ARCHEOLOGY FAIR
Caddoan Mounds hosts celebration of Indian crafts, ancient lore
By Leland Acker, Staff Writer
Caddoan Mounds State Historic Site on State Highway

In a file photo from 2006, Hasinai women wear ceremonial costumes as they walk in front of the burial mounds at Caddoan Mounds State Historic Site west of Alto.

21 west of Alto will hold an Archeology Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Jennifer Price, manager for the Caddoan Mounds, said this year's event will offer fun for people of all ages.

Children attending the event will have the opportunity to participate in potato sack races, tug-o-war, stick ball and atl-atl throwing.

"The atl-atl is the hunting device used before bows and arrows," Ms. Price said.

Children will also be given the opportunity to be archeologists.

"I'm going to Marshall Pottery to pick up old pottery," Ms. Price said. "There will be a mock dig area set up. The children will be able to paint the pottery. Then I will hide it in the sand and the kids will actually dig up their own pieces and try to put it back together."

She added that professional archeologists will be on hand with various animal skins and artifacts to answer questions.

Photos: Jennifer Price

The Alabama Coushatta tribe will be on hand to teach the children how to play stick ball.

"We will offer two formal trail tours, one at 10:30 a.m., the other at 3 p.m.," Ms. Price said. "We will actually guide visitors through the trail El Camino Real de los Tejas and Pike's Well."

Pike's Well is named for Zebulon Pike, the man for whom Pikes Peak was named, Ms. Price said. The well is on the site of the Caddoan Mounds, and Ms. Price said Mr. Pike recorded the well and the mounds in his journal.

Ms. Price said Mr. Pike had been arrested by the Spanish government in 1807 for spying. The online encyclopedia Web site www.wikipedia. org reports that Mr. Pike was released to the U.S. Government on the Louisiana border. Thus, it is a possibility that his visit to the Caddoan Mounds area and Pike's Well was during his trip over El Camino Real de los Tejas to freedom in Louisiana.

As for the El Camino Real tours, Ms. Price said the original El Camino Real ran through the Caddoan Mounds State Historic Site. Visitors to the Archeology Fair will have the opportunity to tour that trail.

Other activities planned include basket weaving, clay bowl making, face painting, making miniature Caddoan huts, dutch oven cooking and hot rock cooking. The fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Caddoan Mounds State Historic Site on Highway 21 west of Alto. Ms. Price can be reached at (936) 858-3218 for more information.

Know Before You Go

Caddoan Mounds State Historic Site is located on State Highway 21 west of Alto.

Archeology Fair hours: Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

More than 500 attended last year

Cost: free (donations accepted)