Just as American Indians did a thousand years ago, Town Creek Indian Mound State Historic Site in Mt. Gilead celebrates the annual harvest season Saturday, Oct.11.

An annual living history program, Eastern Woodlands Day will highlight how American Indians who prospered during the Woodland Period (ca. 1000 B.C.-1200 A.D.) lived. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., staff and volunteers will demonstrate skills and techniques used by these people including open-hearth cooking, flint-knapping and even making a fire using a bow-drill. This event is free and open to the public; donations are appreciated.

In many native cultures, October is known as the harvesting month as this is when the corn is ripe and ready to be picked. Susie Gingras (Cherokee) will show how natives used heated stones in doing open-hearth cooking. Also, during the harvest season, the men would hunt for deer and other small game so Bill Gingras (Abnaki) will display his proficiency in flint-knapping and crafting prehistoric hunting tools. Fire was essential to the Woodland Indians, so Bill Gingras will also demonstrate how to make fire using a bow-drill, a method called "fire by friction."

Hands-on activities will also be offered for kids or just those young at heart. Participants can weave a bracelet using the ancient technique of cordage or form their own clay pinch-pot, just as the natives did. American Indian stories and legends from will be told all throughout the day as well.

The mission of Town Creek Indian Mound is to interpret the history of the American Indians who once lived here. The visitor center features interpretive exhibits, as well as audiovisual displays. A national historic landmark, Town Creek Indian Mound State Historic Site is North Carolina's only state historic site dedicated to American Indian heritage. Tour groups are welcome and encouraged. The site is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. It is closed to the public Mondays and most major holidays.

The historic site is located on Town Creek Mound Road approximately five miles east of Mt. Gilead, in southern Montgomery County between N.C. 73 and N.C. 731.

For more information on Town Creek, visit www.towncreek.nchistoricsites.org/.