Native American museum trip inspires
12-27-2008By BEN HINES
BENTONVILLE — Approximately 50 XYZ members of First United Methodist Church here met recently for a lunch and trip to Bentonville's Museum of Native American Artifacts. Xtra Years of Zest (XYZ) is a group composed of retired persons that meet once a month for a noon meal and then visit sites of interest in the area.
The museum, owned and operated by David Bogle, taught us so much about the original inhabitants of this area beginning from 1200 BC. That truly was taking us way back into the past. Our walk through the museum began with the Paleo Period, then the Archaic Period. These periods mostly were about hunting using darts and spears. They hunted mostly deer and buffalo and had to be fairly close to thrust the spear into the animal. There is quite an extensive display of the arrowheads of that time. The primary shape and carving is surprisingly similar throughout the ages.
We then viewed the Woodland Period 850 BC, during which fanning began. This brought about infighting for land and tribes were then formed. Bow and arrow hunting began and life was the forming of farms and hunting grounds. This lasted until 900 AD.
The Mississippian Period, 900-1650 AD, is the last period of Indian living solely in our area. They improved on their hunting and farming implements and the pottery that was found from that time shows some advanced techniques and marvelous artistic designs. The fine condition of the pieces tells us that they were more man just elemental utensils. These are called "Quapaw Pottery." One needs to view the "Head Pots"; they are extraordinary.
The tour ended in a room filled with many Indian artifacts, including clothing with fine beads and quillwork. The time it must have taken to sew on all those beads or to create a vest made out of porcupine quills does tell us that living back then was surely simplified — meaning: no TV to wile away the time.
After our tour, XYZ members ate lunch together and enjoyed the fellowship of fine friends. It was a day to consider that we still have much to learn and more to do in this life.
[Ben Hines, a retired United Methodist pastor, coordinates the XYZ program at First UMC, Bentonville.]
