The Jamie C. Brandon Center for Archaeological Research (JCB Center) is affiliated with the Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Anthropology (SCA) at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA).
The mission of the JCB Center is to (1) promote and facilitate community service and outreach programs in public archaeology, (2) support student-based pedagogical opportunities in archaeological fieldwork and research, (3) maintain regional archaeological research programs, and (4) manage funds to support student travel to archaeology conferences, independent research, and community-based archaeology projects. The JCB Center also contributes to (5) the UCA archaeology field school.
Beginning in August 2024, the JCB Center moved into the new office and lab space located in Irby Hall 120. The new location contains a dedicated archaeology lab, a field gear and equipment storage room, a GIS computer lab, and conference room for lectures.
UCA students Emily Granderson and Tyler Gavin in the new JCB Center archaeology lab
(1) Community Service and Outreach – Programs focused on community service and outreach seek to engage community members in Arkansas archaeology through public lectures and exhibits, and to assist local communities in historical and archaeological research projects.
- September 2021 – current. The JCB Center and FCM continue to collaborate on community cemetery survey work in Faulkner County.
- July 2024. McKinnon was invited to give a talk to the Independence County Historical Society on CCC camps in Arkansas.
- November 2024. McKinnon was invited to give a talk to the Cadron Post chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution on the Caddo in Arkansas. The talk was associated with Native American Heritage Month.
- January 2025. McKinnon was invited to give a talk to the retirement community at UCA College Square on CCC camps in Arkansas.
- February 2025. McKinnon and student Emily Granderson were interviewed by UCA Channel 6 Spotlight regarding the West Mexico ceramic project.
- March 2025. McKinnon participated in an online Job Panel discussion hosted by the Arkansas Archeological Survey.
(2) Student-Based Pedagogy and Research – Student-based pedagogy and research serves as an extension of the SCA department by providing resources, technology, and mentorship directly associated with regional archaeological research undertaken by undergraduate students.
- Historical Cemetery Surveys. Documentation of local historic cemeteries include students with opportunities to understand the value of documenting cemeteries, first-hand experience with technological tools (electrical resistivity and total station), and methods associated with photography, inventory, and preservation.
- West Mexico Collection. The JCB Center lab hosted directed study student, Emily Granderson and her work on the West Mexico Collection. He efforts focused on creating an inventory of the collection, as well as a public display of select artifacts.
- Lithic Analysis. The JCB Center lab hosed student Tyler Gavin with his analysis of select lithic tools housed with the lab. Gavin worked on creating a catalogue system that can be used by future students.
- Davidsonville Analysis. The JCB Center lab hosted directed study student, Maddie Brownlow and her work on the prehistoric component of the Davidsonville material excavated during the 2024 UCA archaeology field school. The work of Brownlow was summarized in a report, which is housed at the JCB Center.
(3) Research – In addition to student-based research, a variety of long-term research programs are undertaken by the JCB Center. In many cases, these efforts overlap with community service where students are actively involved.
- Arkansas CCC Camps. Ongoing research on Arkansas CCC camps and the collection of archival information, such as camp newsletters, archaeological site forms, recording of archaeological sites, and current state of site conditions. The manuscript, The Civilian Conservation Corps in Arkansas: From Active Camps to Archaeological and Cultural Landscapes was accepted by the Arkansas Archeological Survey Research Series. The book is anticipated to be available by early 2026.
- Bowman (3LR46). A project to synthesize material is in process with anticipation of a manuscript submitted to the Arkansas Archeological Survey Research Series. To date, the research has included students with three directed studies and four conference presentations.
- Robinson Cemetery. A project to record and document the African American Robinson Cemetery was begun in March 2025. Support of the project comes from a grant awarded by the Curtis H. Sykes Memorial Grant at Arkansas Heritage.
(4) Funding and Support – An important component of the JCB Center mission is the availability of funds to support student exposure to archaeological conferences, the support of independent research, and community-based archaeology projects. These efforts are largely associate with two awards:
- The Larry Halsey Archaeology Conference Award is named after Larry Halsey, a supporter of archaeological research, the sharing of archaeological information, and the encouragement of young scholars in the field of archaeology. It provides funding support to undergraduate students focused in archaeology to attend their first archaeology conference.
- The Caddo Archaeology Research Fund (CARF) supports Caddo research from undergraduates, graduate students, Caddo Nation people, professional archaeologists, and avocational archaeologists.
(5) UCA Archaeology Field School – The seventh season in May 2025 had seven UCA students. Students worked at St. Joseph Center of Arkansas at the former town of Belmont (3PU1144) as part of the UCA course Field Archaeology (ANTH 4V80) where students gain credit doing field work at an archaeological site. The JCB Center contributes to the field school through the availability of technology associated with training students for applied careers in archaeology.
More information on the Mission and Organization of the JCB Center, Advisory Board, and Dr. Jamie C. Brandon can be found at https://uca.edu/jcbcenter/