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A series of day and evening guided tours to observe the Autumnal Equinox through the eyes of pre-historic Caddoan leaders will be presented on Sept. 21-22 at the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center near Spiro.

Archaeologist and Manager Dennis Peterson of the center will lead the tours, which have been increasingly popular during recent years, at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. each day. Fees will be $3 for adults and $2 for children with
reservations required only for large groups.

''Each walk will take about two hours and require a mile of easy walking,'' said Peterson. ''I will describe this unique prehistoric Native American mound site, the types of mounds, why they were created and why some of the
mounds are lined up for the sunsets of the spring-fall equinoxes and the winter-summer solstices.''

Peterson also will describe Native American ceremonies, and he will relate tales of unusual happenings associated with the mounds as well as the history of excavations at the site.

More than 1,000 years ago, the Caddoan leaders at the Spiro Mounds watched the skies to keep track of time. By tracking the sun and lining it up with mounds, they knew when to plant, harvest and hold ceremonies. With this
knowledge, he said, they led eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas communities to prosperity.

The Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center is the only prehistoric Native American site open to the public in Oklahoma and administered by the Oklahoma Historical Society. It is open regularly Wednesday through Saturday
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Except for special programs, admission is free, but donations are appreciated, he said. The center is located three miles east of Spiro on U.S. Hwy. 271 and four miles north on Spiro Mounds Road. For more information or to arrange a group or school tour, contact the center at
(918) 962-2062 or via email at spiromds@ipa.net.