horse, an activity led by the Carolina Marsh Tacky Association. Other organizations on display include National Park Service with their Junior Ranger program, Coastal Discovery Museum with information about nature and their own Marsh Tacky “Comet,” Lowcountry Raptors, Morris Center for Heritage, Mitchelville, and more.
An on-site picnic area is perfect for packing a lunch to enjoy on the plantation, and there is plenty of bus parking within the 50 acre field. Many local schools have already signed up, but the more the merrier! Check with your child’s school to make sure he or she is taking part in this unique opportunity. Home school students are also welcome.
For Friday and registered school groups only, a nominal $3 admission is charged per attendee for History Day admission. Link to registration form for schools: https://santa-elena.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Fair-History-Day-REGISTRATION-FORM-11.2.2018.pdf
The public is invited for the full Lowcountry Fair with Historical Flair on Saturday, which will include all these activities and much more — including the only Marsh Tacky horse races of 2018!
Cotton Hall Plantation is located off Route 17 in Northern Beaufort County. Please email Megan Morris at the Santa Elena History Center for more information at mmorris@santa-elena.org.
Marsh Tacky Horses, Historical Demonstrations, and Festival Fun at the 2018 Lowcountry Fair
What could be more fun than an old-fashioned country fair, filled to the brim with historical flair? With the arrival of crisp fall air, the Santa Elena Foundation hosts the second annual Lowcountry Fair on Saturday, November 3 from 11 am to 5 pm at the beautiful, privately-owned Cotton Hall Plantation, only 5 miles from Interstate-95 in Northern Beaufort County, SC.
It’s the perfect way for the entire family to spend a fall day in the Lowcountry! And the event is the host of the ONLY Marsh Tacky Horse Races in 2018!
Moderately-priced tickets and family ticket packages allow visitors of all ages to enjoy special activities and events throughout the day at no extra cost. The fun, family-friendly atmosphere will showcase Marsh Tacky horses from around the region in obstacle courses, meet-and-greet areas and several racing heats.
“At the end of the day, we will awarding a grand champion of the horse races, but with a great community event like this – everyone wins!” said Megan Morris, executive director of the Santa Elena History Center. “This fall’s Lowcountry Fair will be a stand-out event for the community to experience local heritage mixed in with plenty of good fun, food and friendship. This continues our efforts to highlight Beaufort County’s unique history and collaborate with others in the region.”
The events featuring the Marsh Tacky horse will be the perfect complement to other headline activities, like Living History. Across a 50-acre field, over 500 years of local history will be on display with historical re-enactors showing family life, living conditions, and times of war, sacrifice, and change. From 16th century colonial times when Santa Elena was founded by the Spanish, through the American Revolution, the Civil War/Reconstruction era and up to WWII — men, women and children will demonstrate history in period costume. They will mingle with spectators, tell fascinating stories of life in days gone by, fire their weaponry, walk in a parade and engage visitors in fun, educational activities.
The most delicious local food concessions will be available for purchase throughout the day. Do you love oysters or barbecue? Why choose? Enjoy the day’s activities with a lowcountry lunch, a sweet treat, and perhaps even a local brewed beer or Spanish wine. Sip and see throughout the area with music playing and artisans displaying their original products from iron-welded signs, to local honey, and everything in between.
Children will also enjoy the exotic petting zoo, pony rides, and other fun activities. They can meet friends at the National Park Service and participate in a Junior Ranger program, or head over to see the critters brought by Coastal Discovery Museum, who have their own Marsh Tacky on site, named Comet.
And just when you think you’ve seen it all, follow a trail down to the plantation’s original operating sugar mill, still in use today. Enjoy a walk back in time to see how “sugar” was made in the antebellum South, thanks to the plantation owners who have preserved this art for decades and now welcome us to their home.
MORE DETAILS:
Tickets are available online (www.santa-elena.org/lowcountry-fair) and at the gate.
Patron Level ($100), General Admission ($20), Children 7-17 ($5)
Family Package (two Adults and 2+ Children) — $50
Active Military Families (two adults and 2+ Children) — $40
Award for Partnership and Collaboration bestowed upon Santa Elena Foundation and USC-Beaufort
The Santa Elena Foundation, along with the University of South Carolina Beaufort, is proud to announce statewide recognition for a progressive partnership.
The prestigious “Engaged Community Partner” honor comes after three years of working together during the establishment and ongoing growth of the Santa Elena History Center thanks to USCB Administration, Professors, and Student support.
As stated in the official press release from the University of South Carolina, the South Carolina Engaged Community Partner Award is presented to a community partner that has worked to support the civic mission of their partnering campus and enhanced the quality of life in the community in meaningful and measurable ways.
“Our working with many departments and levels of USCB is creating a dynamic work-study opportunity for local students. From Heritage Tourism studies to History and Spanish enrichment, and even computer programming, both the Foundation and University have benefitted greatly from this partnership. The potential for more collaboration knows no boundaries,” says Megan Meyer, Foundation Director. “Santa Elena Foundation want to be a vibrant cultural resource for the community, especially local students.”
Examples include Dr. Brian Canada, associate professor of computational science, and his students who worked to establish an “Education Station” at the Santa Elena Museum with computer games to educate the public on the history of the Spanish settlement of Santa Elena in Beaufort in the 1500s. By serving on the Board of Directors, Martha Moriarty, Ph.D. associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and institutional effectiveness and Distinguished Professor Emeritus Larry Rowland have also been instrumental in this partnership.
“We are grateful to SC Campus Compact for the recognition of the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff, students and community partners,” said Eric Skipper, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at USCB. “These recognitions also serve as a model of exemplary service for the entire USCB community.”
BEAUFORT FILM SOCIETY PRESENTS “SHORTS AT HIGH NOON”
Shorts at High Noon, the very successful short film program produced by the Beaufort Film Society, will return in May. 
“We’re very pleased to announce the return of our short film program that was so successful last fall. In partnership with the Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL) in Beaufort, SC, screenings will commence on May 2 at the TCL Auditorium.” stated Ron Tucker, president of the Beaufort Film Society.
The Beaufort Film Society presents films from its vast collection of short films, student films and animation films. The collection consists of submissions to the Beaufort International Film Festival over the last twelve years, from 2007 to present and contains everything from audience favorites to category winners.
The film program consists usually of at least one short, one animation and one student film. The weekly program is always one hour long, so each film had to be chosen carefully for time limits as well as content. For a complete week by week schedule visit: https://www.
All screenings will take place at the Technical College of the Lowcountry, 921 Ribaut Road, Building 12/Auditorium, Beaufort, SC from noon to 1:00 pm each Wednesday in May and June. (Exception: No screeningMay 9th). Arrive early as check in time will be 11:30am. Admission is FREE.For more information about Shorts at High Noon or the Beaufort International Film Festival please visit beaufortfilmfestival.com
The Beaufort Film Society (BFS) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3), member-supported organization, dedicated to providing the highest levels of entertainment and education to the public from all areas of the film industry
Archaeologists work to create detailed map of 16th-century Spanish town on Parris Island
Less than two years after discovering the location of an elusive Spanish fort on present-day Parris Island in Beaufort County, South Carolina, archaeologists have begun mapping a complex and vast array of archaeological features that can provide insight into over 4,000 years of history in the region, including a focus on the 21-year occupation of Santa Elena (1566-1587) to paint a picture of what life was like during the once-capital of Spanish La Florida.
In 2016, University of South Carolina archaeologist Chester DePratter and Victor Thompson, an archaeologist from the University of Georgia, pinpointed fort San Marcos at Santa Elena, founded in 1577 by Pedro Menendez Marquez, the governor of Spanish La Florida.
Archaeologists began excavating the remains of the Charlesfort and Santa Elena site in 1979, but they have never had a good map of the settlement. In a recent paper published in the journal, “Remote Sensing,” DePratter and Thompson discuss how they used remote sensing technology to map the various significant occupations of the site including those of Native Americans, French, Spanish, plantation owners, Freedmen, and World War I era U.S. Marine Corps.
“By combining traditional shovel testing with remote sensing using radar and other instruments, we are well on the way to constructing a detailed map of the Spanish settlement,”
says DePratter, who conducts research through the university’s South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences. “It’s critical to gather the data necessary for putting together a comprehensive tool that will help us better understand what happened not only during the Spanish settlement of Santa Elena 450 years ago but throughout history.”
The team’s most recent work provided new insights into the Spanish presence at Santa Elena occurring between 1566 and 1587. During its early years, the settlement went from military outpost to capital of Spanish Florida, but it was abandoned in 1576 due to a Native American attack. It was reoccupied in 1577 with the construction of fort San Marcos, but a decade later the town was again abandoned. At its peak, Santa Elena covered nearly 15 acres and had about 400 residents.
Under the sponsorship of the Santa Elena Foundation in the summer of 2016, Thompson and DePratter worked with a University of Georgia archaeology field school to look beneath the surface of the 15-acre site. They sent pulses, and electric currents into the ground and measured differences in local magnetic fields in order to map the remains of Santa Elena. They worked to pinpoint locations of some of the lost Spanish buildings, including two missing forts, a church, shops, and houses, as well as the town’s streets and plaza.
While the “focus” of the work was to test the viability of using modern remote sensing methods in conjunction with previous shovel test data to provide comprehensive distribution data on all of the components of the site over 4000 years of occupation, the work also led to important new discoveries, including:
1) “the probable location of the remains of two native council houses that date to the mid-17th century”;
2) areas that represent “rows of dwellings for enslaved peoples. and,
3) circular features in the northern portion of the site dating to the Late Archaic/Early Woodland period of Native American prehistory, 2750-1360 BC. are roughly the same diameter of “shell rings” of the region and possibly represent a “Stallings period Circular Village”
“There are few sites in country that afford the kind of window into the past, such as we have at Santa Elena,” says Thompson, who directs UGA’s Center for Archaeological Sciences. “The conditions at Santa Elena were just ideal for this type of remote sensing survey. We simply could not ask for better circumstances.” DePratter says Santa Elena is the best preserved 16th century town in the country, in part because of its location, which is underneath a former military golf course that has no standing structures on it. Currently, the site is closed to visitors while the Marine Corps finalizes restoration from the recent hurricanes which caused safety hazards from fallen trees. Analysis, assessments, and protection of the resources were necessary before downed trees could be removed. The Marine Corps plans to re-open the site to visitors in the next few months.
No archaeological excavations have been conducted at Santa Elena since 2008, but the mapping project will likely provide the impetus for more detailed work on the site in the coming years. “Now that we have collected all the data with three instruments, we will move forward with detailed interpretations of our results to create the final site map,” Thompson says. “Once it is completed, it will be one of the best and most completely mapped sixteenth-century sites in the United States.”
“Once we have a detailed site map, we can focus on individual structures—a church, a house, a fort—rather than just having to open large excavation units in the hope of finding something interesting,” says DePratter.
SCIAA archaeologist Stanley South, who died in 2016, found the remains of Santa Elena in 1979, with DePratter joining the project in 1989. The Charlesfort/Santa Elena National Historic Landmark is located on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. The current remote sensing work is funded by the Santa Elena Foundation and SCIAA’s Archaeological Research Trust and supported by the University of Georgia’s anthropology department.
Southeast Tourism Society Selects Beaufort International Film Festival as Top 20 Event
The Beaufort International Film Festival has been named a Southeast Tourism Society (STS) Top 20 Event in the Southeast for February 2018.
This year’s film festival will take place February 21 – 25, 2018 in historic downtown Beaufort and will welcome thousands of filmmakers from around the world for the 12th annual event. The STS Top 20 Festival and Event Awards have highlighted programs around the Southeast since 1985.
“We’re thrilled that the Beaufort International Film Festival is being recognized for bringing filmmakers around the world together and showcasing a ‘films first’ mentality in Beaufort,” said Robb Wells, VP of travel and tourism for Beaufort, SC. “The film festival is truly a catalyst in showcasing the strength and commitment to arts and culture that Beaufort exhibits and the team deserves this recognition. They’re a prime example of true hospitality and class.”
Travel industry experts select 20 events per month, and STS publicizes them throughout the United States. The complete list of honorees can be found on the STS website.
“The Southeast is home to unique and memorable events throughout the year. In spotlighting the Top 20 festivals and events each month, STS is not only giving these events the recognition they deserve but we’re also creating a quick reference guide to some of the best festivals in the Southeast,” said Bill Hardman, president and CEO of the Southeast Tourism Society. “These events are important to the economic vitality of our communities and this is a way for us to acknowledge the time and resources organizers have tirelessly spent to create memories for their attendees.”
Events considered for the STS Top 20 recognition must be at least three years old and have attendance of at least 1,000.
STS, founded in 1983 and headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting tourism to and within 12 states – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.