Annual Archaeology Expo at Millsaps College

To celebrate Mississippi Archaeology Month and National Archaeology Day, the Mississippi Archaeological Association is having its annual Archaeology Expo. Held in the Millsaps College Bowl, this fair is geared towards providing children and adults with hands-on activities. The fair is free and open to the public. All are welcome and encouraged to attend! This year's expo, which will be held on October 22, 2011, is a day-long event that will last from 10AM to 4PM and feature activities such as:

• Artifact identification
• Atlatl (spear) throwing
• Pottery design/making
• MS Band of Choctaw Indian Tribal Social Dancing and Chanting
• MS Band of Choctaw Storytellers
• Civil War re-enactments
• Rock wall art
• Flintknapping
• And much more! 

The goal of the expo, as described in the press release, is to promote awareness of Mississippi archaeology by providing the public with an accurate picture of archaeology and the past. According to Dr. Michael Galaty, professor of anthropology at Millsaps College, "The Mississippi Archaeology Expo, which we are lucky to host here at Millsaps, represents a fantastic celebration of our state's incredible past. It also looks to the future. The archaeological record of Mississippi is under constant threat and our best hope of protecting it is to educate children and their parents about archaeology. The Expo does just that."

When asked about the expo James Turner, adjunct professor of anthropology at Millsaps College, said, "We are especially excited about the fact that this year's Expo is corresponding with the Archaeological Institute of America's National Archaeology Day. With this being the 4th year for the Archaeology Expo, we have obtained a good idea of what works well and what does not, of what is well received and what is not. We have been trying to develop activities that will pique the interests of children and adults alike. We are very excited about the expo this year!"

This year's expo will include demonstrations by members of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians as well as recognize the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War. Sponsored in part by Millsaps College, the Millsaps Anthropology Club will be volunteering at the expo.