Get Hands-On Archaeological Experience

Wednesday, Jul. 22, 2009 bnd.com (Serving Southwestern Illinois and the St. Louis Region) Archaeology buffs can get hands-on at the Mounds News-Democrat The fifth annual Archaeology Day will be held Aug. 1 at the Cahokia Mounds State Historic site in Collinsville. The event is free and open to the public and includes ancient craft demonstrations, excavation tours, demonstrations of archaeological techniques and artifact processing. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is sponsored by the Cahokia Archaeological Society. Artisans will demonstrate bow and arrow making, flintknapping and tool use, shell, bone and gourd carving, fingerweaving and fiber spinning. Visitors can tour the excavations and help sift soils from the digs and help wash artifacts found during the summer excavations, can try to play the chunkey game or throw spears with an atlatl spearthrower. A professional storyteller will present stories that will appeal to all age groups. For more information, call 346-5160 or visit www.cahokiamounds.org