Archaeology Day

How did Vermonters live in the past? What tools did they make and how did they make them? What has happened in the Upper Connecticut Valley during the last 12,900 years, and, most importantly, how do we know?

Find out for yourself at Archaeology Day—a day-long celebration of us—the humans! Examine real artifacts in our Science Discovery Lab, watch stone tool and pottery making demonstrations, be your own history detective at our site clues simulation, get your hands messy at the pottery workshop, throw an atlatl, and talk to local archaeologists!

—Schedule of Activities—
11:00 Stone Artifacts – Examine stone arrowheads, knives, spearheads, and shards that have all been found in Vermont.

12:00 Flint Knapping Demonstration – Flint knappers will teach you about the stones and tools of their trade.

1:00 Pottery Artifacts – Examine pottery sherds under a microscope as you try to match and sort ceramics from different time periods.

2:00 Pottery Demonstration – Get your hands dirty as you practice making different designs.

3:00 Historic Artifacts – Explore the nails, bricks, and historic rubbish of 18th and 19th century Vermont.

3:30 Modern Artifacts – Discover the recent archaeological past with this surprising collection of 20th century life.

Text Box: Atlatl Throwing intermittently throughout the day. Using the atlatl to throw darts is based on ancient hunting techniques. Test your strength and accuracy as you learn how to throw an atlatl on the museum lawn.

Archaeology Day at the Montshire is part of Vermont Archaeology Month.