Celebrating the legacy of Mark Williams from the Oconee Valley to far beyond

ABSTRACT

This issue brings together former students of Mark Williams to celebrate his legacy to the archaeology and ethnohistory of the Southeast in honor of his retirement from the University of Georgia. Although best known for his work in his native Oconee Valley of Georgia, Mark has had a wide-ranging career, as briefly summarized in this introductory article. His field schools and classes, true to his often-repeated adage “archaeology is fun or it is nothing,” have inspired many of us to career paths in the field. In the spirit of Mark, participants were encouraged to think creatively about datasets close to their hearts; the articles that follow speak to this passion and to Mark’s enduring legacy.