Ingomar Mounds Archaeology Expo (Oct. 11, 2025)
An archaeology expo took place on October 11 at the Ingomar Mounds, a Middle Woodlands site approximately 2200 years old. The event was sponsored by the Union County Heritage Museum, the Mississippi Archaeological Association, and the Archaeological Conservancy. You can view photos and a 30-minute video from the event below.
Historically, our part of the state formed part of the Chickasaw Nation, but visitors were also able to learn about the culture of the Choctaw who traditionally hail from the central part of the state. This included stickball, a sacred game of the Native people from our state that is still played today, which is a forerunner of today’s lacrosse.
Attendees were able to view ancient tools and pottery created by Native Americans, most of them found in Union County, as well as modern replicas of items from both Chickasaw and Choctaw material culture.
There were also practical demonstrations of traditional Native American crafting techniques, such as wood drilling and flint-knapping.
Roger Dale Rakestraw shares knowledge and advice for artifact hunters
Roger Dale Rakestraw shared a collection of ancient flints and Native pottery from a range of historical periods, as well as fossils from mastodons and mammoths which would have been hunted by Native Americans. Rakestraw said such items can be found in old creek beds around the county, and sometimes in construction sites or wherever the ground has been disturbed.
He encourages people, especially young people, to engage in artifact and fossil hunting so they can learn about and appreciate the rich history of Native Americans. He said there’s nothing like the joy of discovery and knowing you are the first to hold an ancient object for thousands of years. There’s also a possibility of finding relics from more recent history, including the Civil War.
Rakestraw added that it’s very important to always get permission from property owners before hunting for artifacts! One should also be aware of the dangers of searching these creeks, including snakes. He advises searchers to wear snake boots and use sticks instead of your hands to reach into places with groundcover. If possible, find someone experienced to guide you. You can look for Roger Rakestraw on Facebook.
Piominko Day in Tupelo on Monday October 13 to honor Chickasaw heritage
Our videographer Kim Davis spoke to Brad Deramos of the Chickasaw Inkana Foundation and Bill Brekeen from the Chickasaw Nation Heritage Preservation Division. The Chickasaw Nation has been based mostly in Oklahoma since the federal government forcibly removed them from their ancestral homelands in the 19th century. To honor their history and roots in Mississippi, the Chickasaw Nation is building a museum on the Natchez Trace near Tupelo, which should open in the fall of 2026. The cultural center will feature exhibits and demonstrations as well as traditional food to educate visitors about Chickasaw heritage.
The Chickasaw Inkana Foundation is hosting a Piominko Day event on Monday October 13 from 10 AM – 1 PM at Fair Park in Tupelo. The event is free and will feature a wreath laying in honor of Chief Piominko and Chickasaw cultural demonstrations. Chickasaw dancers and cultural instructors are coming in for Oklahoma for the event. For more information, visit Inkana.org or call 662-842-4176
