Native American Artifact Identification Day and Exhibit Grand Opening at the Lauren County Museum
February 25, 2024
Demonstrations of Native American tool making, artifact identification, evidence of mastodons in South Carolina, and new exhibits will be part of the celebration on Saturday, March 2, 10 AM to 3 pm, at the Laurens County Museum. The First Nations Exhibit Hall at the Laurens County Museum has undergone a transformation and the community is invited to the grand opening. The Native American Artifact Identification Day and Exhibit Grand Opening is free and open to the public. The public is also welcome to bring in artifacts for identification.
The celebration will begin at 10:15 AM with a ribbon cutting and remarks about the visionaries involved in promoting archeological research in South Carolina and the emphasis on preservation at the Laurens County Museum. At 10:45 AM, Christopher Moore, Ph.D., archeologist with the SC Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, will talk about the blood residue study results which tested projectile points from the Museum collection. This is the first study which has found actual evidence of mastodons and other megafauna in South Carolina. Flint knapper Andy Shull will demonstrate how projectile points and tools were chipped from bare stone at 2:00 PM.
Artifact identification by archeologists will be available from 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM. Attendees may bring in their own found artifacts to find out how old they are, possible purpose, and material from which they are made.
Visitors will get to see the newly renovated First Nations Exhibit Hall. The four display collections at the museum from Laurens County, Tony Harper, Tommy Charles, and Dr. J. Robert Crawford have been curated for education and to highlight their beauty and centuries old heritage. Many of the points on display are featured in the book ”Prehistoric Chipped Stone Tools of South Carolina” by Tommy Charles and Christopher Moore, Ph.D.
In addition to the March 2 event, plan to attend the Saturday, March 16, “Celebrating Native American Traditions Past and Present“ from 10 Am to 3 pm with demonstrations, storytelling, and other arts. This event is sponsored by the SC Arts Commission. Free and open to the community.
The Laurens County Museum is located at 116 South Public Square, Laurens, SC 29360. For more information, call (864) 681-3678, or go to www.LaurensCountyMuseum.org or Facebook.
