World Atlatl Day at Graham Cave State Park on June 6

Guests can join Graham Cave State Park and the Missouri Atlatl Association in celebrating World Atlatl Day with an International Standard Accuracy on Saturday, June 6. Sponsored by Missouri State Parks and the Missouri Atlatl Association, the event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the open field near the Loutre River boat ramp.

The atlatl is a weapon predating the bow and arrow, and is a stick with a hook on the end to hold a spear. The build of the weapon is designed to increase the distance, speed and force of the spear.

Visitors can try throwing darts using the atlatl and participate in the accuracy competition. Pre-registration is not required and no experience is needed to participate. The event is free and open to the public.

Graham Cave State Park is located two miles west of Danville off Interstate 70 (Exit 170) at 217 Highway TT. For more information about the event, call (573) 564-3476. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

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Learn about Bannerstones and Atlatl Weights at Van Meter State Park March 2

English: Van Meter State Park in Missouri (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The public is invited to Van Meter State Park near Miami, to attend a lecture by Tom Hartline on bannerstones and atlatl weights. Sponsored by Missouri State Parks, the lecture will be presented at the Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 2.

Tom Hartline, President of the Sedalia-West Central Chapter of the Missouri Archaeological Society, will discuss the bannerstone, a tool that has intrigued collectors and archeologists for many years. He will discuss his theories of how the bannerstone was used with the atlatl, a hunting tool that was used for thousands of years before the bow and arrow. Mr. Hartline will be available after the lecture to identify artifacts for those attending.

Entrance to the cultural center is free and open to the public. Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center is open from10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays from October through March.

Van Meter State Park is located 12 miles northwest of Marshall on Highway 122. For more information about the event, contact the park at 660-886-7537. For information about state parks and historic sites, visitmostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.