SLADE, Ky. (Sept. 17, 2024) – On Sept. 20-21, Natural Bridge State Resort Park will host Living Archaeology Weekend in partnership with Daniel Boone National Forest.
This free event brings together artisans, heritage specialists and the public to explore the rich cultural traditions of the area. Through demonstrations, exhibits and interactive displays, guests will experience the essential skills – like tool making and fabric crafting – that helped American Indians and early settlers lead rich and full lives within this rugged landscape.
“Living Archaeology Weekend provides a unique opportunity for Kentucky-based professional archaeologists and heritage preservation groups to share and celebrate the archaeological knowledge we’ve gained from the Red River Gorge,” said Daniel Boone National Forest archaeologist Megan Kriesch. “The event also gives more than 2,000 attendees – including nearly a thousand local 5th graders – the opportunity to build new connections between their modern lives and lifeways of the past.”
While this is the event’s 36th year, this is the first year Natural Bridge will serve as host while the Gladie Visitor Center at Red River Gorge undergoes updates.
“We are thrilled to welcome Living Archaeology Weekend to Natural Bridge State Resort Park. This event is a great opportunity for visitors to experience and learn the cultural traditions and historical heritage of the region,” said Kentucky State Parks Commissioner Russ Meyer. “We are excited to host this event for the first time and look forward to providing an educational experience for attendees.”
On Friday, Sept. 20, demonstrations will be for preregistered school groups only. On Saturday, Sept. 21, the event is open and free to all members of the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT. Concessions will be available for purchase from the Clay City Veterans Ladies Auxiliary.
The materials and skills presented at the event are informed by over 100 years of archaeological investigation in the Red River Gorge.
Remnants of the past inform the present through demonstrations like crafting ceramic pottery in the style of the region and weaving cane baskets modeled after actual recovered fragments. Traditional flint knapping demonstrations focus on the spearpoint and arrowhead styles typical of the area. Hide tanning and spear-throwing demonstrations use tools modeled after those used by Indigenous residents. String, or cordage, production is led by a fiber specialist who has studied ancient area textiles.
Experts also demonstrate early settler skills like turning wool and hemp into yarn with spinning wheels and drop spindles, along with grinding and shelling corn using hand-operated machines.
After the event’s conclusion, guests are welcome to attend the weekly Natural Bridge Hoedown Dance with line dancing, square dancing and clogging.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service presents this special event in partnership with the Kentucky Organization of Professional Archaeologists, Kentucky Heritage Council and the Kentucky Archaeological Survey, a program of the Department of Society, Culture, Crime, & Justice Studies at Western Kentucky University, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
For more information, visit www.livingarchaeology.org.
Natural Bridge State Resort Park is located at 2135 Natural Bridge Road in Slade, Kentucky, and is known for its natural sandstone arch bridge, which spans 78 feet and is 65 feet high. The historic Hemlock Lodge has 35 rooms with private balconies overlooking the surrounding woodlands. Cottages and campsites are also available for rental.
Kentucky State Parks is planning a series of events throughout 2024 to celebrate its 100th anniversary. For the latest updates and information on events, visit parks.ky.gov. Kentucky is home to 44 state parks, including 17 resort parks and 13 golf courses. For more information about Kentucky State Parks, visit parks.ky.gov.