3rd Annual Festival
Saturday, March 24
10am - 3pm

Hundreds of local residents and visitors participated in the 3rd annual Southwest Florida History and Archaeology Festival at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve on Saturday March 24. The event featured a presentation by Dr. Randolph Widmer, archaeologist with the University of Houston, about the unique history of shell mounds within the Reserve. Five guided walks along the mounds were filled to capacity, and visitors also enjoyed pioneer games, weaving palm fronds, samples of pioneer edibles made over a camp fire, and a demonstration of an ancient atlatl, a spear throwing device used before the bow and arrow.

Activities throughout the day included: Story in a box, midden tray, twining, artifacts and shell tools, weaving, hourly native plant walks, pioneer games, crafts and more! Also on the premises: Hourly native plant walks, BBQ FOOD, reference information and display tables




Ethnobotany: Calusa use of native plants

with John Beriault, Archaeological and Historical Conservancy.

The Little Marco Settlement: Pioneers on Shell Island, with Steve Bertone, Rookery Bay NERR

11 am - Chautaqua Presentation #1:

Tommie Barfield, Capt. Bill Collier and Deaconess Bedell.

12:15 - Atlatl demonstration

(John Beriault)

1:00 - Archaeology of the Shell Island site and Rookery Bay

Dr. Randolph Widmer, University of Houston



Archaeology of the Shell Island site

with Dr. Randolph Widmer.

Ethnobotany: Calusa use of native plants

(John Beriault).

The Little Marco Settlement: Pioneers on Shell Island

(Steve Bertone).

ADMISSION was $5 for adults, FREE for members and kids under 12.

BONUS feature:

Afternoon guided kayak experience through the mangroves with naturalist Cyril Marks