Kissimmee Valley Archaeological & Historical Conservancy is a chapter of the Florida Anthropological Society, and represents the Florida counties of Highlands, Okeechobee, Glades and Polk  located in the Kissimmee Basin.

KVAHC is dedicated to the preservation of Belle Glade Culture sites which occur along the Lake Wales Ridge.  In ancient times when the water level was high, the Ridge was a chain of dunes surrounded by the sea.  Today the area is mostly agricultural, but many people are settling here from other parts of Florida and the north.  KVAHC is striving  to document archaeological sites before they are destroyed by the bulldozer.

KVAHC works in several sites, among them the Christiansen Site (8Hg675) and the Blueberry  Site (8Hg678).  Our first site was the Royce Mound (8Hg676) a ceremonial site which was in the middle of a citrus grove. 

Since KVAHC was founded we have  sponsored and participated in  short courses about field archaeology, laboratory  techniques,  zoo-archaeology,  pottery making and ceramic analysis.  KVAHC members promote education by speaking to students in local schools and to civic organizations. We set up displays at local fairs and craft shows.

Our president, Anne Reynolds, sponsored an original poster, showing the various tools used by early man in Florida.  Archaeologist Scott Mitchell,  was commissioned to execute the poster.  Proceeds from the posters go toward education.

KVAHC members hold a general meeting  monthly, September through May.  We meet the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the "Calusa Room" located on the second floor of the Administration Building, South Florida Community College Extension in Lake Placid, FL.  Our speaker for Septermber will be Loren Blakeley; October: Dr. Harry Iceland; November: Dr. Jim Dunbar; and January: Dr. Patricia R. Wickman.  We have a Christmas party in December.

Notification of field work is announced in the KVAHC newsletter or by phone.  Our members take two or three trips a year.  Some recent field trips were to the "Miami Circle" and to the AH-TAH-THI-KI Museum at Big Cypress Indian Reservation.  We will hold "Lab Days" every Wednesday, starting June 6, 2001 and running through August 29, 2001.