Archaeology Scholars Present Seminar in St. Tammany Parish. Louisiana Archaeology Week, September 28 through October 5, is being celebrated in St. Tammany Parish with several outstanding events produced by local organizations, museums and Southeastern Louisiana University. Starting on Saturday, September 28 during the Wooden Boat Festival in Madisonville, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum will host presentations sponsored by the Lake Maurepas Society, SLU, the Lacombe Heritage Center, and the St. Tammany Historical Society. At noon a tour of the museum and the new exhibits will be conducted by creative designer Dave Carambat, followed at one o'clock with a presentation on First Americans by Rob Mann Ph. D., Regional Archaeologist for the State of Louisiana. At 2 p.m., Tom Aicklen, Coordinator of the Lacombe Heritage Center, presents a preview of "Colonial Exploration and Colonization along the Northshore by French Canadians Iberville and Bienville in 1699." The Archaeological Division of the Lacombe Heritage Center will display pre-Colombian and colonial era artifacts. On Sunday, September 29 at 12 noon Al Dranquet Ph. D. of SLU presents "Logging and Schooner Construction in the Pontchartrain Basin;" at 1 p.m. the publisher of the magazine "Lake Pontchartrain and Beyond," Judy Darby discusses the contemporary recreational potential of the basin. At 2 p.m., Ben Taylor, Director of the Lake Maurepas Society outlines the problems associated with historic preservation of lighthouses in the basin. And at 3 p.m. Tom Aicklen, Coordinator of the Lacombe Heritage Center will present stories of the colonial period of French, Spanish, and British contact with First American nations in the West Florida Parishes. A highlight of Louisiana Archaeology Week will be on Saturday, October 5 when a coalition of the St. Tammany Historical Society, the Lacombe Heritage Center, Southeast Louisiana University, and the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum presents a seminar on "Colonial Shipwrecks along the Gulf Coast," at the museum in Madisonville. "This seminar is regarded as one of the most informative, entertaining, and significant programs on historic maritime archaeology ever presented on the north side of Lake Pontchartrain," said Tom Aicklen, coordinator of the Lacombe Heritage Center "This fascinating program explores four colonial shipwrecks from Texas to Florida presented by the archaeologists who were instrumental in their research and recovery." Dr. John Bratten of the Archaeological Institute at the University of West Florida will examine the oldest shipwreck in Florida, a Spanish galleon that was part of the Tristan de Luna expedition sunk off Pensacola in 1559, and the Santa Rosa Island shipwreck. Dr. Paul Hoffman of the History Department at LSU in Baton Rouge will present interesting details on the Spanish treasure ship El Nuevo Constante sunk off the Louisiana coast by a hurricane in 1766. Dr. Jim Bruseth, who serves as Director of the Archaeology Division at the Texas Historical Commission, discusses the La Belle project. He was the project director for the excavation and analysis of La Salle's ill-fated ship, La Belle, wrecked 1686 in Matagorda Bay, Texas. Jim is a native of Slidell and a graduate of the University of New Orleans with an M.A. and Ph. D. in anthropology from Southern Methodist University. Dale Smith of the St. Tammany Historical Society said, "I assure our members, and the general public that the quality of this program will be an enjoyment, well worth their time. Each speaker will show visuals and display exhibits to accompany their presentations." Roy Blackwood of SLU stated, "We are most fortunate to have our university colleagues and archaeological scholars of this caliber appear in St. Tammany Parish. The Maritime Museum is pleased to be host for this important program." Aicklen added, "Although this program is part of Louisiana Archaeology Week, it is not limited to just archaeology buffs. It offers much of interest to anyone interested in the history of the area or the tourist looking for something special." Cost of the seminar, which includes a catered lunch and tour of the museum, is $25 for the general public. Members of the maritime museum, the Lacombe Heritage Center, the St. Tammany Historical Society, the Southeast Louisiana Historical Association, university students with ID, and other historical and archaeological organization members are just $20. $25 at the door. For reservations and information call the museum at (985) 845-9200, or the Lacombe Heritage Center (985) 882-7218. Checks may be sent to St. Tammany Historical Society, 201 Place du Chene, Mandeville, LA 70471.