Meet Our Demonstrators
​Our demonstrators are at the heart of Living Archaeology Weekend. They lend their skills and talents to promote public understanding of and appreciation for the technologies and lifeways of Kentucky's Native and Pioneer peoples.
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Click on the underlined names below to learn more about the dedicated demonstrators who bring the past to life at Living Archaeology Weekend!
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DEMONSTRATORS WORKING WITH PLANTS & ANIMAL HIDES
Hides + Brains = Moccasins
Tressa Brown demonstrates the methods and materials used by Native peoples since the Paleoindian period to tan animal hides and to make center-seam Woodland-style moccasins.
Roberta Burnes demonstrates how cattails are gathered, processed, and woven into mats, which Native peoples used as house walls since the Paleoindian period.
The Versatile Cattail
Twist 'n Twine
Archaeologist Chris Pappas
demonstrates the weaving technique called twining, used by Native peoples since the Paleoindian period to make clothing, bags, sandals, and other textiles.
The Longhunters
Archaeologist Pat Trader describes the lives of longhunters, or professional animal hide hunters, and demonstrates longhunters' clothing and firearms from Kentucky's Historic frontier period.
Music from Nature
Barbara Graham demonstrates how Native peoples in the Archaic, Woodland, & Late Prehistoric periods used river cane, bone, and wood to manufacture flutes and other items.
Cane Artistry
Robin McBride Scott uses archaeological specimens to recreate Southeastern basketry and mat making with river cane, a technology that began in the Archaic period.
Distaffs & Niddy-Noodies
JoAnn Oborski, assisted by Susan and Rick Rindchen, demonstrates techniques and display tools used by Historic period pioneers to spin threads and weave textiles.
DEMONSTRATORS MAKING & USING TOOLS & WEAPONS
Drill Baby Drill
Students demonstrate how Native peoples made and used pump drills beginning in the Archaic Period.
Crafting in Stone
Archaeologists Larry Beane and
Jon Endonino demonstrate flintknapping, the manufacture of chipped-stone tools used by Native peoples since the Paleoindian period.
Blowguns: Accuracy is Key
Doug Meyer demonstrates the manufacture and shooting of Cherokee blowguns used for hunting small game since the Historic Period.
Timmmber!
Phil Bishop demonstrates the manufacture and use of many types of ground-stone tools, focusing on stone axes used in woodworking since the Archaic period.
Tammy Beane demonstrates how to make Southeastern pottery and describes how Woodland-Late Prehistoric period Native peoples used it for storing and cooking food.
Clay Artistry & Utility
Archaeologists Randy Boedy
and Frank Bodkin demonstrate how Archaic and Woodland period Native peoples launched spears using a spear thrower, or atlatl.
The Atlatl Innovation
Blacksmith Jerry Wheeless
demonstrates the tools and techniques of Historic period blacksmiths, including forging, welding, heat-treating, and finishing.
Forging Ahead
DEMONSTRATORS FEATURING EXPRESSIVE ARTS & GAMES
Cherokee Traditions
Members of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, Choogie Kingfisher and Mike Killer, share traditional and contemporary Cherokee stories and speak the Cherokee language. On Friday, they teach visitors how to play stickball, a fast-paced game of teamwork played by Native peoples.
Bluegrass Music
The Bowlin Davis Band, performs traditional music from Appalachia played in claw hammer style on banjo and washtub bass.
Rockin' Art & Mortars
Archaeologist Johnny Faulkner demonstrates the methods and tools Native peoples used to make rock art. He contrasts bedrock mortars used by Native peoples and wood mortars use by pioneers to process nuts and corn.
DEMONSTRATORS FOCUSING ON FOOD AND FOOD PROCESSING
Cooking in Nature's Kitchen
Keith Grenoble demonstrates open-hearth cooking methods used by Native peoples from the Paleoindian to Late Prehistoric periods.
Nature's Medicine Cabinet
Botanist Kim Feeman discusses how Native peoples in all time periods and Historic period settlers gathered and used local plants for medicinal purposes.
Cooking Like Great-Great Grandma
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Archaeologist Jason Flay demonstrates open-hearth cooking methods used by Historic period settlers. Enjoy soup beans and cornbread on Saturday!
From Forest to Garden: Native Plant Domestication
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Archaeologist Renee Bonzani and students display Native plants and tools used to plant, harvest, and process domesticated crops since Archaic times.
The Golden Plant: From Corn to Cornmeal
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Archaeologist Lori Stahlgren demonstrates pioneer corn processing techniques (shelling, grinding, sifting) from the Historic period.
The Not-So-Common Bean
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Heirloom plant expert Bill Best shares his deep love and broad knowledge of the common bean and its long Kentucky heritage, from the Late Prehistoric period to today.
DEMONSTRATORS FEATURING PRESERVATION, ARCHAEOLOGY, & ARCHITECTURE
Kentucky's Rich Heritage
Kentucky Archaeological Survey staff discusses archaeological site preservation and exhibit educational materials about Kentucky’s prehistoric and historic archaeology.
From Collecting to Respecting
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Katherine Mueller asks visitors to consider the critical role they play as stewards of our fragile archaeological heritage.