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black and white line drawing of an armadillo archeologist squatting in front of an excavation with cliffs in the background, colored by a child's hand
Dr. Dirt Visits Hank's House, colored by Madden Hill.

Print and color this downloadable coloring sheet of Dr. Dirt visiting Hank's House! When you are done with that, grab a copy of a kids' book about the adventures of uncovering Hank's House and other parts of a Plains Villager "ghost town" in the Texas Panhandle!

The 2022 book, Porch Talk: A Conversation About Archaeology in the Texas Panhandle, was written by John Erickson (the author of the Hank the Cowdog book series) and Texas archeologist and friend of Texas Beyond History, Doug Boyd. The book tells the story of discovery that John embarked on when he saved up and purchased his ranch near Perryton, Texas. Who lived there over a thousand years ago? In Porch Talk, John and Doug investigate this question while explaining the art and science of archeology. Written for middle school readers, the book can be purchased through Texas Tech University Press, or ask for it at your local or school library!

color illustrated book cover of Porch Talk, depicting two men in rocking chairs on a porch overlooking archeological excavations
Porch Talk: A Conversation About Archaeology in the Texas Panhandle, by John Erickson and Doug Boyd, was published in 2022 by Texas Tech University Press.