MARIETTA - Children of all ages stepped back through history on Saturday for the Kid's Archaeology Day at Campus Martius Museum.
"We've held events in the past similar to this, but this is the first year specifically for kids with hands-on programs," said Glenna Hoff with the museum.
Hoff said the museum had hoped for about 100 people, but had seen about 150 people in the first hour-and-a-half of the day.
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Photo by Jolene Craig
Abby Cullins, 9, of Dresden, Ohio, concentrates on flintknapping during the Kid’s Archaeology Day at Campus Martius Museum in Marietta Saturday.
"The event wasn't supposed to start until 10 a.m., but when we opened at 9:30, there was a heard of people waiting," she said. "I guess it goes to show that no matter how old you are, digging around in the dirt and finding things while learning about them is just fun."
Bill Pickard, assistant curator and collections specialist with the Ohio Historical Society, said he liked the idea of gearing historical and archaeological events to children.
"Kids don't get a good handle on pre-history or history, but being involved in something like this event gives them the appreciation that something happened in the world before now," he said.
During Saturday's event, children learned how to make arrowheads and spear points from flintknappers as well as how to tell the difference between an artifact and weathered rock with the help of the Marietta College Geology Department.
"This event is really cool," said Diana Bennett, a senior geology student from the college. "I'm getting the chance to show kids fossils and tell them why it is so cool."
Pickard also gave an informative lecture called "CSI: Ice Age," where he tied the popular crime show with paleontology.
"Even when you find an arrowhead, each piece has a story," he said. "That is what I hope the kids take away from my presentation; that everything you find has a story and we can find it."
Archaeologist Chris Euler came with his family from Athens for the event.
"My son Ronan, 5, likes archaeology and this gives him a chance to not only learn about it, but even dig for dinosaurs," Euler said.
Museum volunteer Sue Beaver said she enjoyed the busy event.
"I've been getting a lot of questions about the (Rufus Putnam) house and just seeing all of the kids here and knowing they are having fun and learning is great - hopefully they will come back and bring their friends."
