Event celebrates National Archaeology Month, National Hunting and Fishing Day

Southeast Missouri State University plans to recognize National Archaeology Month and National Hunting and Fishing Day with free events from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The day, sponsored by the Crisp Museum and the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, features learning stations, programs and presentations.

Indoor and outdoor learning stations will be set up where a person can practice archery, casting, bow making, wood carving, fossils, flint knapping, clay pottery, copper embossing and artifact identification.

Special programs begin at 1 p.m. with "Backyard Archaeology," a presentation by Ole Miss graduate student Sarah Stephens who will talk about her findings at the South Cape Archaeology site.

Dr. Elizabeth Scott, assistant professor of anthropology at Illinois State University, will present "Archaeology in Historic Ste. Genevieve," at 2 p.m.

National television host Rocky Francis of Broadside Adventures will present "Hunters, Tree Huggers and Animal Lovers" at 3 p.m. Francis will discuss the realization that people can be hunters, tree huggers and animal lovers as conservationists.

New this year are booths representing local vendors like Kentucky HydroGrafx, offering underwater lake terrain maps in electronic form for precision fishing; Drums Wildlife Supplies with game cameras, 30-gallon tripod feeders, archery supplies, and blinds available; Cabela's Outfitter with high quality outdoor sports gear and supplies from big-game hunting to bass fishing; Wooden Treasures with handcrafted wood items by Dave and Sharon Ledure.

Individuals with prehistoric artifacts made of stone, shell, bone or ceramic that would like to learn more about them should bring the objects or pictures of them to the Artifact Identification booth. For more information, call the museum at 651-2301.