Cherokee Archeology

Archaeologist Bennie C. Keel made contributions to the foundational understanding of Cherokee archaeology and culture. He oversaw key projects associated with the Tennessee Valley Authority, including Weiss Reservoir and Normandy Reservoir. He joined the National Park Service as Chief of Interagency Archaeological Services and spent the remainder of his career working or consulting on southeastern archaeology and its native peoples. He received Lifetime Achievement Awards from both the Society for American Archaeology and the Southeastern Archaeological Conference.