Archeology Program to Examine the Lives of Neanderthals

PETIT JEAN MOUNTAIN, Ark. (Nov. 23, 2009) — Dr. Marvin Kay, professor of anthropology at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, will be the guest speaker at an archeology film and lecture event on Thursday, Dec. 10, beginning at 7 p.m. The program will take place at Winthrop Rockefeller Institute atop Petit Jean Mountain.
 
The film of the evening, Caveman (1981), parodies other movies about prehistoric beings as it portrays the lives of two misfit ancient people, Atouk and Lar. Throughout the film, the duo learns the secrets of fire, how to cook meat and how to defend themselves from the vicious, yet unintelligent, dinosaurs. Dr. Kay will lead the discussion following the film with accounts of his work analyzing Neanderthal stone tools.
 
Neanderthal people and other Early Modern Human populations have been referred to as “cavemen” simply because much of the evidence about their ways of life has been preserved in the protective, albeit seldom used, mouths of caves. Most of their camps, hunting stations and animal processing sites were out in the open, but those locations have been damaged by tens of thousands of years of erosion and thousands of years of agriculture. 
 
Cavemen and Kay’s lecture are part of “Picture the Past,” a cooperative venture between the Rockefeller Institute and the Arkansas Archeological Survey. Now in its third year, the program aims to broaden the public’s interest in archeology through films and guest lecturers. Picture the Past is generally held the second Thursday of every other month at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
 
A North American archeology study guide CD is also available at no charge to Picture the Past participants. This study guide is made possible in part by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
 
For those who would like dinner before the event, the Rockefeller Institute’s River Rock Grill will open for dinner at 5 p.m. Call (501) 727-5435 for reservations.
 
Winthrop Rockefeller Institute of the University of Arkansas System is an educational institute and conference center. Committed to acting as a catalyst, its vision involves combining the legacy and ideas of Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller with the resources and expertise of the state’s largest university system. Its mission is to develop diverse programs that nurture ideas, policies and activities to make life better in Arkansas.
 
The Rockefeller Institute accomplishes its mission by offering a variety of workshops, seminars, public lectures, conferences and special events. Program areas include arts and humanities, agriculture and environment, economic development, and policy and public affairs. To learn more, call (501) 727-5435, visit the Web site at www.uawri.org, or stay connected on Twitter and Facebook.