MSHDA and Department of Natural Resources Team Up on Oct. 10 for Archaeology Family Fun Day

Lansing - Each year, the Michigan Historical Museum and the Office of the State Archaeologist team up to present one of the state's most anticipated archaeology events for the general public-Michigan Archaeology Day. This year's event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Michigan Historical Museum in Lansing.

This one-day event offers visitors the chance to meet professional archaeologists, to learn of their research and to see exhibits from their archaeological investigations. Add to this a cartload of fun family activities, and by the end of the day, everyone will "dig" history!

"Archaeology Day is the first of many collaborations to come between MSHDA and the DNR as we continue to bring history alive for the people of Michigan," said Keith Molin, executive director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). As of Oct. 1, the Office of the State Archaeologist became part of MSHDA and the Michigan Historical Museum joined the Department of Natural Resources.

"The DNR has a long tradition of helping preserve Michigan's heritage in our state historic parks, and we are proud to collaborate on this special day that helps Michigan citizens and visitors learn about and appreciate our past," said DNR Director Rebecca Humphries.

An archaeology information station in the museum lobby will offer free handouts about archaeology from the Office of the State Archaeologist, Conference on Michigan Archaeology and the Michigan Archaeological Society. Sean Dunham of Commonwealth Cultural Resources Group and other archaeologists will be on hand to answer questions.

Michigan Archaeology Day activities include:

On the museum lawn, try your hand at hitting a deer target using darts and an atlatl (spear-thrower), like those used in Michigan forests thousands of years ago. While waiting your turn, try chopping wood with a stone ax or drilling a hole through stone without using metal.

In the museum auditorium, first floor, Dr. John Halsey will discuss the mysterious copper mining pits European Americans encountered in the Upper Peninsula in the 1840s. Discover who made these "ancient diggings," how they made them and why they were important to Euro-American copper miners.

Also in the museum auditorium, first floor, Tim Bennett will explain his in-depth study of family history using historical documents, interviews with family members and archaeological fieldwork on his own family's 170-year-old farm in Livingston County.

In the museum education room, first floor, a display will include artifacts used in 17th -century games, as well as a hands-on area with toys, archaeological coloring pages and other handouts to take home.

On the museum's second floor, learn about ancient rock carvings called petroglyphs; see how Native Americans used tools made of bone and stone; get an up-close look at some of the Office of the State Archaeologist's most intriguing objects; find out what students at Michigan State University have discovered during on-campus digs and discover what ceramics can teach us about life in a Native American village.

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority is dedicated to building a thriving and vibrant future for Michigan. MSHDA provides tools and resources to improve people's lives through programs across the state. These programs assist with housing, build strong neighborhoods, and help create places where people want to live and work. MSHDA's programs work in four areas: affordable rental housing; supporting homeownership; ending homelessness; and creating vibrant cites and neighborhoods.*

*MSHDA's loan and operating expenses are financed through the sale of tax-exempt and taxable bonds as well as notes to private investors, not from state tax revenues. Proceeds are loaned at below-market interest rates to developers of rental housing, and help fund mortgages and home improvement loans. MSHDA also administers several federal housing programs.