Visit the past at the 7th Annual Archeology Fair

October 8, 2007
By Lisa Evans
Special to LIVE!

(contributed graphic) (click image to enlarge)

Steve Norman's calloused hands give away his passion for fashioning stone tools, points and blades from chert, flint, glass, obsidian and any other material likely to yield an authentic implement as originally crafted by ancient peoples and historic Native Americans. Norman and fellow flintknapper Bob Parker, City of Del Rio chief engineer, will demonstrate their refined and startling skills at the 7th Archeology Fair. (Contributed photo/National Park Service) (click image to enlarge)

The 7th Annual Val Verde County Archeology Fair will be held Saturday, October 13 at the Whitehead Memorial Museum, 1308 S. Main St. in South Del Rio, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The fair combines a variety of interests and talents to create a unique learning experience for people of all ages. Fairgoers will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities and attend a broad spectrum of programs. Scheduled programs include:

10:30 a.m. – Presentation by President of the Bexar County Buffalo Soldiers Association Earley B. Teal on the Buffalo Soldiers during the Indian Wars: 1866-1892

11:15 a.m. – Mark Lamb presents a pictorial slideshow on the development and growth of the Southern Pacific Railroad in Val Verde County from 1883 – 1998.

12:00 Noon – Kiowa demonstration of traditional clothing, dance and songs by the Queton family

12:45 p.m. – Kenneth Fatheree from the Judge Roy Bean Visitor Center will present the “Law West of the Pecos” about the life of Judge Roy Bean.

1:30 p.m. – Kiowa demonstration of traditional clothing, dance and songs by the Queton family

Whitehead Memorial Museum "Village Smithy" Chuck Stone, actually from Fort Worth, shows Buena Vista Elementary School classmates at the 6th Archeology Fair how an iron tool is forged, hammered, reheated, cooled and hammered again until a desired shape is formed. Stone will be on hand again this year to fire up his forge and ring his anvil like an iron bell. (LIVE! photo/Bill Sontag) (click image to enlarge)

2:15 p.m. – LBJ Park Ranger Bob House will have the chuckwagon display as the backdrop for his presentation “The Real Gun that Won the West” about the Winchester Model 66 Rifle and its impact on the settlement of Texas.

Let the chuckwagon display, pioneer children’s games and blacksmith Chuck Stone take you back to the days of yore. Learn about the prehistoric and historic Native people by trying your hand at rock art pictographs, corn grinding, cordage making, flute making and atlatl throwing. Visit a tipi display and watch flintknappers fashion hand-made arrowheads. Try your hand at pottery, adobe making and weaving.

Presenters and volunteers from around the state and the local area come as individuals and from numerous agencies and organizations and range from hobbyists to professionals. Experts include archeologists, blacksmiths, flintknappers, craftspeople, artists, living history demonstrators, potters and weavers. Out-of-town presenters will be guests of the Ramada Inn.

The fair is sponsored by Amistad National Recreation Area, the Whitehead Memorial Museum and the SHUMLA School. Admission is $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children and covers both the Archeology Fair and the museum exhibits. For more information, call Lisa Evans at (830) 775-7491 ext. 223.

[Ranger Lisa Evans is education specialist for the National Park Service at Amistad National Recreation Area.]