The Archaeological Research Institute
Events at this venue
3rd Annual Adventure Trek at the Oxbow: Kickoff to Summer Festival
Kick things off with a 5K run through the landscape, then stick around for hands-on archaeological adventures. After the race, you’ll step into the role of a researcher, tackling simple challenges inspired by real fieldwork. Explore how archaeologists find and study sites while uncovering clues from the past. It’s a fun, active way to connect […]
Hands in the Land: Invasive Plant ID & Foraging Hike
Participants will hike starting at the Guard Archaeological Preserve & moving around Oxbow Nature Preserve to forage greens for pesto. Participants will learn how to identify edible invasive & naturalized plants for making pesto, namely garlic mustard, wild garlic, dock, and dandelion. After hiking and gathering edible invasive plants, participants will return to Guard to […]
Wildcrafted: Plant Pressing Workshop
Join us for a Plant Pressing Workshop led by the Civic Garden Center and explore the art and science of preserving plants. Learn ethical foraging techniques, the history behind plant pressing, and create your own botanical artwork to take home.
Lawrenceburg Historical Preservation 101
Discover the stories behind the streets of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. This engaging introduction explores why preserving historic buildings and neighborhoods matters—not just for protecting the past, but for strengthening community identity and future growth.
Hands on History: Harvesting for Dyes and Cordage
Learn how to identify and responsibly harvest early-season plants used for natural dye production and cordage. This hands-on workshop for adults and kids ages 10 and up explores traditional plant uses and harvesting techniques.
Artifact, Rock, and Fossil Identification Day
Bring in your artifacts, rocks, and fossils and have them identified and recorded by a professional! Learn how to get involved with local archaeology, upcoming research, and meet our team!
Happy Hour History: Tod Swormstedt
Join us for ARI’s Speaker Series — a fun, welcoming way to spend an evening learning something new and connecting with your community. This month, Tod Swormstedt, founder of the Cincinnati Sign Museum, will share the fascinating history of illuminated signs. Held monthly at our Lawrenceburg office at 126 W. High Street, these events are […]
Guard Site Tour
Join ARI’s Director of Public Archaeology for a guided tour of the Guard Archaeological Preserve. Discover how archaeologists' study and preserve this significant local site and learn about the people who once lived here.
Hands on History: Step into Fort Ancient
Join us at our Base Camp for a hands-on, family-friendly experience celebrating creativity, community, and the foodways of the Fort Ancient people. This special event invites children and adults to explore a variety of make-and-take crafts while sampling Indigenous-inspired foods prepared with simple, traditional ingredients. Alongside the craft activities, guests will enjoy a small tasting […]
Dig Ready: How Archaeologists Gear Up
This workshop will cover some of the techniques our staff uses to gear up for our summer fieldwork. Participants will get hands on experience with some of the technology we use, will help the team prep our gear, and will get a sneak preview of the upcoming excavation season. Plan to spend at least part […]
Hands on History: Dart Making and Fletching
Step into the world of ancient hunting technology. In this hands-on atlatl workshop, you will craft and fletch your own dart from start to finish. First, you’ll shape and straighten the shaft. Then, you’ll balance the dart for better control. Finally, you’ll attach fletching and test how it affects flight and accuracy. Along the way, […]
Artifact, Rock, and Fossil Identification Day
Bring in your artifacts, rocks, and fossils and have them identified and recorded by a professional! Learn how to get involved with local archaeology, upcoming research, and meet our team!