A CURATION CRISIS • THE C ASE FOR A PRE-CLOVIS PEOPLE american archaeologyWINTER 2001-02 a quarterly publication of The Archaeological Conservancy Vol. 5 No. 4 The Wonders $3.95 OF AMMOTH AVE M C Add to your American Archaeology library. Back issues of most volumes are available. See below for order information. ISSUES AVAILABLE: Volume 1, No.2 (Summer 1997) through Volume 5, No.3 (Fall 2001) COST PER ISSUE: Volume 1, No.2 through Volume 4, No.2 (Summer 1997 through Summer 2000) $2.95 each (not including postage/handling) Volume 4, No.3 through current issue (Fall 2000 through current issue) $3.95 each (not including postage/handling) CUMULATIVE INDEX: Volume 1, No.2 through current issue $3.00 (including postage/handling) TO CALCULATE ORDER TOTAL: Calculate the total magazine cost and add appropriate postage/handling from chart below. MAIL THIS FORM ALONG WITH YOUR PAYMENT TO: The Archaeological Conservancy 5301 Central Avenue NE, Suite 402 Albuquerque, NM 87108 FORM OF PAYMENT: POSTAGE CHART ❑ Check or money order enclosed (made payable to The Archaeological Conservancy) U.S. Shipping/Handling No.of Charge my order of $ __________ to: ❑ MasterCard ❑ Visa ❑ American Express Magazines Ordered Shipping Credit Card Number ___________________________________ Exp. Date ___________ 1 ..........................................$1.75 Signature _____________________________________ 2 ..........................................$2.90 3 ..........................................$3.75 SEND MY ORDER TO: 4-6 ......................................$4.25 Name ______________________________________________________________________ 7-9 ......................................$5.50 10-11 ..................................$6.70 Address ____________________________________________________________________ 12-14 ..................................$8.00 City ______________________________________________________________________ 15-17 ..................................$9.30 18-20 ................................$10.50 State __________________________________________________ Zip _______________ american archaeology a quarterly publication of The Archaeological Conservancy Vol. 5 No. 4 winter 2001-02 COVER FEATURE 20 ARCHAEOLOGISTS IN WONDERLAND BY MICHAEL SIMS The amazing past of Mammoth Cave is revealed by an archaeological inventory. 12 TWELVE THOUSAND YEARS UNDER THE SEA BY KC SMITH An underwater excavation on Florida’s continental shelf gives evidence of Paleo-Indians. 28 A CURATION CRISIS BY NANCY TRAVER Institutions and agencies are trying to come to grips with the problem of properly curating artifacts. 35 THE CASE FOR A PRE-CLOVIS PEOPLE BY ROBSON BONNICHSEN AND ALAN L. SCHNEIDER Why the Clovis were not the first people to settle the Americas. 40 point acquisition: ARCHAEOLOGY ON THE COAST A serendipitous event led to the Conservancy’s purchase of a prehistoric shell midden. 41 point acquisition: UNLOCKING THE SECRETS OF INGOMAR MOUNDS 2 Lay of the Land Study of this site may reveal more about its puzzling history. 3 Letters 42 point acquisition: STUDYING CALIFORNIA’S PREHISTORY 5 Events The 3,000-year-old Lorenzen site could yield important information. 7 In the News Hopewell Earthwork Discovered • 43 point acquisition: Hunley Excavation Resumes • ADENA MOUNDS SURVIVE Climate Change Creates An 11th-hour purchase by the Conservancy saves the O’Dell Mounds. Cultural Change 44 Field Notes COVER: A researcher gazes down a large passage in Mammoth Cave. This passage is estimated to be about 20 feet high and 40 feet wide. The cave 46 Expeditions has countless passages, some of which are larger than this and some of which are so small they’re impassable. Photograph by Charles Swedlund 48 Reviews american archaeology 1 Lay of the Land Solving the Curation Problem ozens of invaluable collections of ing for the collections becomes more artifacts taken from American acute. The study of these collections archaeological sites are literally may offer the only opportunity to Dhidden away, and consequently answer the many questions of the forgotten and left to deteriorate. We’re past. As new technology becomes not talking about items that bring available, it is often possible to return huge prices on the international antiq- to old collections and get very signif- uities markets. We are talking about icant information. After all, restudy- tens of thousands of little things of no ing the old collections is the most commercial value that add up to in- fundamental form of conservation valuable information available no- archaeology. cost. Let’s follow their example in the where else. Our investigation of the The curation crisis is turning rest of the nation. state of curation in America shows into a national scandal. It is time for alarming shortcomings (see page 28, Congress to investigate and take re- “A Curation Crisis”). medial action before more is lost. As As archaeological sites become Maryland has demonstrated, the so- more rare, the responsibility for car- lution can be had for a reasonable MARK MICHEL, President XPERIENCE THE IMELESS... SUMMER IN THE SOUTHWEST • SOLSTICE MARKERS AND THE PUEBLOAN SKIES: The Archaeoastronomy and Archaeology of the Four Corners Country JUNE 16 - 23, 2002 • PEOPLE OF SHINING MOUNTAINS: The Utes of Southwestern Colorado AUGUST 11 - 17, 2002 • ADULT RESEARCH PROGRAMS: Excavation, Analysis and Interpretation WEEKLONG SESSIONS JUNE - AUGUST, 2002 CROW CANYON ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER 23390 Road K, Cortez, Colorado 81321 800-422-8975 www.crowcanyon.org CCAC’s programs and admission practices are open to applicants of any race, color, nationality, or ethnic origin. CST# 2059347-50 2 T winter • 2001-02 E Letters Amazing Ephrata Overselling I find myself constantly Small Insights watching the Discovery As a professional Editor’s Corner Channel and the History historian who has There is no place archaeologists Channel, and many times also done time at won’t go. In this issue, we follow two they have had documen- several archaeo- of them underground and underwater taries on various archaeo- logical digs, I as they attempt to comprehend logical discoveries that I hate seeing his- prehistory. George Crothers has been find fascinating. Archaeol- torical archae- plumbing the depths of Mammoth Cave in southern Kentucky since ogy is an incredible science ologists justify 1992. This is the world’s largest and it was so nice to read their endeavors as somehow known cave system, and within its about the findings of the superior to historical research. hundreds of miles of passages is 1732 religious commune of Conrad The idea that the dig at the evidence of thousands of years of Beissel in the Fall issue of American Ephrata Cloister is “telling a more human activity. The artifacts speak of Archaeology. truthful story” than can be gleaned a wide range of activities—from How he got his followers to do from documents is pure hype. Yes, mining to rites of passage to his bidding is amazing. I guess if you written texts are biased. This is news? convalescing from tuberculosis. really believe the Second Coming will The possible existence of bias is why While Crothers dons a hard hat happen during one’s lifetime, then good historians are systematically and headlamp for work, Michael the follower will do everything neces- skeptics. And what great new truth Faught’s work attire consists of a wet suit and goggles. He explores the sary to make that commune work. has been unearthed at the Ephrata seabed of the Gulf of Mexico, more The information gathered from dig? That the society’s members ate than three miles off the coast of this dig is historically important. meat although cautioned by their northwestern Florida. Thousands of The farming techniques of this pe- leader not to do so. Gosh! years ago, this area was dry land and riod are now well documented, Let the Ephrata project go for- Faught has found stone artifacts that thanks to the hard work done by ward with its good work of adding to are 8,000 to 12,000 years old. these archaeologists. The Cloister at our knowledge of its material cul- Crothers and Faught are exploring Ephrata is a valuable finding for all ture. But please, let’s not oversell the fascinating places, and we have the future generations to study. significance of very small insights. good fortune of accompanying them. Alicia Najar Robert R. Dykstra Red Bluff, California Worcester, Massachusetts STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND CIRCULATION 1. Publication Title: American Archaeology. 2. Publication No.: 1093-8400. 3. Date of Filing: September 28, 2001. 4. Issue Frequency: Quarterly. 5. No. of Issues Published Annually: 4. 6. Annual Subscription Price: $25.00. 7. Complete Sending Letters to Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: The Archaeological Conservancy, 5301 Central Avenue NE, Suite 402, Albuquerque, NM 87108-1517. 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: same as No. 7. 9. Names and Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Publisher-Mark Michel, address same as No. 7. Editor-Michael Bawaya, address same as No. 7. Managing Editor-N/A. American Archaeology 10. Owner: The Archaeological Conservancy, address same as No. 7. 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None. 12. Tax Status: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 American Archaeology welcomes your Months. 13. Publication Title: American Archaeology. 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data