Rock Mr. Richens

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Ooo rock me Mr. Richens

Ah, archaeologists just can't throw anything away

So, I was flipping through some books on the history of various Utah counties and came across this picture:


First of all, I thought it interesting that Lane doesn't look too much different (just some gray hairs and no more mustache!). Even more intriguing was how familiar I was (and am sure you all are) with the equipment in the background! I think it's funny how archaeologists just can't get rid of anything!

More Arrowhead Spam From Aaron

Sorry everyone,

In my quest to get all these GB projectile point typologies described in my thesis, I've been looking at all the sources I can get my hands on. For the most part they are consistent (I have a pretty good discussion of that in my thesis) and I have found some great resources.

A few months ago, I posted that online projectile point reference guide. I've found another. Idaho State University, in conjunction with the Idaho Museum of Natural History has an exceptional online reference called Digital Atlas of Idaho.

The archaeology section is very comprehensive for the northern portion of the GB. Like all websites, there are some problems. Many sections are still under construction, and probably have been that way for several years. I was, however, impressed with their projectile point index. There are some great photos with brief discussions on chronology and geographic distributions (just click on the link "projectile points").

If you need a quick online reference for GB projectile points, this is probably as good as any on the web. At least until someone finds or makes a better one.

I thought farmers with guns were a problem, now we have to worry about speed freaks, too?

I was reading in the latest issue of Archaeology Magazine about the spread of looting by Meth addicts and producers. Apparently, cultural resources are gaining a lot of value in the drug market.

The story is focused on the SW, but states that "tweakers" or "twiggers" (a combination of tweakers and diggers) are looting sites throughout the nation.

Users have so much excess energy, that they tend to "hoover" a site and remove everything they find.

Check it out.

The full article will most likely be available at your library. I know that BYU carries this magazine.

Fun With Artifacts

I know that I've shown many of you these ground points from Parowan Valley, but some of you may not have seen them. Here is a photo I'm working on to include in the thesis. It's still not finished (scale, lettering, etc), but you get the basic idea.

I included the profiles of two of the points because they are ground on the sides. The other edges, while ground, do not show up very well in the photos.

The point on the far left exhibits very light grinding exclusively on the edge.

The distal end of point second from left has not been broken off from use or wear and tear. It has been ground down to a smooth and rounded finish.

The reason I am including these in my thesis, and showing them off to you, is that due to the grinding, they are clearly not tools used in hunting. Due to their smooth edges, it would be difficult to penetrate the hide of animals.

Enjoy!

Chocolate and Chile in the Southwest

As many of you may know, Patricia Crown along with the help of a researcher at Hershey have identified the chemical theobromine, exclusive to chocolate, in residue of a sherd from the trash mound next to Pueblo Bonito at Chaco. So we have pretty good evidence that chocolate made it to the Southwest much earlier than has been thought. You can read about it here:

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Study-pinpoints-earliest-chocolate-use-in-U-S--to-N-M--pueblo

Well, a little insider info for you. At the excavation of site 315, a Medio Period site located about 1 km from Paquime, we found what is likely the evidence of the first chile seed ever found in the Southwest. Paul Minnis recently identified the seed during the analysis of some float samples that yours truly excavated from beneath a floor in one of the rooms. Minnis has recently written an article about it, so hopefully we'll see that surface soon.

So I say there was likely some pretty tasty mole being made long before the Spanish arrived. Dig on!