Tables were set up at the Campus Martius Museum Saturday for kids to enjoy hands on and visual learning about Ohio’s history. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

MARIETTA — October is Archaeology Month in Ohio, and the Campus Martius Museum in Marietta wasn’t going to let COVID-19 ruin the celebration.

The museum held an “Excavate Ohio Day”, where they not only explored archaeology, but looked at different aspects of geology and changes to the earth due to erosion, sedimentation, and deposition as well.

According to event organizer Glenna Hoff, the day saw a large crowd of kids and she felt it was a great turn out considering how the pandemic has impacted everyone.

Kids were able to participate in the following activities:

* Rocks and Minerals, mined and quarried in Ohio & their uses

* Examine geologic maps of Ohio

* Simulated dig

* Interpret artifacts to identify their uses

* Examine fossils (including dinosaur bones) and learn what processes occur for an organism to become a fossil

* Examine a multi-tier timeline reflecting what occurred worldwide & in Ohio from 12,000 BCE to present-day

“It was such a hit, we hope to be able to hold one again in the Spring,” said Hoff.

Marietta College was a huge part of the day, with multiple professors setting up booths and helping educate the children in fun hands on ways.

“Paleontology is the gateway to science,” said Geology Professor at Marietta College Dan Ester. “And it is important, because thanks to Paleontology, we can work towards negating extinction and understanding global warming.”

Ester explained that Marietta college has maintained a huge presence in local and national Paleontology over the years, and have recovered many artifacts and fossils, many of which reside at the Cincinnati Museum.

“There are Ice Age fossils to be found in just about every county in Ohio,” said Ester.

Due to the climate, and geography of Ohio, Ester explained that Ohio was home to many animals, such as Mammoths and Mastodons.

Ester said that people can bring fossils by next time to be identified or contact him at Marietta College.

Madeline Scarborough can be reached at mscarborough@newsandsentinel.com