Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex in Moundsville will present a children’s workshop entitled “Archaeology Lab Show-and-Tell” from 2 - 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 22. The workshop is geared for students in third through sixth grade although visitors of all ages are invited to attend.
Participants will learn how archaeologists use clues such as stone tools, bone, and bits of charcoal to study what life was like for West Virginia’s prehistoric people. Actual artifacts found in West Virginia as well as sample items will be available for examination, and the students will be challenged to test their own observational skills by identifying a set of mystery artifacts.
In addition, kids can make a plaster cast of an artifact to take home. Archaeologists often use casts of rare or fragile artifacts for museum exhibits, educational use or to send to colleagues who may wish to study a rare or unique item.
The workshop will feature artifacts such as arrowheads, spear points, and pieces of pottery similar to those on exhibit at Grave Creek Mound. Participants also can view exhibits that interpret the Adena people who built Grave Creek Mound, and, weather permitting, climb the stone steps to the top of the mound. There also is a museum shop.
Pre-registration is required, and there will be a $4 materials fee per participant to ensure there are enough supplies. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information about the “Archaeology Lab Show-and-Tell” workshop or to register to attend, contact Andrea Keller, cultural program coordinator for the complex, at (304) 843-4128, ext. 202, or by e-mail at andrea.keller@wvculture.org.
Operated by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex features one of the largest and most famous burial mounds built by the prehistoric Adena people. A massive undertaking, construction of the mound took place in successive stages from about 250-150 B.C., and required the movement of more than 60,000 tons of earth. Exhibits and displays in the complex’s museum interpret what is known about the lives of these prehistoric people and the construction of the mound. The Archaeological Complex is located at 801 Jefferson Ave., in Moundsville. Contact the museum for information regarding group registration and detailed driving directions. The museum is free and open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Access to the mound closes 30 minutes before the museum.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Cultural Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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