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Archaeology Roadshow: The Archaeology of Fire & Water

Saturday May 30th 2026 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Exhibitor showing something to visitor at Archaeology Roadshow
Location
Gateway Discovery Park
10520 NE Halsey St, Portland, OR 97220
Cost / Admission
Free and Open to All

Join the School of Earth, Environment & Society's Anthropology academic area and partners for the 14th annual Archaeology Roadshow in Portland! We’re taking our celebration of history and archaeology to East Portland’s Gateway Discovery Park on Saturday, May 30.

Come immerse yourself in the heritage of our region through pop-up exhibits and hands-on activities hosted by over 30 organizations including Tribes, museums, government agencies, private companies and universities.

This year’s theme is “Fire & Water,” two things fundamental to the human story for all times and places. You'll learn:

  • ways our region’s Indigenous people engineered waterproofing technologies long before modern
    synthetic materials;
  • how ancient Ice Age floods shaped Portland landscapes – leaving evidence you can see today;
  • how Indigenous people and recent settlers skillfully managed water and fire in order to thrive in our
    watery and fire-prone region;
  • how people have expressed their deep connections to water and fire through art and craft;
  • build a fire using just friction and a bow-drill; and
  • practice making stone tools or throwing a replica of an ancient spear

To assist non-English speakers, we’ll have translators for Spanish. For more details, visit https://archaeologyroadshow.org/

Bring up to three personal objects (stone tools, pottery, animal bones) you wish to learn more about to a panel of experts who will help you interpret your find. No financial appraisals are given.

This free, family friendly (and fun!) event gives visitors of all ages the chance to learn about Oregon’s past and its connection to us today.