Saturdays in June Offer Fun, Learning at UA’s Moundville Park

MOUNDVILLE, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Moundville Archaeological Park offers theme-oriented demonstrations and lectures along with hands-on activities for kids from 11  a.m. to 2 p.m. each Saturday in June.

Each “Saturday in the Park” program focuses on a different aspect of Southeastern Indian culture.

June 6:  Native American Plants and Foods: With outdoors serving as a living classroom, visitors see how Native Americans used wild plants for food and medicine and get a personal tour of the park’s Three Sisters Garden exhibit. Native Americans were “going green” hundreds of years ago. By planting crops in a certain way, Indians took advantage of how the three sisters (corn, beans and squash) depended upon one another for growth, fertilization, weed control and retaining water. Nearby, Creek-Seminole Jay McGirt of Tulsa, Okla., cooks a three sisters meal, letting visitors sample the “real” southern cooking. Kids, both young and old alike, can also try their hand at grinding corn and sample black drink, a popular tea used both socially and at ceremonies.

Saturday, June 13:  Pots and Potters: Southeastern Indian Ceramics — Visitors meet and see renowned potters Lisa Crews (Arkansas) and Jay McGirt (Muscogee/Seminole, Oklahoma) in action. Lisa Crews demonstrates pottery making, focusing on her specialty, prehistoric ceramics from the Arkansas area. Jay McGirt fires pottery in an open camp fire and shows how different colors are achieved without glazing. Visitors can hear about the evolution of pottery making in the Southeast, and kids can play with clay or pretend to be archaeologists by piecing back together a broken pot.

Saturday, June 20: Ancient Hunting and Fishing: The newest program developed by the park’s volunteer staff, visitors get a taste of how important waterways were to Native Americans. Volunteer flintknapper Bill Skinner, of Thomaston, demonstrates how Indians made arrowheads, knives and spear points from rocks that break like glass. Skinner also discusses hunting techniques used by early people for thousands of years prior to the gun’s invention. Chip Wente, of Livingston, shows park patrons how the Moundville people used the river for food, transportation and other resources. Kids can see how foods were preserved before refrigerators and can try their hands at throwing rabbit sticks and the atlatl, a spear thrower used long before the bow and arrow were developed.

Saturday, June 27:  Moundville Mini-Knap-in and Flintknapping Class: Renowned flintknappers from Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi make arrowheads, knives and spear points from rocks that break like glass. Their works of art are exhibited and available for sale along with exotic rocks from all over the world and tools and supplies for knappers of all levels. People ages 14 and older interested in learning this ancient art can register for the one day by calling the park’s education department. The class starts at 9 a.m. The fee covers all supplies and materials. Kids of all ages can grind a shell bead to make a necklace or try their hand at throwing rabbit sticks and the atlatl, a spear thrower used long before the bow and arrow were developed.

 All programs, except the flintknapping class, are included in the regular admission fee. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Groups received a discount with reservations. Moundville Archaeological Park is 13 miles south of Interstate 59 on Alabama 69 South. For more information, phone 205/371-2234.