Houston Archaeological Society Outreach Guys

[Lone Star]

Had a very cool week last week on a dig in South West Texas.
There are about 6 of us who go dig with other groups around the state on an invitational basis. Last week we met up with some folks from The Hill Country Archaeological Association to dig at a Paleo site they have been investigating for about 4 years. They needed some help on the Paleo units as well as starting up some new blocks smack dab in the middle of the known Archaic Camp. This area is on a bench overlooking The Guadalupe. One of the prettiest places in Texas. It is truly God's Country.
We teamed up on Monday morning with some others from The North Texas Archaeology Association as well as several people from the HCAA and several students and we got after it.
Two of us were in one of the Paleo Blocks which by now are about 81/2 feet below grade. The other four of us set to work laying out two blocks with 4 units each about 50 feet north of the Paleo Pits. We were within 30 feet of the remainder of a large earth oven, which was still about 4 feet taller than the surrounding area. Earth ovens are large areas of fire rock piles that were used for cooking tubers such as Sotol, Yucca, and other roots.
The ground in this drought ridden country is inherently hard as slate to dig in. In 4 days we got down to about 35 CM, which is about 15 inches. In that shallow depth we started finding all kinds of artifacts. These included a Bulverde Hafted Scraper, a Montell, an Ensor, a sweet Paddle Drill, as well as numerous expedient flake tools such as scrapers and flake knives. We also found a Quartz Crystal Pendant, an egg shaped Hematite nodule, and a flat slab of limestone with prehistoric etching on it.
The Paleo area gave up two Saint Mary Halls. The pits are so deep, we had to keep a sump pump running as the ground water was filling the bottom 3 feet of the hole. Both came out of the area that was under the water, just above bedrock.
Friday we had a tour of the Gault Site which was outstanding. That was a bucket list for me. If you ever get the opportunity to volunteer on a dig, go for it. It's a wonderful experience. Plus you get to teach the youngsters who never dug before. WE always want new people. Join us on Facebook.com/houstonarchaeologicalsociety

 

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[ISmellGold]

Had a very cool week last week on a dig in South West Texas.
There are about 6 of us who go dig with other groups around the state on an invitational basis. Last week we met up with some folks from The Hill Country Archaeological Association to dig at a Paleo site they have been investigating for about 4 years. They needed some help on the Paleo units as well as starting up some new blocks smack dab in the middle of the known Archaic Camp. This area is on a bench overlooking The Guadalupe. One of the prettiest places in Texas. It is truly God's Country.
We teamed up on Monday morning with some others from The North Texas Archaeology Association as well as several people from the HCAA and several students and we got after it.
Two of us were in one of the Paleo Blocks which by now are about 81/2 feet below grade. The other four of us set to work laying out two blocks with 4 units each about 50 feet north of the Paleo Pits. We were within 30 feet of the remainder of a large earth oven, which was still about 4 feet taller than the surrounding area. Earth ovens are large areas of fire rock piles that were used for cooking tubers such as Sotol, Yucca, and other roots.
The ground in this drought ridden country is inherently hard as slate to dig in. In 4 days we got down to about 35 CM, which is about 15 inches. In that shallow depth we started finding all kinds of artifacts. These included a Bulverde Hafted Scraper, a Montell, an Ensor, a sweet Paddle Drill, as well as numerous expedient flake tools such as scrapers and flake knives. We also found a Quartz Crystal Pendant, an egg shaped Hematite nodule, and a flat slab of limestone with prehistoric etching on it.
The Paleo area gave up two Saint Mary Halls. The pits are so deep, we had to keep a sump pump running as the ground water was filling the bottom 3 feet of the hole. Both came out of the area that was under the water, just above bedrock.
Friday we had a tour of the Gault Site which was outstanding. That was a bucket list for me. If you ever get the opportunity to volunteer on a dig, go for it. It's a wonderful experience. Plus you get to teach the youngsters who never dug before. WE always want new people. Join us on Facebook.com/houstonarchaeologicalsociety

That looks definitely like a Big Medicine area to me.

 

[achanceforgold]

Had a very cool week last week on a dig in South West Texas.
There are about 6 of us who go dig with other groups around the state on an invitational basis. Last week we met up with some folks from The Hill Country Archaeological Association to dig at a Paleo site they have been investigating for about 4 years. They needed some help on the Paleo units as well as starting up some new blocks smack dab in the middle of the known Archaic Camp. This area is on a bench overlooking The Guadalupe. One of the prettiest places in Texas. It is truly God's Country.
We teamed up on Monday morning with some others from The North Texas Archaeology Association as well as several people from the HCAA and several students and we got after it.
Two of us were in one of the Paleo Blocks which by now are about 81/2 feet below grade. The other four of us set to work laying out two blocks with 4 units each about 50 feet north of the Paleo Pits. We were within 30 feet of the remainder of a large earth oven, which was still about 4 feet taller than the surrounding area. Earth ovens are large areas of fire rock piles that were used for cooking tubers such as Sotol, Yucca, and other roots.
The ground in this drought ridden country is inherently hard as slate to dig in. In 4 days we got down to about 35 CM, which is about 15 inches. In that shallow depth we started finding all kinds of artifacts. These included a Bulverde Hafted Scraper, a Montell, an Ensor, a sweet Paddle Drill, as well as numerous expedient flake tools such as scrapers and flake knives. We also found a Quartz Crystal Pendant, an egg shaped Hematite nodule, and a flat slab of limestone with prehistoric etching on it.
The Paleo area gave up two Saint Mary Halls. The pits are so deep, we had to keep a sump pump running as the ground water was filling the bottom 3 feet of the hole. Both came out of the area that was under the water, just above bedrock.
Friday we had a tour of the Gault Site which was outstanding. That was a bucket list for me. If you ever get the opportunity to volunteer on a dig, go for it. It's a wonderful experience. Plus you get to teach the youngsters who never dug before. WE always want new people. Join us on Facebook.com/houstonarchaeologicalsociety

That's cool.

We can't investigate Indian sites over here in Florida. There are these huge Shell Mounds everywhere. Indian Trash Pits. But the state has them off limits.

 

[CreekSide]

That was a good dig. Where’s the slab? I’d like to see it.

 

[ToddsPoint]

I’ve volunteered on several digs. It’s always a good time and the other volunteers are usually very interesting people. It’s hell on your back sitting in a hole digging. Be prepared for that!

 

[Lone Star]

That was a good dig. Where’s the slab? I’d like to see it.

Pictures don't do it justice. I should have been more careful taking the pics.

 

[Lone Star]

That's cool.

We can't investigate Indian sites over here in Florida. There are these huge Shell Mounds everywhere. Indian Trash Pits. But the state has them off limits.

That's cool.

We can't investigate Indian sites over here in Florida. There are these huge Shell Mounds everywhere. Indian Trash Pits. But the state has them off limits.

When I lived on the Space coast near Merritt Island, in the late 60's, I had no idea what they were.

 

[achanceforgold]

When I lived on the Space coast near Merritt Island, in the late 60's, I had no idea what they were.

oh, what part? Merrit Island is packed with people now. You wouldn't recognize the place.

I was a JD, "Junior Deputy", I got to lead the parade for one of the Astronauts that went to the moon.

Sorry, off topic

 

[Lone Star]

oh, what part? Merrit Island is packed with people now. You wouldn't recognize the place.

I was a JD, "Junior Deputy", I got to lead the parade for one of the Astronauts that went to the moon.

Sorry, off topic

I went to FIT in Melbourne, then to an oceanography branch in Coco Beach 1969-1971. Merritt Island was empty. We used to go out there shooting.

 

[Lone Star]

That's cool.

We can't investigate Indian sites over here in Florida. There are these huge Shell Mounds everywhere. Indian Trash Pits. But the state has them off limits.

We have Rangia Clam Shell middens around the Bayous and old shorelines of Galveston Bay. I got at least 100 bird points thru the years, an igloo cooler full of pottery, and a bunch of bone tools.

 

[achanceforgold]

I went to FIT in Melbourne, then to an oceanography branch in Coco Beach 1969-1971. Merritt Island was empty. We used to go out there shooting.

I know it was empty then. I was young. But remember a lot.
Now it's full of rich northerners.

My Son went to FIT, now it is just FT.
You wouldn't recognize the school now.
I grew up in West, "by God" Melbourne.

You might remember the Dragon on the causeway in Eau Gallie.
They tore that down. Built a fancy house there.
Can't camp on the beach all night anymore.

I think they moved the Oceanography branch down to Ponce de Leon beach, across the street, on the way to Sebastian Inlet.

You'll have to take a trip back sometime.

 

[achanceforgold]

We have Rangia Clam Shell middens around the Bayous and old shorelines of Galveston Bay. I got at least 100 bird points thru the years, an igloo cooler full of pottery, and a bunch of bone tools.

that's cool.

I found a huge shell pit mound, north side of Canaveral. Mosquito inlet area.
When I say huge, I mean really really huge. There must be over a thousand years of trash in there. It's shown on antique maps as a mountain.

 

[tamrock]

I found this worked clear quartz crystal artifact. When I found it I was thinking the original knapper was trying to fashion a point out of it, but the material proved to be uncooperative to work out the finer details, so they didn't finish it. So as you started in your find it's a pendant and maybe that's what I found?