A glimpse into the lives of northern California’s first inhabitants will highlight Archaeology Day, a free, family-friendly event, Saturday, October 17th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bureau of Land Management Pit River Campground in eastern Shasta County.
Jack Scott, an archaeologist with the BLM’s Applegate Field Office in Alturas, said the hands-on event offers opportunities to learn how early people ground acorns into flour, used animal skins and bones to make tools and clothing and wove tule reeds into mats.
“Participants can try their hand at using an atlatl to throw a spear, creating their own rock art and participating in a simulated archaeological excavation,” Scott said. “We will also share information about leaving minimal impacts on public lands.”
Beverages will be available.
Camping is available at the Pit River Campground on a first-come, first-served basis.
The campground is along California State Highway 299, about five miles west of Fall River Mills.
The event is part of California Archaeology Month, an annual observance of the California Society for Archaeology designed to call attention to the study of ancient societies through examination of what remains behind.