Spiro Mounds Grand Reopening and Archaeology Day

On May 24, 2019, the staff of Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center was forced to evacuate the only prehistoric American Indian archaeological site open to the public in Oklahoma due to historic flooding on the nearby Arkansas River. After nearly five months of cleanup and repair work from flood damage, Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center will hold its grand reopening on Saturday, October 19, with a special Archaeology Month event including lectures, a guided walk, and many other activities. Oklahoma Archaeology Month is sponsored and promoted by the Oklahoma Anthropological Society and the Oklahoma Public Archaeology Network and includes events throughout Oklahoma during the month of October.

Lectures about the prehistory and history of this region will start at 11 a.m. There also will be a guided tour of the site at 2 p.m. led by manager Dennis Peterson. The regular exhibits will be available throughout the day as well. Several expert flintknappers, or stone tool makers, will be on hand to show off their skills from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. An archaeologist will be available to identify artifact collections for visitors during that same time. Caddo master potter Chase Earles will give a presentation on traditional Caddo pottery and show his pottery, which is made incorporating ancient methods and designs. Educational games and activities will be available throughout the day.

Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center is the only prehistoric American Indian archaeological site in Oklahoma open to the public and is the perfect place to celebrate Archaeology Month. If you would like to know more about Archaeology Month events, please visit www.ou.edu/okpan/oklahoma-archaeology-month. For more information on Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center, please contact Dennis Peterson at 918-962-2062 or spiro@okhistory.org.

The center is located three miles east of Spiro on Highway 9/271 and four miles north on Lock and Dam Road.