"Archaeology Festival at Old Dover Days"
to be Held at Dover's Museum Square on May 5, 2007
Dover, Delaware - April 30, 2007 Visitors to Old Dover Days will have an opportunity to experience the wonders of archaeological exploration during the "Archaeology Festival at Old Dover Days" that will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, 2007 at Museum Square, 316 South Governors Ave., between North St. and Bank Lane, in Dover, Delaware.
Museum Square's Delaware Archaeology Museum will be the focal point of the festival with its exhibits of lithic tools and other artifacts that date back thousands of years. Museum visitors will have an opportunity to see demonstrations in experimental archaeology that will only be presented during the festival. In addition, the museum will feature storytelling by Bruce "Little Drummer" Morris at 1 p.m.
Festival activities will also feature an outdoor tent showcasing archaeology conducted in the state of Delaware, and a state collection of authentic pre- and post-contact period artifacts that have been discovered in Delaware including cultural materials from both the DeBraak and Roosevelt Inlet shipwrecks.
Additional programs include tile painting and pot decorating; archaeological sifting and identification techniques; craft activities including the creation of dance shakers and beaded crafts; and wood carving demonstrations by Chet "Wolf Walker" Peden of Milford, also known as the "Boardwalk Carver." Utilizing scrap wood, Peden's self-taught creations range from intricate walking sticks to tiny rocking horses.
Visitors to the "Archaeology Festival at Old Dover Days" will receive a free Delaware Archaeology Month 2007 poster. In addition, the first 50 children to attend the festival will receive a colorful archaeology bucket to take home.
Museum Square, located at 375 S. New St. between North St. and Bank Lane, in Dover, Delaware, is open from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; and 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday and most holidays. Admission is free. Donations are accepted and appreciated. For additional information, call the Delaware Visitor Center at (302) 739-4266.
Museum Square is administered by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs (HCA), an agency of the State of Delaware working in partnership with the First State Heritage Park at Dover.
HCA enhances Delaware's quality of life by preserving the state's unique historical heritage, fostering community stability and economic vitality, and providing educational programs and assistance to the general public on Delaware history and heritage.
In addition to its museums, HCA operates two conference centers and manages over thirty historic properties across Delaware. Funding for HCA's museums, programs, and services is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly, revenue from HCA's History Stores, and grants from the National Park Service, a federal agency.
