Open Archaeology Day at the Museums June 2 & 3
Bring in your artifacts for identification!
May 28, 2006
Do you have an "artifact" that you know is old, but don’t know how old or its significance? The Pinedale Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management is teaming up with both Sublette County Museums to hold an "Open Archaeology Day" at each museum in early June.
The public is encouraged to bring down their artifacts and BLM professional archaeologists will look at them and discuss the significance and possible age with the collector.
The BLM is hosting Open Archaeology Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the centennial of the American Antiquities Act which was passed in 1906 to preserve cultural resources on federal lands.
Open Archaeology Day will be held on Friday, June 2nd at the Green River Valley Museum in Big Piney, then on Saturday, June 3 at the Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale. Archaeologists will be there from 10 am to 4 pm.
The event in Pinedale will coincide with the Museum’s "Sublette County Free Day", where admission to the museum is free to residents of the county. The Museum is open from 9 am until 5 pm.
Activities and presentations will be held all day at both museums, so stop by anytime during the day to talk with the archaeologist professionals who will be on hand to answer questions and give demonstrations.
Green River Valley Museum, Friday, June 2, 10 am-4 pm:
-"Hands on Wardell" BLM Archaeologist J.D. "Sam" Drucker will bring a bison bone that was collected from the nearby Wardell Buffalo Trap dig site. He will uncover the plaster-preserved bone, clean and measure it. Drucker will discuss Wardell diagnostic techniques.
- Bring in your artifacts for identification! Owners will be asked to put a point on a map to show where it was found. The BLM will photo document your find and discuss what it might be and likely age.
- "The Biographic Rock Art of Sublette County in Cultural and Chronological Perspective" BLM archaeologists David Vlcek and Sam Drucker will be on hand during the day to discuss, and show pictures of, prehistoric rock painting artwork in Sublette County.
Museum of the Mountain Man, Saturday, June 3, 9 am to 5 pm, OAD from 10 am to 4 pm:
- "FREE" Day at the Museum of the Mountain Man Free admission! Come see the new displays and exhibits for 2006.
- "Open Archaeology Day": Bring in your artifacts for identification! Owners will be asked to put a point on a map to show where it was found. The BLM will photo document your find and discuss what it might be and likely age.
- "Hands on Wardell" BLM archaeologists will demonstrate uncovering, cleaning and measuring of plaster-protected bison bones that were collected last summer at the historically significant Wardell Buffalo Trap site near Big Piney.
- Flint Knapping demonstrations People will be on hand to demonstrate the fine art of flint knapping, which is the process of making tools out of stones and rocks. Pre-historic people used this technique to make arrowheads, projectile points, hand axes and other tools.
- Steatite/Soapstone Demonstration and Hands-on Demonstration for Kids Steatite and Soapstone were used by prehistoric people to make large bowls for food preparation and cooking, as well as making fine beadwork for jewelry. Kids will get to make soapstone bead necklaces or bracelets.
- Atl Atl throwing and Discussion What is an atl atl? It was a device used by prehistoric people to throw or propel foreshaft-tipped spears. Pinedale BLM archaeologists wil discuss dart points vs. “arrowheads”.
- Museum guided tours These will be held all day long, explaining the significance of the passage of the American Antiquities Act. Passed in 1906, it is the basic legislation that protects and preserves cultural and historic properties on federally-managed public lands. This law is 100 years old in 2006.
Related Links:
Museum of the Mountain Man www.museumofthemountainman.com
Green River Valley Museum www.grvm.com
Pinedale Field Office-Bureau of Land Management
Antiquities Act 1906-2006
Wardell Buffalo Trap Archaeological Dig Site
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