Archaeology Day Brings out the Indiana Jones in Everyone

Young and old share in hands-on learning experience

Aspiring young archaeologists search for hidden treasures during Archaeology Day on Saturday at The College of Wooster.

WOOSTER, Ohio - Amateur archaeologists of all ages delved deeply into the past at The College of Wooster's annual Archaeology Day on Saturday in the quad. Spear-throwing exercises, flint-knapping demonstrations, and artifact displays brought curiosity seekers from the campus and the community as everyone got a chance to play Indiana Jones for a day.

Those under the age of 12 were drawn to a mound of sand in which relics from the past had been buried. Carefully they dug, hoping to uncover a piece of history. Some worked in small groups; others worked alone; but everyone stopped and gathered around when an artifact was discovered.

Just north of the excavation site was a display of arrowheads that had been collected over the years. Steve Kitchen and Mike Miller stood by to answer questions and to demonstrate the art of flint-knapping, a process through which the ancient Indians made stone tools.

Another popular site was the spear-throwing area, where Ray Strischek taught the ancient skill to college students and community members. Those who participated quickly realized how difficult it was to hit a stationary target, not to mention a wild animal at full gait.

There were also artifacts from nearby sites in Ohio and fossil casts of early humans, as well as informational booths about the work of the Wayne County Cemetery Preservation Society and the Wayne County Historical Society.

Each year, the Archaeology Program and the Archaeology Student Colloquium at The College of Wooster sponsor the event to draw attention to the study of archaeology. "It's our way of giving back to the community," said Nick Kardulias, professor of anthropology and archaeology at Wooster. "It gives us a chance to share our knowledge and to encourage others to learn more about the field. The activities give people an appreciation for the technology and skills that our ancestors had to develop to survive in the distant past."