Utahns get a feel for state's prehistory
"It looked like fun when I saw it, but now it's hard," she said. "You have to pound on it, and it's hard just holding the rock."
Corn grinding was one of many activities at the Utah Prehistory Week Open House, held at the Rio Grande Depot, 300 Rio Grande in Salt Lake City, May 6. The event kicked off the statewide Utah Prehistory Week, which ran from May 6-13.
The open house featured various activities from Utah's earliest inhabitants including basketry, face-painting, flintnapping, spinning and rock art. One station involved throwing atlatl darts, a weapon used by ancient American inhabitants, at a mammoth target. Parents and children of all ages participated in the event, which was free and open to the public.
Kelli Baxter of Clearfield brought her three children, Michael, 9, Alex, 6, and Camille, 3, to the event as their interest in Utah's prehistory has been piqued after a recent trip to southern Utah.
"I think it's really cool because they get to see things hands on," Baxter said. "It's cool to see how people used to live."
Ron Rood, assistant state archaeologist, said the open house is good to introduce children to aspects of archaeology and history.
"I think it's really important to educate people as much as we can about Utah's historical and archaeological resources," he said. "We want people to appreciate them and know as much about them as they can."
Philip Notarianni, director of the Division of State History and the State Historical Society, said prehistory week is important to help people know there was a human presence in Utah that dates back 10,000-12,000 years.
Statewide during Utah's Prehistory Week events, lectures, demonstrations and tours gave insights into groups who made their lives here for thousands of years before written histories were kept. Events took place in numerous locations around the state including places such as Price, Provo, Cedar City and St. George.
"People seem to think it was the historic period with the Mormon pioneers but, no, it dates back centuries, I think that's important," Notarianni said. "It's also significant for letting people know how important these archaeological sites are statewide."
Portia Barney said she first started bringing her three children, Zach, 17, Rachel, 15, and Hannah, 11, to the event four years ago after finding out about it from her husband's involvement in the Utah State Historical Society. The event has helped their family in two main ways.
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