Saturday, July 28th, from 1 to 5 p.m. is the 2nd Annual Orpheum Kid’s Archaeology Day at the museum. From the press release:
Orpheum Kid’s Archaeology Day is a fun and educational event that introduces families in Champaign-Urbana to the interdisciplinary and fascinating field of archaeology. Archaeology Day features several hands-on activities for kids of all ages to engage with, from excavating and reconstructing artifacts to exploring real prehistoric tools. In addition, families can make baskets and ceramics, investigate bone tools, and learn about how familiar animals are represented in different cultures. Archaeology Day is sponsored by the Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Spurlock Museum, and Archaeology Student Society at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The event also marks the anniversary of the grand opening of the Archaeology Field Station exhibit, which was designed and constructed by the Archaeology Student Society in 2016
All ages are welcome, and it’s just $5 for admission (free for members).
If you’re a grown up and want to learn more about some archaelogical finds here in our area, check out Science for All later that evening. Dr. Jacob Skousen, Visiting Research Archaeologist from the Illinois State Archaeological Survey at UIUC, will be presenting a talk about recent discoveries at Allerton Park. The event is free, and will begin at 7 p.m.
During this talk, Dr. Skousen will discuss the little-known pre-Columbian history of the Sangamon River valley in central Illinois. Recently, Dr. Sousen has led archaeological investigations at Robert Allerton Park and Retreat Center as part of a long-term collaborative project between the Illinois State Archaeological Survey and Parkland College. These investigations have revealed that Native Americans have lived in or visited the valley for millennia. His talk focuses on what has been learned about Late Woodland (~400-1000 A.D.) groups in the area. The ongoing investigations aim to shed more light on these Late Woodland groups as well as identify, interpret, and preserve archaeological sites and artifacts within Allerton Park and continue to help reconstruct the history of the Sangamon River valley.