Archaeologists from Sarasota County, New College and the Florida Public Archaeology Network will take part in two days of excavations at Phillippi Estate Park on Jan. 4 and 5, and the public is invited to come see the digs in action and learn more about our cultural history.

The county's 60-acre Phillippi Estate Park, located on the southern shore of Phillippi Creek, includes prehistoric archaeological evidence spanning thousands of years. The testing of selected areas of the property will help define the boundaries of the Prodie Midden Site, believed to have been occupied between 2,500 to 1,200 years ago.

Limited testing will also be conducted at the Archaic Lithic Scatter Site, which contains evidence of visitation that occurred sometime between 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. The archaeologists will also investigate the historic refuse site associated with the early 20th century Edson Keith Mansion located on the park grounds.

"This work will help us gain an understanding of the period of occupation, land use and activities conducted at the sites," said Dr. Uzi Baram, professor of anthropology and director of the New College Public Archaeology Lab, who will direct the excavation and the analysis of the findings.

The results of the excavation will be incorporated into heritage interpretive signs that will be distributed around Phillippi Estate Park explaining the cultural history of the area. Those educational panels, along with the opening of the restored Edson Keith Farm House, will be featured at the centennial commemoration of the Edson Keith Mansion on Nov. 12, 2016.

The public can come see the sites, talk with the archaeologists and learn about our community's history between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Jan. 4 and 5 at the park, 5500 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

The event is part of the newly developed Community Heritage Awareness and Management Program (CHAMP) and a collaboration of the Florida Public Archaeology Network, New College, Friends of Sarasota County Parks and Sarasota County's Libraries and Historical Resources and Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources departments.

For more information, please visit the County of Sarasota.