Paul Glidewell Showcased at Winthrop Rockefeller Institute March Open House

Calling all archeology enthusiasts: Institute research station sets open house for March 19
ARTS AND HUMANITIES · 3/4/2016 · EMILY BEAHM
On top of beautiful Petit Jean Mountain, the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute is home to one of the 10 research stations of the Arkansas Archeological Survey. The mission of the Arkansas Archeological Survey is to research and protect Arkansas’ archeological sites, preserve and manage information and collections from those sites, and share what we have learned with the citizens of Arkansas.
The Arkansas Archeological Survey, along with the Arkansas Archeological Society, participates in an annual outreach event called Arkansas Archeology Month. In celebration of Archeology Month, the WRI research station is holding an open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 19. Although the research station welcomes visitors any time of the year, we are planning many fun and educational activities for our open house day.
The research station at the Institute is located in what is called The Teaching Barn. This barn and the surrounding buildings in the “Heritage Farmstead,” as it is termed, are modeled after a real farmstead owned by the Westphal family on Petit Jean Mountain from about 1900 to 1953. The location of the orchard, vineyard, smokehouse and cellar house are all based on the real Westphal farmstead, which was located on the north edge of the mountain. In addition to the station “barn,” the smokehouse and cellar house will be open for touring.
We will have both prehistoric (before Europeans arrived in Arkansas) and historic artifacts on display. You are welcome to bring artifacts to be identified, but we do not do appraisals or allow buying or selling of artifacts at our events. You will have a chance to try your hand at spear throwing using an atlatl or play toli, a traditional Native American stickball game. There will be crafts including make-your-own petroglyph, a pictograph wall, making cordage and decorating pottery using prehistoric techniques.
We are going to have a couple of demonstrations as well. Ben Swadley, superintendent at the Parkin Archeological State Park, will demonstrate how Native Americans made their stone tools and arrow points by doing some flintknapping. For a historic perspective, Paul Glidewell is going to demonstrate some historic woodworking techniques.
The WRI station is developing a Native American garden at the station. Similar to the Plum Bayou garden designed by Dr. Elizabeth Horton at the Toltec Mounds research station, we will plant species that were used by Native Americans before the widespread use of corn around A.D. 1000. These ancient crops include sunflower, goosefoot, maygrass, little barley and a particular line of squash. At our open house you will be able to try out gardening in our garden with replica Native American gardening tools made out of stone, wood and antlers.
From noon to 2 p.m. ROOST (Revitalizing Ozark and Ouachita Seed Traditions) will host a seed swap at the open house. You can participate in the seed swap and help preserve Arkansas’ agricultural heritage by bringing your open pollinated seeds, their stories and other associated information to share with others.
I hope you will come join us for a day of history, exploration and hands-on learning for all ages!
For more information on the open house, contact Dr. Emily Beahm at (501) 727-6250 or [email protected].
Originally posted here 

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