Nov. 20, 2018
MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex in Moundsville continues its monthly lecture and film series with a program titled “Ostenaco.” The program will take place on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m., and is free and open to the public. In honor of November’s designation as Native American Heritage Month, this presentation is a History Alive! program of the West Virginia Humanities Council. It provides the audience with the opportunity to interact with the historic figure as well as the person portraying the individual.
Ostenaco, a leader of Cherokee warriors during the French and Indian War, lived around 1703 - 1780, and his leadership provided a vital alliance for the British colonial settlements and the expansion of English-speaking people into much of present-day West Virginia.
Ostenaco is portrayed by Doug Wood, a cultural and natural history educator and retired ecologist. Wood will begin the program by narrating Ostenaco’s life in first-person character, as Ostenaco would have seen it. The monologue will be followed by a discussion with Wood, as Ostenaco, and the audience. The program will wrap up with Wood “breaking character” for a final discussion with the audience.
Operated by the West Virginia Department of Arts, 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.
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