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Contact: Tim Cruze, 806-857-3151 Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument is pleased to announce the upcoming Flintfest 2017 for Saturday, September 16, 2017. Activities start at 9:00 am and run through 4:30 p.m. This special event celebrates the unique resource known as “Alibates Flint” and its usage through the ages.
There will be several “don’t miss” highlights of the day including the “knap-in”, featuring some of the best flintknappers from around the area demonstrating the skill of making stone tools and weapons. Visitors can watch in amazement and actually see demonstrations of arrowheads and spearpoints being made on site utilizing some of the exact same techniques once used by ancient Native Americans hundreds of years ago, and learn about the flint knapping process.
Featured will be special Ranger-led walking tours, including an Antelope Creek Peoples Ruins Tour at 9:00 a.m. to the village and petroglyph sites associated with the Antelope Creek Phase of the Plains Village culture (ca. AD 1150-1450). The Alibates Flint Quarries Tour will be offered at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Tours are free, but these two activities usually requires reservations, but not during Flintfest 2017. If interested in one of the special activities just sign-up at the front desk at the Alibates Visitor Center. We will limit each tour to 25 people for protection of the resource. Listed below are other activities, times and locations:
ALIBATES THEATER
11:00 “Mine of Information” – with Dr. Paul Katz, a renowned Southwest archeologist, will present a presentation on the Antelope Creek Culture, who lived near the Alibates Flint Quarries during the span of (1100-1450 A.D.) Join Dr. Katz in the Alibates Theater for this special presentation. 1 hour.
1:30 p.m. “Paleo Life” – Join the Ranger to learn about ancient peoples who lived on the Texas Panhandle 13, 000 years ago. Learn about their culture, weapons, clothing, food, and family life, to understand who exactly were the Paleo-Indians. 45 minutes
3:30 p.m. “Geology of Alibates” – Come and join in with the discussion about Alibates Flint or agatized dolomite and the geological features of the area eroded by wind and water. 45 minutes.
ATLATL CONTEST
12:00 p.m. -2:00 p.m. – Coaching, practice and registration will occur on the range.
2:00 p.m. “Atlatl Contest” – Learn how to use this ancient weapon and participate in the Flintfest 2017 contest. Competition will be low key with an emphasis on fun, so don’t hesitate to come out and enjoy. There is no age limit, but children under the age of 10 may not have sufficient coordination to enjoy this activity.
In addition, earn your NPS Junior Ranger badge and participate in Ranger-guided activities. Become an adventurer and explorer for the National Park Service. Activities to occur during the “core” hours of 10:00 -2:00 p.m. For more information or to make reservations, please contact Lake Meredith headquarters at 806-857-3151 or Alibates Flint Quarries at 806-857-6680. |
Last updated: February 8, 2018