STAFF REPORT

SPANISH FORT, Alabama — Archaeologists from the University of South Alabama have joined with Historic Blakeley State Park to offer tours to the mounds of early Gulf Coast Native Americans deep in the heart of the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta.

 Tours to the Bottle Creek Indian mounds located on Mound Island in the upper section of the Delta are offered to the public on Nov. 25 and Dec. 16 aboard Blakeley Park’s Delta Explorer. Dr. Gregory Waselkov, director of the USA Center for Archaeological Studies, and other staff members will narrate the tours.

The tours will leave by Blakeley boat at 9:30 a.m. from Lower Bryant’s Landing on the Tensaw River on Highway 225 just north of I-65. 

 The Delta Explorer will run up the Tensaw River past scenic natural areas and wildlife, dock at the riverbank at the island for a tour on foot by passengers, and return to Lower Bryant’s Landing by 12:30 p.m.

 During the walking and climbing tour, narrators will describe the history and life of the early Native Americans who lived on the island and built the mounds that still exist there.

Passengers are cautioned that the island tour requires some strenuous walking and climbing. Cost of the tour is $35 for adults and $18 for children 11 and 12.

 The tour is not recommended for children under 11. Reservations can be made by calling Blakeley Park at 251-626-5581 and paying with major credit cards.

Blakeley Park is limiting the number of passengers to 50 and reservations for both trips are filling up fast. For more information call Blakeley Park at 251-626-5581 or email Blakeleypark@aol.com.