Oct. 23, 2017
MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — Dr. Jarrod Burks, director of Archaeological Geophysics at Ohio Valley Archaeology, Inc., will present “Ancient Earthworks in the Middle Ohio Valley: Discovering New Sites and Re-examining the Old” at the Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex in Moundsville on Thursday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. The lecture is a part of Archaeology Month, which is celebrated every October, and is free and open to the public.
The Middle Ohio Valley is rich in ancient monuments - circles, squares, and even more exotic shapes – built mostly around 1,800 years ago. Recent aerial photograph analysis and on-the-ground geophysical surveys have found a surprising number of previously undocumented enclosure sites, as well as many new features at well-known sites. Join us as we explore these new discoveries and see first-hand some of the exciting new scientific data that is leading scholars into a new era of earthwork research in our region.
Dr. Burks has worked as an archaeological principle investigator at Ohio Valley Archaeology, Inc. since 1999, and is an expert in the use of geophysical instruments such as magnetometers and ground penetrating radar in the investigation of archaeological sites. He has conducted geophysical surveys across the United States and beyond, including missions to locate missing U.S. servicemen.
The Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex celebrates West Virginia Archaeology Month in October with a variety of programs including the annual Archaeology Day held earlier this month.
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.
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.
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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