Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex in Moundsville will continue to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Delf Norona Museum with a series of documentary films focusing on archaeological themes, on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 1 - 3 p.m. Visitors of all ages are invited to take a break from the summer heat, come watch the films, and make a fan featuring a drawing of Grave Creek Mound. Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
Two of the films document work sponsored by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and are being shown courtesy of the Corps. Ghosts of Green Bottom: Uncovering a 19th Century Plantation describes the history of the Jenkins plantation, former home of Confederate Brigadier General Albert Gallatin Jenkins. The plantation, located on West Virginia Route 2 near Huntington, was constructed by slaves between 1830 and 1835 for Jenkins’ father, William, and is built in the tradition of Tidewater, Va. It is noteworthy for its architecture and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and on the Civil War Discovery Trail.
Archaeological excavations at the property have revealed details about the plantation that are not found in written records. Excavators discovered the location of the summer kitchen and artifacts that may have been used or owned by the plantation’s slaves. The Jenkins Plantation Museum is operated by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. The facility is currently closed to the public while undergoing preservation actions by the USACE.
Red Salt and Reynolds interprets the historic archaeological excavations that took place at the Marmet Locks Replacement Project in Kanawha County. These excavations give a view of life at one of the Kanawha River Valley’s early salt works which was owned by the Reynolds family. Archaeologists have uncovered remnants of four salt furnaces, John Reynolds’ mansion, the cabin occupied by his slaves who worked the furnaces, and the old Reynolds’ family cemetery where he and several members of the family are buried.
A third film, Adventures in Amateur Archaeology: Digging into Pennsylvania’s Past, also will be shown. It was made by Bill Tippins, a member of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology. Focused on Southwestern Pennsylvania, the film shows how non-professionals can contribute to the study of archaeology.
Visitors are encouraged to make hand-held fans that can be decorated and colored using markers and crayons. There is a $1 fee per fan to cover the cost of materials. The movies are free of charge.
For more information about the program, contact Andrea Keller, cultural program coordinator for the Mound, at (304) 843-4128, ext. 202, or by e-mail at andrea.keller@wvcculture.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.
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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