Oct. 3, 2006

The whole family will "dig" archaeology after spending the day at the Michigan Historical Museum on Saturday, Oct. 7. It's Archaeology Day, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. visitors will have the opportunity to meet professional archaeologists showcasing the results of their archaeological digs and underwater archaeological explorations and to take part in a variety of fun family activities.

Each year, the Michigan Historical Museum and the Office of the State Archaeologist team up to present Michigan Archaeology Day, one of the state's most anticipated archaeology events for the general public.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Archaic Tool Time
Outdoors, between the visitor parking lot and the south entrance. Put away your cell phone and try out some 5,000-year-old technology. Chop wood with a stone ax, drill a hole in slate using only natural materials and shoot at a deer target using an atlatl (spear-thrower).

Long Ago, in Words and Pictures
Archaeological coloring pages, games and handouts for children.

Petroglyph Rubbings
Make an image to take home using casts of some of the rock carvings at the Sanilac Petroglyphs near Cass City.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

11 a.m.
Stone Plows, Bark Spuds and an Internet Hoax: Just Another Day in the Office of the State Archaeologist
What's the best part about working in the OSA - identifying artifacts brought in by the public, doing field checks to help protect sites or tracking down imposters on the Internet? All help keep the job interesting.

1 p.m.
Explorations at a Late Prehistoric Earthwork in Muskegon County
See what Grand Valley State University archaeologists discovered at a 600- to 800-year-old circular earthen enclosure on the banks of the Muskegon River. Although the site was partially excavated in the 1930s, this year's work revealed more artifacts and new details on how the enclosure was constructed.

2 p.m.
Searching for Sites in Wayne County: Eastern Michigan University Archaeological Field School at Lower Huron Metro Park
Learn how students at Eastern Michigan University earned college credits while helping the Lower Huron Metro Park develop an inventory of cultural resources along this stretch of the Huron River.

ONE-DAY ONLY EXHIBITS AND DISPLAYS

Archaeology at the Lower Huron Metro Park
See prehistoric and historic artifacts and photos of students in action at Eastern Michigan University's field school.

Archaeology in the North Woods
A good place to camp is always a good place to camp. See the results of archaeological work in the northern half of our state.

Caribou Antlers and the Perry House Saved in Genesee County
View the woodland caribou antlers recently unearthed by construction near the Paleo-Indian Gainey and Butler sites, and learn how the 1834 Perry House in Grand Blanc was saved from destruction.

Caring for Your Collection
See how artifacts can be cared for and displayed so others can admire and learn from them. View examples from avocational archaeologist Ron Burk's collection. State Archaeologist John R. Halsey will be on hand to give advice and to help you identify your artifacts.

Mastodons!
Learn what Dr. Daniel C. Fisher has been finding out about mastodons and mammoths by studying the bones, teeth and tusks of these extinct elephant-like creatures. Slides and photos show how the bones are recovered in the field and studied in the lab.

Flintknapping Demonstration
How did early peoples hunt and butcher game? How did they tan hides or chop down trees? See how Native Americans made stone tools to get the job done.

River Raisin Battlefield
Artifacts from the River Raisin Battlefield in Monroe evoke the tragedy of one of the key struggles of the War of 1812.

The Wreck of the Joseph S. Fay
In 1905, the steamer Joseph S. Fay ran aground and broke to pieces in heavy seas off Presque Isle County. This summer, archaeologists and students mapped, photographed and drew the remaining wreckage, both on-shore and under 15 feet of water.

This Old Cabin: 2006 Excavations at a 19th-Century Log Structure
See artifacts and photos of this summer's excavation at a log cabin site (1850 - 1890) in the Muskegon State Game Area.

An archaeology information station in the museum lobby will offer free handouts about archaeology from the Office of the State Archaeologist, Conference on Michigan Archaeology and the Michigan Archaeological Society.

The Michigan Historical Museum is located inside the Michigan Library and Historical Center, 702 W. Kalamazoo St. in downtown Lansing. The museum and visitor parking are on the north side of Kalamazoo Street, two blocks east of M. L. King Jr. Boulevard. Admission and weekend parking are free. Visit www.michigan.gov/museum or call (517) 373-3559 or TDD (517) 373-1592 for more information.

Michigan Archaeology Day is sponsored by the Friends of Michigan History.

The Michigan Historical Museum, the flagship of the Michigan Historical Museum System, is fully accredited by the American Association of Museums. Explore the 12 museums and historic sites of the Michigan Historical Museum System on-line at www.michiganhistory.org.

The Michigan Historical Museum System is a division of the Michigan Historical Center, an agency of the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries, whose mission is to enrich quality of life and strengthen the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity. The department also includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Michigan Film Office.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).