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RETHINKING PALEO-INDIANS • AMAZING MOUND BUILDING • HISTORIC TREE CARVINGS american archaeologySUMMER 2013 a quarterly publication of The Archaeological Conservancy Vol. 17 No. 2 TOURING South Texas $3.95 SUMMER 2013 americana quarterly publication of The Archaeological archaeology Conservancy Vol. 17 No. 2 COVER FEATURE 37 VISITING SOUTH TEXAS AND THE HILL COUNTRY BY RICHARD A. MARINI Twelve thousand years of history is on display in this summer road trip. 12 A DIFFERENT VIEW OF PALEO-INDIANS BY JENNIFER PINKOWSKI An archaeologist questions some of the ES C “truths” about these ancient people. VI R E S R 19 A HISTORY INSCRIBED ON TREES BY DAVID MALAKOFF IAN CYBE Myriad tree carvings offer a glimpse R of the life of Basque sheepherders. 25 NEW THINKING ABOUT POVERTY POINT ILLO OF RUPEST BY JULIAN SMITH B Archaeologists had assumed it took decades, perhaps even VELYN VELYN centuries, to build Poverty Point’s largest mound. But recent E research indicates it could have been done in a month. K AND K R 30 THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF CARLSBAD CAVERNS T MA T R BY TAMARA STEWART 30 ROBE The cultural resources at this World Heritage Site rival its amazing caves. 45 new acquisition THE CONSERVANCY ACQUIRES AN IMPORTANT WOODLAND SITE The Scotch Hall preserve has a large concentration of artifacts. 46 new acquisition A MOUND COMPLEX WITH GREAT RESEARCH POTENTIAL Backusburg Mounds could shed light on Kentucky’s prehistory. 47 THE POINT-5 PROGRAM BEGINS R 48 point acquisition 19 OBTAINING AN ICONIC PUEBLO JOHN BIETE Groundbreaking research was conducted at Carter Ranch Pueblo. 2 Lay of the Land 50 Field Notes 3 Letters 52 Reviews COVER: Mission San José and its attached 5 Events 54 Expeditions convento were completed in the mid-1780s. 7 IN the NEWS It’s one of the four missions at San Antonio • Beginnings of the Maya Missions National Historical Park. • Jamestown Cannibalism CREDIT: NPS • Another Miami Circle american archaeology 1 Lay of the Land An Amazing Mound Discovery rchaeology is all about discovery. no draft animals or even wheelbarrows, AThe discovery of ancient artifacts. we naturally assume that the massive The discovery of past cultures. The dis- Mound A was built over decades, even LIZ LOPEZ covery of fascinating new information centuries. Making assumptions, even Mark Michel, President about people long gone. In this issue of educated ones, is a dangerous business, American Archaeology we report on and now researchers T.R. Kidder and construct this massive mound? One the discovery of dramatic new infor- Anthony Ortmann have discovered answer leads to many new questions, mation about Poverty Point, a National that Mound A was constructed in as and that’s why we all love archaeology. Historic Landmark in northeastern little as 30 days. Baskets of earth were That’s why the Conservancy is work- Louisiana. (See “New Thinking About carried to the site and carefully depos- ing hard to preserve the remaining Poverty Point,” page 25.) Poverty Point ited to build the great mound—enough mounds of the South that are rapidly has long been an enigma to students soil to fill 31,217 modern dump trucks. being destroyed by development and of past cultures. It dates to the late This would have taken some 1,019 full- modern agriculture. We now have Archaic period, some 3,500 years ago, time workers. some that predate Poverty Point by and contains one of the largest earthen In the Archaic period, people 2,000 years, and who knows what we mounds as well as a series of six con- lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle, perhaps will find next. centric ridges that may have been the residing in well-scattered villages of base for habitation structures. extended families. What brought so Since these ancient Americans had many people together in one place to 2 summer • 2013 Letters A Different Viewpoint While Professor Charlie Beeker should be congratulated for Editor’s his innovative and sustainable projects to preserve historic shipwrecks, (See “Museum Corner Under the Sea,” Spring 2013) Then as now, many immigrants have come the view from the shore to America in search of a better life. Over must be quite different. the years the pages of this magazine have Imagine yourself a cit- been filled with stories of foreigners—the izen of one of the poorest British, Spanish, and French in particular— countries on earth, living who braved great challenges to start a new day to day, and in comes this life in this New World. arrogant foreigner, barking The tales of these peoples, many of orders from his comfort- which are well recorded in history and supplemented by archaeological investiga- able chair, smoking cigars that tions, are well known. But in this issue we cost more than a day’s wages, if Shaker Design bring you a story that’s gone largely unno- you can find work, that is. Such It would be hard to overstate the ticed by history and archaeology alike. (See normal activities as fishing and design talents of the Shakers. (See “A History Inscribed On Trees,” page 19.) finding objects on the beach “Striving For Perfection,” Fall 2012) It’s the story of the Basque, who left are suddenly proscribed. Not a If memory serves, one of the build- their home in the western Pyrenees Moun- pretty sight. ings at Pleasant Hill has a pair of tains that span the French-Spanish border, Perhaps Professor Beeker three-story spiral staircases that stand and came to the Western U.S. in the 19th could use some of his grant separately; they rise elegantly with and 20th centuries. Some of them were money to employ local citizens opposing spirals upwards to consid- drawn to California by the 1848 gold rush, instead of pushing them further erable height. Floating at a height and they set to work in the mines. But according to historian Joxie Mallea-Olaetxe, into poverty. A five- or 10-year above them is a transverse barrel many of them fared better dealing with horizon for prosperity is not of vault with windows at either end, livestock, and sheepherders happened to much use when the issue is how bathing the entire assemblage in a be in demand through much of the West to eat tomorrow. soft, indirect light. Marvelous. at that time. Jonathan Sales Don Carmichael The Basque sheepherders spent much Chicago, Illinois Deer Isle, Maine of their time in isolated mountain meadows where their animals grazed. That was per- fect for the hundreds of sheep, but tedious Sending Letters to and lonely for the humans. Many of then whiled away the hours making carvings in American Archaeology the smooth bark of an aspen. The carvings, known as dendroglyphs, run the gamut American Archaeology welcomes your letters. from the shepherd’s name to political and Write to us at 5301 Central Avenue NE, Suite 902, financial observations to expressions of joy Albuquerque, NM 87108-1517, and sorrow, hope and failure. Many of them are images, some of which were skillfully or send us e-mail at [email protected]. carved. We reserve the right to edit and publish letters in Dendroglyphs served as the “sheep- herders’ media,” Mallea-Olaetxe wrote. the magazine’s Letters department as space permits. They also serve as a glimpse of another Please include your name, address, and telephone number immigrant story. with all correspondence, including e-mail messages. american archaeology 3 Welcome to the ArchAeologicAl conservAncy! 5301 Central Avenue NE, Suite 902 Albuquerque, NM 87108-1517 • (505) 266-1540 he Archaeological Conservancy www.americanarchaeology.org is the only national nonprofit organization that identifies, Board of Directors acquires, and preserves the Gordon Wilson, New Mexico CHAIRMAN most significant archaeological Cecil F. Antone, Arizona • Carol Condie, New Mexico sites in the United States. Janet Creighton, Washington • Jerry Golden, Colorado W. James Judge, Colorado • Jay T. Last, California • Bill Lipe, Idaho Since its beginning in 1980, the t Leslie Masson, Massachusetts • Dorinda Oliver, New York Conservancy has preserved more than Rosamond Stanton, Montana 450 sites across the nation, ranging in age from the earliest habitation sites in Conservancy Staff North America to a 19th-century frontier Mark Michel, President • Tione Joseph, Business Manager army post. We are building a national Lorna Wolf, Membership Director • Sarah Tiberi, Special Projects Director Melissa Montoya, Administrative Assistant • Jessica Alden, Administrative Assistant system of archaeological preserves to Emily Collom, Administrative Assistant ensure the survival of our irreplaceable cultural heritage. Regional Offices and Directors Jim Walker, Vice President, Southwestern Region (505) 266-1540 Why Save Archaeological Sites? 5301 Central Avenue NE, #902 • Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108 The ancient people of North America Tamara Stewart, Projects Coordinator • Chaz Evans, Field Representative left virtually no written records of their cultures. Clues that might someday Paul Gardner, Vice President, Midwestern Region (614) 267-1100 solve the mysteries of prehistoric 3620 N. High St. #307 • Columbus, Ohio 43214 America are still missing, and when Josh McConaughy, Field Representative a ruin is destroyed by looters, or Jessica Crawford, Regional Director, Southeastern Region (662) 326-6465 leveled for a shopping center, precious 315 Locust St. • P.O. Box 270 • Marks, Mississippi 38646 information is lost. By permanently George Lowry, Field Representative preserving endangered ruins, we make sure they will be here for future Cory Wilkins, Regional Director, Western Region (530) 592-9797 generations to study and enjoy. 620 3rd St. #300 • Lincoln, California 95648 Deanna Commons, Field Representative How We Raise Funds: Funds for the Conservancy come Andy Stout, Regional Director, Eastern Region (301) 682-6359 from membership dues, individual 8 E. 2nd. St. #101 • Frederick, Maryland 21701 contributions, corporations, and Will Sheppard, Field Representative foundations.