May 18, 2017
MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex in Moundsville will be planting its Interpretive Garden this year on Saturday, May 20 and Saturday, June 3, from noon to 4 p.m. The program is free and open to the public.
Visitors are invited to plant seeds chosen for the garden based on archaeological data and Native American traditions, and each variety has its own unique story. Visitors can use a replica of a prehistoric stone garden hoe to plant seeds in small hills of earth, a traditional gardening method of some Native American groups. Crops such as sunflowers, corn, beans, squash and gourds will be planted. In case of rain, indoor activities related to the garden will be offered.
In addition, the museum’s Discovery Table will feature “Plant Sunflower Seeds.” All materials will be provided for visitors to plant sunflower seeds in cups to take home and grow in their own garden. The Discovery Table activity will be available on a walk-in basis during regular museum hours through the end of May.
For more information about activities and programs at Grave Creek Mound, contact Andrea Keller, cultural program coordinator, at (304) 843-4128 or andrea.k.keller@wv.gov or visit www.facebook.com/gravecreekmound and www.twitter.com/gravecreekmound.
Operated by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex features one of the largest conical burial mounds built by the Adena people between 250 - 150 B.C. and ranks as one of the largest earthen mortuary mounds anywhere in the world. Exhibits and displays in the Delf Norona Museum interpret what is known about the lives of these prehistoric people and the construction of the mound. The complex also houses the West Virginia Archaeological Research and Collections Management Facility.
Admission to Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex is free. The Delf Norona Museum, located at 801 Jefferson Avenue, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. Outdoor access closes at 4:30 p.m.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History is an agency within the Office of Secretary of Education and the Arts with Gayle Manchin, cabinet secretary. The division, led by Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith, brings together the past, present and future through programs and services focusing on archives and history, arts, historic preservation and museums. For more information about the division’s programs, events and sites, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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