Prehistoric Artifact Roadshow at the USU Museum of Anthropology

It’s time to hit the road again and head to the second annual “Prehistoric Artifact Road Show” at Utah State University’s Museum of Anthropology. Guests can bring items to the museum for examination Saturday, April 10, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is part of the museum’s ongoing “Saturdays at the Museum” program.

 

Members of the Cache Valley, southern Idaho and northern Utah communities are invited to bring prehistoric artifacts to the museum for a panel of USU archaeologists to evaluate and answer questions. While the archaeology staff will provide information, monetary estimates will not be provided.

 

“Our panel’s expertise includes archaeology, bioarchaeology and the prehistoric Native American peoples from the Great Basin, California, southern Rocky Mountains, the Southwest and Southeast,” said museum worker Ashley Smith. “We encourage visitors to bring prehistoric artifacts, which are objects made or manipulated by people before European contact, including arrowheads, spearheads, pottery and stone or bone tools. This is a special opportunity for the community to interact with our archaeological staff and have their questions answered about their artifacts.”

 

Numerous people attended last year’s event.

 

“I think it was highly successful, a very high turnout,” said Christopher Morgan, one of the Utah State University archaeologists who assisted with last year’s event. “Lots of really friendly folks showed up with some really interesting specimens. People were so excited they were running back down to their cars to get more stuff.”

 

In addition to the evaluations, there are also activities for children, including coloring handouts. They can also take on a cordage project — weaving or braiding twine to make different objects.

 

Funding for “Saturdays at the Museum” events is provided by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. More information about the IMLS is available online (www.imls.gov).

 

The USU Museum of Anthropology is on the USU campus in the south turret of the historic Old Main building, Room 252. Free parking is available in the adjacent lot, south of the building. For more information on this event, call museum staff at (435) 797-7545 or visit the museum Web site. The museum is open six days a week and regular hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is always free.

 

 

Source: Museum of Anthropology