MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — This July, Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex in Moundsville will host a lecture on preserving West Virginia’s coal mining history and will celebrate summer by decorating bug-collecting jars. The public can also visit the museum’s Interpretive Garden which features some of the plants that were likely important to the Native Americans who lived near the Mound.
A lecture titled “How West Virginia’s Office of Abandoned Minelands Preserves West Virginia’s Coal Mining History” will be presented at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, by Jeffery Davis, WVDEP-AML regional planning supervisor of its Southern District. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) Office of Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) oversees and facilitates the resolving of public safety issues related to abandoned coal operations. These include mine fires, open portals, mine subsidence, hazardous highwalls, mine blow outs, open shafts and other dangers resulting from mining operations before 1977. In 1981, passage of the Surface Mining and Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) and the creation of the Office of Abandoned Mine Lands provided ways to protect the public from these “pre-law” hazards. Davis will discuss the delicate balancing act required of AML to protect the public while also preserving the history of West Virginia’s coal operations.
Bug collecting is a favorite summertime pastime for many. Visitors to the museum in July can prepare for this activity by decorating “Bug Jars.” The plastic jars feature perforated lids that can be made to resemble a bee or a ladybug. The jars can be used for close-up observation of our friends from the insect world – but please remember to set them free again afterwards!
Visitors are also invited to see the Interpretive Garden and a few examples of plants that were likely important to the local Native Americans. The “Three Sisters” of Corn, Beans, and Squash played a very important role in feeding their people, especially in later times. The garden also includes sunflowers, a mulberry tree, a grapevine, and goosefoot plants which are also likely ingredients for prehistoric meals. Dogbane and milkweed are grown for the fibers in their long stems which can be twisted into string. String impressions can be found in many of the pottery sherds displayed in the museum. In addition, pawpaw trees and blueberry bushes are grown in a separate patch.
Operated by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex features one of the largest conical burial mounds built by the Adena people between 250 – 150 B.C. and ranks as one of the largest earthen mortuary mounds anywhere in the world. Exhibits and displays in the Delf Norona Museum interpret what is known about the lives of these prehistoric people and the construction of the mound. The complex also houses the West Virginia Archaeological Research and Collections Management Facility.
Admission to Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex is free. The Delf Norona Museum, located at 801 Jefferson Avenue, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. Access to the Mound and other outdoor areas closes at 4:30 p.m., weather permitting.
For more information about activities and programs at Grave Creek Mound, contact Andrea Keller, cultural program coordinator, at (304) 843-4128 or andrea.k.keller@wv.gov or visit www.facebook.com/gravecreekmound, and www.instagram.com/gravecreekmound.