Winter Solstice Walks

Come to the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, for guided walks to learn about the winter solstice and how prehistoric American Indians dealt with the changes in the seasons. Archaeologist and manager Dennis Peterson will lead guided tours starting at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7 p.m. Each walk will take about two hours and require a mile of easy walking.

The pace of life today is so rushed and hectic that the natural rhythms of the sun, moon, and stars are forgotten. American Indian farmers understood these rhythms. In the rhythm of the sun, the winter solstice is a period of rest, preparation, and celebration. Peterson will tell about this unique, prehistoric American Indian mound site, the types of mounds, why they were created and why some of the mounds are lined up for the sunsets of the solstices and equinoxes. He will discuss the history of the excavations, American Indian ceremonies, and stories and tales of the unusual happenings associated with the mounds. For those wishing to see the sunset, the 2 p.m. walk will end just before sunset, which is when the alignment will take place. Come out to experience one of the most unique historic sites in the United States as seen through the eyes of an archaeologist.

There is a small fee for this series of tours of $5 for adults and $3 for children, in addition to the daily admission fee. No reservations are required except for large groups. Remember cash or check only, no credit cards. Be certain to dress for the weather.

Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center is the only prehistoric American Indian site open to the public in Oklahoma and is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The center is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., and is closed for state holidays. Daily admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, $4 for children older than six, and $18 for a family. OHS members, Spiro Mounds Development Association members, veterans, and active military with ID are admitted free of charge. The center is located three miles east of Spiro on Highway 9/271 and four miles north on Lock and Dam Road. For more information or to schedule a group or school tour during the Solstice Walks or another time, please call 918-962-2062 or email spiro@okhistory.org.

The mounds site, located seven miles outside of Spiro, Oklahoma is one of the most important American Indian sites in the nation. The prehistoric Spiro people created a sophisticated culture that influenced the entire Southeast. Artifacts indicate an extensive trade network, a highly-developed religious center, and a political system that controlled the entire region. Located on a bend of the Arkansas River, the site was a natural gateway from which the Spiro people exerted their influence.