ArcheOlympics 2023

ArcheOlympics 2023 was another great success! Our Winthrop Rockefeller Institute Station Archeologist, Dr. Emily Beahm, once again opened up her station for the event and the weather was great for competing. This year, we had 11 teams from four universities and one group of 4H members competing for our amazing 3D-printed trophy and individual game ribbons. Congratulations to Bowne’s Bears from the University of Central Arkansas on their championship!

Bowne’s Bears (UCA) pose with their grand prize trophy after the ArcheOlympics.

This year’s games once again featured spear-throwing with an atlatl, an archeology themed obstacle course, and archeology trivia. Members of each team threw spears for distance and accuracy. The winning distance throw was 45.15 m and winning accuracy was two team hits on the target; work on this for next year, folks! The obstacle course was a team event this year and it started with laying out an accurate 1 x 1 m unit. Four of the 11 teams did this so accurately (within a few cm/side) that they did not incur a penalty! Way to go Mastodon, Bowne’s Bears, Monroe Archaeologists, and UCA Team 4! The trivia contest was the closest score, with four teams being tied for first place before a two-question tie breaker and finally a coin flip to crown a winner.

This year, the Arkansas Archeological Society provided lunch for all of the participants and ARAS Photographer and Graphic Artist, Rachel Tebbetts, stepped up to the grill to cook everything. Thank you, Rachel! And thank you to the Society!

Thank you to everyone who came out to play, watch, or help and to any who helped prepare the archeoletes for the event beforehand. A big thank you to: Emily Beahm, Jason Kennedy, Maureece Levin, Tim Mulvihill, Liley Bozard, Autumn Warren, Alex Barker, Rachel Tebbetts, Gillian Steeno, Josh Lynch, Valerie Turner, Kourtney Lee, and Taylor Greene for all of their help on the day and in getting teams ready to compete.

The Bipedal Barbarians (UCA) “excavate” a unit during the obstacle course while Dr. Levin supervises and keeps time.

Overall places:

1^st: Bowne’s Bears (UCA)

2^nd: UCA Team 4

3^rd: UALR

Trivia:

1^st: Bowne’s Bears (UCA)

2^nd: UALR

3^rd: UCA Team 2

Atlatl Accuracy:

1^st: Bipedal Barbarians (UCA)

2^nd: Bowne’s Bears (UCA)

3^rd: UALR

Atlatl Distance:

1^st: Jesse from UALR

2^nd: Dusty from UCA Team 4

3^rd: Kade from Bowne’s Bears (UCA)

Obstacle Course:

1^st: Bowne’s Bears (UCA)

2^nd: UCA Team 4

3^rd: Baby’s First Dart (ATU)