MERIDIAN —     Archaeology is one of the most misunderstood fields in the world.

    While archaeologists are commonly depicted through the magic of cinema and television, very seldom do these depictions remotely border on accuracy.

    When some think of archaeologists, Dr. Indiana Jones is the first figure to spring to mind. Wielding a whip and seeking priceless treasures all over the globe, the adventures of Dr. Jones have influenced a culture into believing that "archaeologists" is simply the proper word for describing a collection of fedora wearing, whip brandishing scientists who spend their spare time traversing Temples of Doom and battling evil-doers attempting to thwart them at every turn.

    Dr. Ashley Dumas of The University of West Alabama is a far cry from Indiana Jones.

    "I don't have a whip, but I do wield a machete," she quips. Dumas will be hosting "Dig Archaeology," a presentation for young students designed to dispel popular myths about archaeologists and their day-to-day practices.

    "Probably the most common myth, or misunderstanding, about archaeology is that it has to do with dinosaurs," Dumas explains. "Paleontologists study the remains of animals, including dinosaurs, from their fossilized remains. Archaeologists deal only with humans and their artifacts. Another common myth is that we are treasure hunters. In fact, artifacts are important, but not for their monetary value, and finding anything of monetary value is rare, anyway. We study artifacts for the information that they provide about past cultures. Also, we don't keep the things we find; it all goes into museums for future study or exhibit."

    In addition to research projects that include the excavation of the eighteenth-century Fort Tombecbee site in Alabama, Dumas also serves as the assistant director of the Black Belt Museum and teaches all of the university's anthropology courses.

    Her upcoming "Dig Archaeology" presentation, a part of UWA's "Science Saturdays" program, is designed to give children an early appreciation and fascination with the sciences. It is not simply a forum for clearing up misconceptions about the field, but also a unique opportunity for school children to receive an interactive learning experience.

    The presentation will allow students to participate in a garbage-sorting exercise that will allow them to learn firsthand how to differentiate between legitimate and illegitimate artifacts. Once the students have honed these skills, they will be able to put them to use by sorting through several recently excavated artifacts from the Fort Tombecbee site.

    Dumas sees keeping interest in archaeology alive in future generations as extremely important. She explains: "instilling an interest in archaeology in young people is important for two reasons. First, for the 12,000 years that humans have lived in the Southeast, we have a written record for only the last 500 years. The only way we can learn about all the people who lived here for the first 11,500 years is through archaeology. I like to show students a ruler and ask them if those 11.5 inches are worth knowing about. Second, archaeological sites are destroyed every day by development, looting, and erosion. Ninety-nine percent of these sites are gone before an archaeologist is able to study them and preserve their story. We need more archaeologists to help recover the unique story that each one has to tell. Once a site is gone, or once an artifact is picked up without anyone writing down where it came from, that information is gone forever."

    The "Dig Archaeology" program will be held on July 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The workshop is free and open to all children in fourth through eighth grades. Spaces are limited to 15 students. To reserve a spot, email Rosie Campbell at rmc@uwa.edu or call (205) 652-3414. For more information about the program visit the Science Saturdays website at http://www.uwa.edu/sciencesaturdays.