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State Historical Society Archaeology Camp registration opens May 22

The South Dakota State Historical Society’s Historic Preservation Office is sponsoring a three-day Archaeology Camp for students going into grades 4-6 for the 2017-2018 school year.

Camp dates are June 20-22, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CDT. The program is structured for students to attend all three days.

Archaeology Camp is an active, outdoor experience located on an archaeological site near the Oahe Downstream Recreation Area north of Fort Pierre. Students should be prepared to hike and to work in the dirt alongside professional archaeologists.

Students will be introduced to the field of archaeology, learning why archaeological excavations are held, what stories artifacts can tell about the past, the history of fur trading posts, how to map a site and how to use team-building skills.

In addition to excavations at the site, other activities will include processing artifacts and practicing with atlatls (ancient weapons that preceded the bow and arrow). There will also be trips to the Turtle Effigy and the Oahe Chapel along with tours of the archives and museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society at the Cultural Heritage Center.

Due to the popularity of the camp, registrations are limited to the first 20 applicants who have not previously attended. Prior participants may apply, but their names will be added to a lottery and only considered if there are less than 20 new campers.

The registration fee is $30, and registration begins at 8 a.m. on May 22. It will close on May 26 or when the camp is full, whichever comes first. No walk-in campers will be accepted on camp days.

Registration information is available at history.sd.gov/preservation. Click on the link at the top of the page. Forms may also be picked up in the administration office of the Cultural Heritage Center, 900 Governors Dr. in Pierre.

For more information on the Archaeology Camp, please contact Paige Olson with the historic preservation office at (605) 773-6004 or at Paige.Olson@state.sd.us.

For more information on other historic preservation programs, contact the State Historic Preservation Office at the Cultural Heritage Center, 900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501-2217; telephone (605) 773-3458, email shpo@state.sd.us or visit history.sd.gov/preservation.

Editor’s Note: Possible photo caption – A team of South Dakota State Historical Society Archaeology Camp participants conduct an excavation in 2016 near Pierre. (Photo courtesy of the South Dakota State Historical Society)

About the South Dakota State Historical Society
The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Education. The State Historical Society, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is headquartered at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The center houses the society’s world-class museum, the archives, and the historic preservation, publishing and administrative/development offices. Call (605) 773-3458 or visit www.history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call (605) 394-1936 for more information.