The Louisiana State Exhibit Museum will host the Louisiana Archaeology Association NWLA Chapter 11th Annual Archaeology Day on Saturday, September 19, 2026 from 10 AM to 2 PM. Archaeologists and educators will fill the museum and grounds with demonstrations and activities for the whole family to participate and enjoy. There will be over 40 professionals demonstrating various Native American skills like pottery making, flint knapping, basket weaving as well as artifact identification by archaeologists. This event is free and open to the public.
This year’s event is shaping up to be a fun and educational day for the whole family! Guests will enjoy:
- Del Glasner with the ArkLaTex Gem & Mineral Society
- Therapy dogs from ArkLaTex Therapy
- Food trucks including Streetcar Snoballs, Big Al’s Lil’ Bites, CornDog Queens, and Mr. Grill Cheese.
- Spear throwing with an atlatl used by Native Americans before the bow and arrow with Mark Brink, Park Manager of Poverty Point.
- Curtis Bias, Caddo Magnet ceramicist, and his student volunteers will help you make a Caddo styled pot.
- Archery instruction from Walter B. Jacobs Nature Center
- Marty Young from Pioneer Heritage Center will show his blacksmithing skills. The Bossier History Center will have Caddo hands-on replica tools and explain their use.
- A mock dig and recording the objects discovered.
- Traditional basketry demonstration with Artist Geraldine Zelinsky, Founder of the NWLA Basket Makers group.
- Archaeologists Michael Guarino and Jeff Girard will identify artifacts brought in by the public.
- Sawyer Space Dome Planetarium- a 12,000-lumen projector system from The Elumenati.
- The museum also have a Paleontology exhibit, a cast of the life-sized skull and jaw of a Basilosaurus. The location was the Montgomery Landing site on Red River in Grant parish.
*For those interested in learning more, the Louisiana Archaeology Society (LAS) will have representatives to discuss joining the NWLA Society chapter.*
