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October 7, 2025
Celebrate Archaeology Month at the Frontier Times Museum
October has been declared Archaeology month in Texas and to celebrate, the Frontier Times Museum is inviting everyone to Dig Into Archaeology with a fun family activity day. On Oct. 11, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the museum will give everyone a chance to be an archaeologist with demonstrations and arts and crafts.
Activities include Digging for Artifacts, Foodways of Native Texans, Atlatl Throws, and Make Your Own Pottery Bowl—hands-on experiences that highlight the work of archaeologists. Archaeologists study the traces left behind by ancient peoples, from fragments of pottery and stone tools to animal bones and other remains. Visitors can try their hand at uncovering “buried treasure” in a mini-archaeology dig.
One of the most exciting discoveries for archaeologists is a midden—an ancient trash site where generations of people discarded food scraps and domestic waste such as shells, bones, and charcoal. Found most often along rivers, these refuse piles provide a remarkable record of the daily lives and environments of Native Texans. Learn how archaeologists can also recreate the diet of early Texans from what is left behind in a midden.
Step back in time and try your hand at throwing an atlatl. This ancient spear-thrower, first developed more than 17,000 years ago, was used by Upper Paleolithic hunters and later by the earliest Texans. The atlatl added speed, power, and distance to a hunter’s throw, making it a vital tool for survival. Archaeologists have uncovered examples in the Lower Pecos rock shelters of far West Texas, offering a direct link to the region’s earliest people.
Throughout the event, T. J. Jennings will be on site with a display of arrowheads and projectile points, while Christian Markham demonstrates the intricate skill of flintknapping. Both Jennings and Harrison will also present special programs at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., on the museum’s Trail Drivers Theatre outdoor stage.
All these activities will happen on the museum grounds and are free with museum admission. The Frontier Times Museum is located at 510 13th Street in Bandera, Texas. Visit www.frontiertimesmuseum.org or call 830-796-3864 for more information.
Activities include Digging for Artifacts, Foodways of Native Texans, Atlatl Throws, and Make Your Own Pottery Bowl—hands-on experiences that highlight the work of archaeologists. Archaeologists study the traces left behind by ancient peoples, from fragments of pottery and stone tools to animal bones and other remains. Visitors can try their hand at uncovering “buried treasure” in a mini-archaeology dig.
One of the most exciting discoveries for archaeologists is a midden—an ancient trash site where generations of people discarded food scraps and domestic waste such as shells, bones, and charcoal. Found most often along rivers, these refuse piles provide a remarkable record of the daily lives and environments of Native Texans. Learn how archaeologists can also recreate the diet of early Texans from what is left behind in a midden.
Step back in time and try your hand at throwing an atlatl. This ancient spear-thrower, first developed more than 17,000 years ago, was used by Upper Paleolithic hunters and later by the earliest Texans. The atlatl added speed, power, and distance to a hunter’s throw, making it a vital tool for survival. Archaeologists have uncovered examples in the Lower Pecos rock shelters of far West Texas, offering a direct link to the region’s earliest people.
Throughout the event, T. J. Jennings will be on site with a display of arrowheads and projectile points, while Christian Markham demonstrates the intricate skill of flintknapping. Both Jennings and Harrison will also present special programs at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., on the museum’s Trail Drivers Theatre outdoor stage.
All these activities will happen on the museum grounds and are free with museum admission. The Frontier Times Museum is located at 510 13th Street in Bandera, Texas. Visit www.frontiertimesmuseum.org or call 830-796-3864 for more information.