By Sarah Nelson
The BYU Museum of Peoples and Cultures will host a celebration, May 6-13, in honor of Utah Prehistory and Heritage Week.
Activities will include a lecture on archaeological efforts in Southeastern Utah, Native American story-telling and a demonstration fair.
Activities begin on Tuesday, May 9, at 7 p.m. with a lecture entitled, “The Lure of the Canyons: Southeast Utah Archaeology in the 1890s.”
The lecture, given by Joel C. Janetski, a BYU professor of archaeology, will focus on the history and importance of early archeological discoveries in Southeastern Utah.
“The discovered objects are interesting and valuable because through them we can learn about the Anasazi time period,” Janetski said.
The goal of the lecture is to inform the public about the Anasazi people who were farmers and lived mainly in the four-corners area of the United States, he said.
The lecture will also explain the history of collecting activities in Southeastern Utah during the 1890s.
“The lecture will be very interesting and many of the Anasazi artifacts and objects that Dr. Janetski will discuss are located in the museum exhibit,” said Mauri Liljenquist, coordinator of museum programs.
On Thursday, May 11, at 7 p.m., the Native American Performing group, Morning Star, will present Southwestern Native American myths and legends.
“The program is entertaining and children will enjoy it,” Liljenquist said.
A traditional Native Skills Demonstration Fair Saturday, May 13, will conclude the week’s events. The demonstration fair will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the museum.
Participants will learn how to make cordage, fashion arrowheads, grind corn, weave baskets, bake bead, and shape pottery.
“There is usually a good turn out for the events on Saturday. Each year attendance increases as people hear about it,” said Liljenquist. “We expect about 200 people on Saturday for the demonstration fair.”
All events will take place at the museum, located at the corner of 700 North 100 East in Provo.
For more information contact the Museum of Peoples and Cultures at (801) 378-6698.
