Copper Collection Leaves Many With Questions

(click to enlarge)

Richard "Stoney" Burke displayed the above copper collection at the Che-Hanna Rock and Mineral show this weekend, and it got ALOT of attention.

It raised alot of questions as well.

I need not explain what he claims it to be, because he also had that information there with his display:

(click to enlarge)

I am no scientist and so it is not up to me to say what is "authentic" or not - but from the 500 pieces being found on very small platform to where they all are today.... these are only a few of the questions that arise when someone looks at this pristine copper grouping.

First and foremost of questions is why it is a secret where the site is that they actually came from.

Within hours, members of SRAC brought up a recent article in Fogelman's "Indian Artifact Magazine," about a copper collection that seems to be the same as the one above as well. Fogelman reports that a "friend/aquaintance in New York has been buying purported Native Copper implements from a source/friend in Michigan." He goes on to say that even he became "skeptical of both the story and the artifacts." Some of the reasons that he became skeptical were that EVERY type of copper artifact known of as well as some NEW forms were represented on that platform, and that one in fact could be identified by another of Fogelman's friends/associates as a spear that they personally had made. It was later sold at a yard sale.

I have to be honest. Gary Fogelman and I do not have much in common...I have been to affairs where he has stayed clear of me - I would suppose because he knows I do not agree with buying and selling artifacts. But I will say that Gary was right to put a piece in his magazine about this collection, and I thank him for at least trying to alert his readers about this questionable collection that is out there being presented as scientific material...

I have to agree that the display that I saw seemed PERFECT, and as one of the collector's friends came by and asked me what I thought of the display, I simply told him that it was very nice ART. He immediately got upset....and asked me why I said such a thing...I simply told him that if they were unwilling to allow anyone to study the site or the artifacts - it has no scientific significance...without it it is merely art. While he wanted to continue the debate, I declined.

As I left the event today I decided that the biggest question that this whole ordeal raised for me was what exactly does it take to get people to realize that archaeology is not a commercial business - but a SCIENCE -

?

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This Friday, March 27th - Nina Versaggi Presents at SRAC!

Archaeological investigations by the Public Archaeology Facility during the past 30 years have discovered a wealth of information about the people who lived in our region. Versaggi will discuss the early humans that lived here and what their life looked like during what is known as the Late Archaic (4,000 - 1,000 B.C.).

Using the foundation established by early archaeologists, such as William Ritchie and Robert Funk, our results add diversity to interpretations about the Late Archaic, and ask provocative questions for future research. The talk will start with a geographic model of the starkly different landscapes in New York; discuss the base of Late Archaic interpretations (Lamoka and Brewerton cultures); add PAF's recent research on the Vestal Phase; and conclude with interpretations of how people could have used their material culture for purposes other than purely functional tasks.

This will be a very informative and interesting discussion that will give the audience a better understanding of the people who used many of the items found in the SRAC Exhibit Hall. Doors open at 6 pm. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for SRAC members and children under 18. Exhibit Hall admission is free to all attendees.

Cahokia Copper Axe Stolen!

If any of you have been watching the news lately, you cannot help but understand how ignorance and greed are undermining America. And if you think that this exists only in the financial sector of the Unites States, you are sadly mistaken...

As you know I posted a pot from the Washington Boro site that was sold on eBay just last week. Whether it was stolen or not, in my opinion, the fact that it is acceptable to sell archaeological evidence on eBay and in auction houses or anywhere else is unacceptable and is allowing the thieves among other sellers to have a place to "unload their goods." I think that the SAA and all the state archaeological societies need to work towards creating a plan to work with the federal, state, and local govts to ban selling archaeological evidence.

Some issues that remain to keep this from happening are issues such as defining what a Native American "artifact" is - example - the difference between replicas and "art" as opposed to scientific evidence...and the difference between collecting and SELLING, and so on...My personal opinion is that until professionals and collectors learn to work together, the sellers get to play in this arena without anyone having a way to stop them from taking archaeological evidence like the pot from Washington Boro or the axe from Cahokia and selling it to a buyer. But if not US, then who?

Until then, here is the latest tragedy below- reported from William R. Iseminger, Asst. Site Manager/Public Relations, .Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. The following images are of the actual celt that was stolen. (Click either image to enlarge them.)

(pictures supplied by Vincent Barrows - Cahokia Historian)

Please note that the fabric impressions are quite striking and may very well make this axe VERY identifiable. Please keep your eyes out and forward this to all auction houses and buyers as well as all other collectors and museums who might come acrossed it- - -I am sure that this axe will reappear and if we all keep our eyes open, maybe we can get this back to Cahokia where it belongs.

"We recently discovered that a copper celt (axe) had been stolen from one of our exhibit cases. The thieves apparently were able to compromise the security of the case at the "Fiber" display. It was solid copper, 5 inches long, 2 | inches wide, and 7/8 inch thick. One side had fabric impressions on the surface caused by the copper oxidizing and incorporating the pattern of the cloth or bag in which it originally had been wrapped. There was a catalog number on it, 19 x 862. Please keep an eye out for this axe and if you see it or something similar for sale, please contact us.

This comes at a time when we are understaffed due to budget cuts but we are taking special steps to make sure all the cases are more secure. Other than some minor vandalism, this is the first artifact theft at the Interpretive Center in the 20 years since it opened."

William R. Iseminger,Asst. Site Manager/Public Relations

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
30 Ramey Street
Collinsville, IL 62234
Email: cahokia.mounds@sbcglobal.net
Web: www.cahokiamounds.com

Having Input and Saving Sites in NYS

Recently, there was a discussion going on among the members of the NYSAA forum that I thought would be good information for anyone interested in preserving sites in New York State.

The following is a portion of the information provided by Doug Mackey, Vice President of the New York Archaeological Council. Please read and share. You may contact Doug via email at dmack89@nycap.rr.com with any questions you might have.

"Anyone interested in archaeology and the preservation of sites should really become familiar with the NHPA (Section 106) process, how it works and how they, even as just interested public citizens, can have input to that process for any project. (Any 106 project is supposed to seek public comment and information, so if you know of sites that are endangered, you have the ability to speak up during that process and ask that the impact of the project on the site be considered, and that alternatives be considered).

Unfortunately, too many folks have not availed themselves of this opportunity, either because they do not want to be bothered, or they simply are not aware that they have the right to make comments. All too often by the time someone decides to speak up, the process has progressed beyond the point where their comments could be helpful.

It seems that most times folks expect the SHPO(State Historic Preservation Offices) to do all the work, but unfortunately, there are many times when the SHPO is not even aware that an issue (site) exists because it has not been reported to them. This sets up an unfortunate loop where the consulting archaeologist hired to do a survey (if one is even called for) checks the SHPO/State Museum records and even (hopefully) talks to the local historian - but information on a site is not known to any of them. The report is then submitted indicating that no sites are present and the SHPO can only review the information provided. It is often only at that point that local avocational archaeologists, collectors, or even academic archaeologists at colleges, universities or even local museums - come forward to complain that a site they know about will now be destroyed. Unfortunately, by that time the agency and the applicant can argue they have done their due diligence and move forward.

I encourage everyone to make the effort to learn a little more about not only the NHPA (Section 106) process, but also NEPA, another federal law that mandates consideration of historic resources (including archaeology) and also provides for public input, as well as other regulations that might be helpful for other types of (non federal) projects - in NY we have the SHPA (Section 14.09) for State projects, and SEQRA for local projects. As a final note, everyone should be aware that each of these laws apply to any projects that might have a federal (or state or local) involvement of any kind - funding, permitting or approval - and not just to projects actually undertaken by a federal agency. As a result, even a private housing development - if it needs a federal permit (i.e. wetland, water quality, etc.) falls under NHPA.

I would encourage everyone interested in preserving sites for the future to make an effort to learn something about this process, to understand how they can get involved, and how they can make a contribution to saving sites. These same laws mandate the consideration of historic buildings, and the community interested in those buildings have made very effective use of the opportunities provided over the years (National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation League of NY, Municipal Arts Society, etc.), unfortunately those of us on the archaeological side have not been nearly as coordinated or successful, at least in most eastern states. Having advocacy groups for archaeological sites, similar to those that exist for structures, taking an active part in making comments might help to raise the overall awareness about and perception of the importance of archaeological sites to agency and local officials that at present do not understand that importance."

A few places you can go to find some more info include -

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation -
Working with 106 http://www.achp.gov/work106.html (a bit technical for anyone just starting out); and
A Citizens Guide to Section 106 Review http://www.achp.gov/citizensguide.pdf

Nina Versaggi then sent me a note to add to this informtion as follows:

"As an addendum to Doug Mackey's note, the New York Archaeological Council and the NYSAA have a joint initiative called, the Archaeological Site Preservation Initiative (ASPI) - http://nyarchaeology.org/mainpages/ASPI/ASPI.htm

The Archaeological Site Preservation Initiative (ASPI) is a joint program of the New York Archaeological Council and the New York State Archaeological Association. The goal of this program is to help educate local leaders about the importance of archaeological sites in general and more specifically about their local resources that may be endangered by proposed projects. ASPI sends letter to lead agencies and contacts other local individuals and programs to help illustrate to lead agencies that there is a constituency concerned with what happens to archaeological resources. In recent years they have succesfully raised awareness of the presence and importance of archaeological resources to a number of communities. ASPI relies on local individuals to contact them when sites are threatened. Remember that to be effective, notification to the lead agencies (and to ASPI) should occur early in the review process.

Often our heritage is lost, not through deliberate destruction, but through ignorance. The Archaeological Site Preservation Initiative (ASPI) seeks to preserve archaeological and historic sites:

• by raising awareness of archaeological and historic resources in local communities,
• by providing a place where questions about archaeology, local history and preservation can be answered.

If people are interested, there is contact information on the web site."

Nina Versaggi
President, NYAC


On behalf of SRAC, I want to thank Doug and Nina for providing the information for all of us.

Che-Hanna's Gem and Mineral Show

Ted Keir and Deb Twigg at last years show

The 40th Annual Che-Hanna Rock and Mineral Club Inc. "Gem and Mineral Show" will be on Saturday, March 28th from 9am - 5pm and Sunday March 29th from 10am -5pm this year. It will be held the Athens Township Vol. Fire Hall, 150 Herrick Avenue, Sayre, PA. Click here for directions.

If any of you have not attended before, you just don't know what you are missing! Click here to view last year's posting and pictures from the event.

This year's event will have OUTSTANDING GEOLOGICAL EXHIBITS presented by Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the Paleontological Research Institute. There will also be a silent auction of minerals from the Carnegie Museum, florescent mineral presentations, door prizes, fossil identification, gemstone faceting demonstrations, geode cutting, a kids mini-mine, cabochon making, and of course a fantastic display of Native American artifacts exhibited by SRAC!

But most impressive to me the first time that I attended this event was that filling the whole back area (huge and where they have wedding receptions, etc,) was an incredible amount of dealers offering minerals, fossils, lapidary, jewelry and hobby supplies. You won't believe your eyes!

Hope to see you there!

Donations are requested upon admission: Adults $3, Students $1, under 8 - FREE.

Iroquoian Pottery with Faces

(note: you may click any of these pictures on this posting and enlarge them)

In February 2009, I did a presentation on a site called the Murray Garden. This site was discovered in 1882 when workmen were digging a drainage ditch from the then home of the would be founder of the Tioga Point Museum in Athens, PA, Louise Welles Murray and her husband, Millard. Many facets of this site are quite interesting, but I wanted to concentrate on the pottery with faces on them for this posting. One of the pots (recovered in pieces) is shown above.

There was one pot that was 4 1/2 inches high that was recovered from the Murray site. Here is a picture of that one:These pieces were written up by Christopher Wren in 1914 where he said the following:

He also pointed out that the one face on the pot was actually made to look pushed or deformed and added that there was an Iroquoian legend that he had been told might actually have explained why the face looked the way it did...

(click the image to enlarge to read story)

I have been told that this is also the legend of the "false face," but will leave that up to the reader to decide.

As I studied this site, I also tried to see what other Iroquioan and Susquehannock (who were Iroquoian but bitter enemies of the Iroquois) pottery had faces...this is what I found:

#1.)

In fact, as I was just reading my latest issue of "American Archaeology" by the Archaeological Conservancy, I learned that pottery with the same designs were found at America's first French colony, Fort Charlesbourg-Royal (founded by Cartier and Roberval, 1541) in what is now Quebec City.

2.)
This full body design along with the face in this pottery is coincidentally much like another piece found at well known site in PA - known as the Washington Boro site:


Come to find out, the Washington Boro site was reported by Cadzow(below) in 1936 to have faces on every vessel:
The Washington Boro site was dated by Dr. Barry Kent in his book "Susquehanna's Indians" at 1600 - 1625 AD. Here is some of those pots from this site that were described above:

Strange as it seems, Kent dates the Athens (Murray Garden) site at 1570 - 1600.

This difference in dating occurred even though both are shell tempered and both were found with European trade goods....and even though the face effigies on Susquehannock pottery reportedly only occurred between 1600 - 1625 AD...



This following copper/brass spiral is a European trade item and was found alongside the faced pottery in Athens, PA and reported by Harrison Wright of the Wyoming Hostorical Society in 1883. These spiral pieces were made by breaking up European pots and reworking the material into these shapes.

(spiral artifact found by Harrison Wright
in 1883 at the Murray Garden site.)

Using the information here, that is that faces on Susquehannock pottery only occured between 1600 and 1625, let alone the European trade materials associated with them, I date the Murray Garden site (even though I am not a professional) at 1600-1625. It is my hope that someday soon we will have an official date with more scientific research backing it up. But this will take preserving the artifacts that we have. As you know - SRAC is dedicated to this cause.

As I am writing this, there is a Susquehannock pot with faces on it out there on Ebay which claims to be from the Washington Boro site discussed above. As you know from my last post, I am so opposed to the commercialization of this scientific evidence and am opposed to the sale of these items, as is the Society of American Archaeology. This is what prompted me to write that post because I saw this pot and recognized it from my research on the Murray site.

This is the description for the pot - and - it just was sold about an hour ago...for $1,035.

"EXCEPTIONAL IROQUOIS SUSQUEHANNOCK POTTERY VESSEL MINIATURE OR CHILD'S SIZE. 4 1/4 INCH HEIGHT,3 3/4 INCH RIM WIDTH.RIM INCISED WITH TWO CASTELLATIONS AND WITH TWO HUMAN EFFIGIES WITH OPEN KNEES,INCISED HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL DECORATED COLLAR.FOUND IN WASHINGTONBORO,LANCASTER COUNTY,PENNSYLVANIA.PERFECT UNRESTORED CONDITION.PICTURED IN INDIAN ARTIFACT MAGAZINE VOL 9-2 FRONT COVER.EX COLLECTION OF FENSTERMACHER,FOGELMAN,JOHNSTON.GUARANTEED AUTHENTIC.YOUR SATISFACTION IS GUARANTEED.7-DAY RETURN FOR ANY REASON.Priority Shipping and insurance is 15.00 within USA for this item.I accept Pay Pal.Thank you for your bids."

I hope that after this post today you can understand what I was trying to say in my last post a little better. Taking artifacts (EVIDENCE) from sites and selling them is a detriment to archaeological study and just the wrong thing to do.

Tell me your thoughts.