Many people head to Cuyahoga Valley National Park to hike, birdwatch or camp. But they may not realize many generations of Native Americans called that home.

Archaeologist and Cleveland State lecturer Phil Wanyerka studies the history of the people who lived in Cuyahoga Valley National Park thousands of years ago.

For the last several summers, he has brought Cleveland State students to the park to conduct research, which helps others learn more about those early inhabitants and their cultures.

He sat down with Managing Producer of Arts and Culture Carrie Wise in studio to discuss some of what they have found, including a piece of pottery about 3,000 years old.

Wanyerka will share more about the prehistory of the Cuyahoga Valley at the park’s Lyceum Lecture Series on March 10 at 7 p.m. at the Happy Days Lodge in Peninsula.