SunWatch Indian Village, Archaeological site and open-air museum in Dayton, United States.
SunWatch is a three-acre open-air museum along the Great Miami River with reconstructed Fort Ancient dwellings, a defensive palisade wall, and a central plaza. These buildings are based on extensive archaeological work conducted between 1971 and 1988.
The site was discovered in the 1960s and systematically excavated starting in 1971. Archaeologists found evidence of a circular stockaded settlement occupied about 200 years before European contact.
The museum works with Shawnee representatives to create exhibits that reflect Fort Ancient society and daily practices. Visitors can observe how people managed their household tasks and lived together in this settlement centuries ago.
The site has paved paths that are easy to walk and picnic areas for resting. Schools and families should contact ahead to participate in guided tours and hands-on activities.
The site gets its name from a group of posts in the central plaza that served as a solar observatory. Early residents used these to track the sun's movement for their ceremonies and harvest timing.
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