The Rowan Museum announced the public opening of an exhibit called “Our Earliest Cultures.”

This exhibit reflects the history of Rowan County dating back to 12,000 BC and is housed in a new exhibit case crafted by Jerry Long of Salisbury.  The case was given to the Rowan Museum by friends and family members of both the late C. Wayne Whitman and the late Naomi Rink Bernhardt, and an anonymous donor.

The exhibit focuses on early Native American artifacts which include pottery, stone tools and points. The artifacts are from the collections of the Rowan Museum, including gifts or loans from the Brown, Bryan, Hirst, Holt, Horizons Unlimited, Hubbard, King, Redfern and Waller collections.

Also shown are several reproduction items reflecting the early cultures.  Adjacent to the display is a case housing two computer screens.  One is a point identification program.  Guests may bring in items from their personal collections and use the program to identify their own points.  The second computer screen houses a locally filmed flint-knapping video featuring flint knapper Dennis Redfern which shows the making of a stone point.

An opening reception will be held in the DAR Room from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, to honor exhibit contributors and guests.  The Rowan Museum will open at 1 p.m. that day.

The Rowan Museum is located at 202 N. Main St., and is open Friday through Sunday afternoons, 1 p.m.-4  p.m. For more information or to schedule group tours, call the Rowan Museum at 704-633-5946 or email rowanmuseum@fibrant.com.