Galveston County Museum Celebrating Archeology Awareness Month
Museum offering free pinch kits to make pottery to children who visit the museum during the month of October
In the state of Texas, October is Archeology Awareness Month. The Galveston County Museum has partnered with the Texas Historical Commission to offer free pinch pot kits to children who visit the museum during the month of October (while supplies last). Pinch pots are a simple method of making pottery used by ancient people from around the world. These kits include instructions.
Native Americans known as the Karankawa lived along the Gulf Coast of Texas. Archaeologists have uncovered pottery at several area sites.
The Karankawa were known to use a material called asphaltum on their pottery. Asphaltum is a naturally found tar-like material and they used it to decorate, paint, or seal pottery.
Pottery was fired in pits, and sometimes crushed bone was added to the clay which made the pots stronger and less likely to break. Each piece of pottery was decorated with unique symbols and markings.
The Karankawa used pottery and other utensils for cooking and storage just as people do today. The pinch pot kits the museum will be giving away contain clay that will air-dry.
So, bring your kids to the museum, learn some local history, and take away a pinch pot kit to make at home.
The Galveston County Museum is free to visit on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, from 10am to 4pm. The museum is located inside the county building at 722 Moody (21st Street). Parking is free all around the building.
For more details visit www.galvestoncountyhistory.org.