Have an archeological adventure with the Archaeological Research Institute in Lawrenceburg, Ind.
By the Editors
It’s a great time to go out and explore, and the small towns and cities along the Ohio River are a great place to start. In the heart of one such city—Lawrenceburg, Indiana—the Archaeological Research Institute (ARI) awaits with a full day of activities that will leave you wanting more. ARI, while open Tuesday through Saturday, has experiences for the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Start your day off with some wonderful coffee from Funny Farm Coffee Company (29 E. High St.), where all the beans are brewed in house. If coffee isn’t your thing or you’re just looking for another option then Sweet Beard Bakehouse (319 Walnut St.) is just around the corner, with all the sweet treats baked fresh daily that you can imagine.
Then head to ARI (126 W. High St.) for one of its many experiences, including:
– A Field Experience, where participants can get dirty out in the field.
– A Lab Experience, where you can escape the heat and learn about artifacts inside.
– An Experimental Experience, which teaches individuals to hunt like the Fort Ancient people at ARI’s atlatl range.
– The Fort Ancient Augmented Reality Tour, which encourages visitors to grab an iPad and take a tour with virtual dog, Rex, ARI’s official Barkeologist, on an augmented reality tour of a 1,000-year-old Fort Ancient Village called the Guard Site.
– The Great Miami Archeology Tour (GMAT). Offered on specific days, it takes you to local River Basin historical and archaeological sites in and around the Great Miami.
Build your fun-filled day by picking an experience to have in the morning (10 a.m. to noon) and one in the afternoon (2 to 4 p.m.).
In between tours and experiences, take time for lunch in one of Lawrenceburg’s local restaurants, In the mood for pizza? Strong’s Brick Oven Pizzeria (1 E. High St.) is the place to go. Want a relaxed atmosphere with great food? Proof 124 Table and Tavern (124 Short St.) and Hoosier Icehouse (37 W. High St.) are great places with quality American bar food. Looking for something quick? Grab a smoothie from Zen Zone (146 Walnut St.).
ARI’s most popular pairings are field and experimental experiences, which give visitors the opportunity to spend the full day outside. Field and lab experiences are also a popular combination so that you can see everything the archaeologists do on a regular basis.
After your full day, head down to the Dearborn Trail and take in the view of the Ohio River. ARI is just a block away.
