This group was formed in July 2002 with the intention of sharing with the public the excitement of exploration of the prehistoric and historic pasts of the Falls area in a professional and ethical manner. We welcome professional archaeologists, students, amateurs and collectors, other professionals in pertinent disciplines (such as teachers, historians, geologists, etc.), American Indians, and all among the public who share a passion for archaeology.
The geographic area of interest for this society encompasses the constricted Ohio River Valley region of north central Kentucky and southern Indiana within a one-hundred mile radius of Louisville.
The formation of the society was widely advertised and generated an initial interest from hundreds of individuals. Of those who have registered for membership to date, 36% consider themselves to be amateurs or collectors; 50% identified themselves as “interested public”; 6% were students from various universities; and the remainder are other professionals including historians and teachers. These statistics have held relatively steady since the initial survey.
The society meets monthly on the second Saturday of the month from 2-4 p.m. in Jeffersonville, Clark County Museum on Michigan Avenue. If you have any interesting projects to share with us, We’d love to hear from you!
FOAS is a proud member of the Council of Allied Societies (CoAS)
What We Do
Historic Preservation
FOAS is dedicated to the preservation of our region’s cultural resources. Our members help record archaeological sites and are active advocates for their protection. We investigate sites threatened with destruction before they are gone forever. FOAS documents important private collections. We frequently support professional endeavors in the field and lab for which there is little or no funding.
Public Education
FOAS sponsors community activities such as:
- Annual Archaeology Day at the Falls
- Excavations at the Conrad Pottery Site, Gaslight Festival, Jeffersontown
We support school field trips, archaeology camps, and Scouting merit badges and programs. FOAS members routinely present archaeological lectures and provide programs to schools, scout groups, historical societies, and other interested organizations.
Training
Our Society provides training in the field and in the laboratory to those who interested in becoming actively involved in the discipline of professionally conducted archaeology. Training sessions are available on a variety of topics, such as:
- Responsible collecting
- Excavation techniques
- Artifact classification
- Recording sites
- Interpetation
Guest Speakers
FOAS members are available to any club, society, civic organization, or school group who is interested. We can provide lectures and presentations on a wide variety of topics. Please check our Guest Speakers page for full details.