GARYVILLE – River Parishes residents will have the opportunity Oct. 1 to learn more about local archaeology at San Francisco Plantation – all part of Louisiana Archaeology Week.

Starting at 4 p.m., Rachel Watson, with the Louisiana Division of Archaeology, will give a presentation titled “Protecting Louisiana’s Heritage: Archaeology’s Role in Historic Preservation.”

The program is free of charge and open to the public. For more information, call Eddy Parker at 985-535-2341.

Also, in Luling, a display of the ancient weaponry art of Atlatl will be at the St. Charles Parish Library Luling branch throughout the month of October.

This will be in conjuction with an Atlantl contest, set Oct. 4 from noon to 4 p.m. and Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the West Bank Bridge Park in Luling.

Co-sponsored by the Delta Chapter of the Louisiana Archeaological Society and the St. Charles Historical Foundation, the contest is especially encouraged by senior citizens.

Atlatl is a method of spear-throwing, where a hook-shaped device with a handle holds the short spear, which is launched by a quick hurling method. Research showed it pre-dated the bow-and-arrow and dated back more than 19,000 years.

The method is still in use in Australia, Mexico, the Arctic and parts of Asia.

Atlatl-throwing will be included in next year’s Senior Olympics.