Moundville Archaeological Park Hosts Lithic Arts Festival

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Moundville Archaeological Park, part of The University of Alabama, will host the Moundville Lithic Arts Festival March 6-7.

Formerly the Knap-In, the traditional arts festival will bring together flintknappers from across the country alongside nonprofit organizations and educators. The event welcomes visitors of all ages, families, students and community members interested in traditional arts, Indigenous lifeways and hands-on learning.

The festival will feature live flintknapping demonstrations, education about the natural world, traditional and Native arts and tools, Native food vendors, a silent auction and opportunities for the public to play the traditional game of chunkey.

A live flintknapping workshop for University of Alabama students to learn how to make their own stone tools will take place on Saturday. Registration is required for this free event.

"The festival offers visitors a chance to see how stone tools were made and used for thousands of years while engaging directly with living traditions," said Jessica Dees, education outreach coordinator at Moundville Archaeological Park. "The descendants of Moundville are part of many living and thriving indigenous cultures that continue traditional arts today."

The Moundville Lithic Arts Festival is free with paid park admission. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $6 for students, $6 for military, and free for Native American visitors with tribal membership cards, UA Museums members, Bryant Museum Circle of Champions members and children under five years old.

Festival hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The festival is a rain or shine event.

For more information on the festival and park, visit the Moundville Archaeological Park website.