BY TAMARA STEWART Nels C
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TRAVELING THE NATCHEZ TRACE • RUSSIANS IN AMERICA • CRM ARCHAEOLOGY americanamerican archaeologyarchaeologySUMMER 2009 a quarterly publication of The Archaeological Conservancy Vol. 13 No. 2 SlaveSlave LifeLife atat JamesJames Madison’sMadison’s EstateEstate $3.95 american archaeologysummer 2009 a quarterly publication of The Archaeological Conservancy Vol. 13 No. 2 COVER FEATURE 20 MONTPELIER’S OTHER HALF BY TONY REICHHARDT How did slaves living on the estate of James Madison, the Father of the Constitution, fare? 12 WHEN THE RUSSIANS WERE COMING BY PAULA NEELY We know about the European colonization of the New World. Far less is known about Russia’s attempt to colonize America. 28 CHANGING TIMES RICHARDSON LYNDA BY MIKE TONER Research archaeology has given way to cultural resource management. 34 REVOLUTIONIZING AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY BY TAMARA STEWART Nels C. Nelson changed fieldwork by introducing stratigraphic methods. 38 RELIVE THE PAST ON NATCHEZ TRACE BY MICHAEL SIMS A drive on Natchez Trace Parkway is filled with history. AVE MCMAHAN AVE D 45 new acquisition THE CONSERVANCY PRESERVES 2 Lay of the Land OREGON ROCKSHELTERS 3 Letters One site features myriad pictographs. 5 Events 46 point acquisition 7 In the News THE LAND OF THE FREE Thirteen Thousand-Year-Old Artifacts in Miller Grove was a community built Colorado • Skeletons From Columbus’ primarily by freed slaves. Settlement Analyzed • Panels Depicting Maya Creation Story Found 47 point acquisition 50 Field Notes COASTAL LIVING The Avenue site offers a glimpse of prehistoric 52 Reviews life on the Oregon coast. 54 Expeditions 48 point acquisition COVER: An overhead view of archaeologists working in the South Yard of Montpelier, the estate of James and Dolley A REMINDER OF TROYVILLE The Conservancy saves a mound from Madison. The Madisons’ domestic slaves resided here. a 1,400-year-old site in Louisiana. Photograph by Lynda Richardson american archaeology 1 Lay of the Land Preserving Sites for Future Legends egends of Archaeology” is an in the region between Santa Fe and Albu- occasional feature series in querque. (Archaeologists work much “LAmerican Archaeology that more slowly and carefully these days.) focuses on the outstanding pioneers who Some of these sites are the largest Pueblo advanced the science. It also seeks to ruins in the United States, with several humanize these legends and reveal some thousand rooms and many plazas. When the Conservancy began to preserve OORE of the trials and tribulations they suffered P in making their contributions. In this endangered sites in 1980, the great ruins Mark Michel, President issue we feature Nels Nelson (see “Revo- of the Galisteo Basin were an opportune DARREN lutionizing American Archaeology,” page target. Development and looters were 34), who developed and refined strati- threatening them, and prices were rapidly groups, we are working in Nelson’s graphic analysis of ruins in the Galisteo rising. Pueblo San Marcos, where Nelson shadow to preserve the great legacy of Basin of New Mexico. Nelson believed worked, was one of our early successes. the area. Little research has been done that artifacts could be dated by their rela- Using his maps, we were able to define in the 100 years since Nelson, and new tive position in the ground—upper items the site and eventually preserve it. Oth- techniques will undoubtedly add greatly are younger than lower items—and care- ers, like Galisteo Pueblo, followed. to his findings—but only as long as the ful excavation and analysis could reveal a In 2004, Congress declared the area sites are preserved to yield their secrets. chronological sequence. a national protection zone and named Between 1912 and 1916, Nelson 24 ruins in need of preservation. Joining excavated some 1,500 rooms in 45 sites with government agencies and private 2 summer • 2009 Letters NORTH AMERICA’S FIRST FRENCH COLONY • LIFE ON THE FRONTIER Preserving History • A MAJOR HISTORIC TRADE ROUTE in the Face of Disasters american archaeologySPRING 2009 Editor’s Corner I really enjoyed your article ‘Respond- a quarterly publication of The Archaeological Conservancy ing to Disasters’ in the Spring 2009 Vol. 13 No. 1 We’re all familiar with the British, issue. Not only are disasters detrimen- Spanish, and French conquests of the tal to people, livestock, pets, homes and Americas. But our history books give businesses, but we need to take a long little attention to another powerful hard look at how we preserve historical invader, Russia. In a contest of his- COPING WITH FLOODS AND FIRES artifacts, archival material, etc., when torical recognition, Vitus Bering is no disasters occur. The making match for the likes of Columbus or Captain John Smith. But as we learn It takes a lot of preparation to have of an emergency- in our feature “When the Russians an efficient disaster response team. I response team. Were Coming,” (see page 12). Bering am familiar with this, since I have did nothing less than cross the north $3.95 worked with the Governor’s Office of Pacific in 1741 and declare Alaska a Emergency Services and FEMA during Russian territory. two disasters: the Northridge Earth- Thus began Russia’s coloniza- quake and the Napa Floods. I am glad tion of America, an effort that was we are learning from such disasters as varying periods of time between 1850 not nearly as successful and endur- Hurricane Isabel. We must always pre- and 1950, at least 17 utopian colonies ing as those of the British or Spanish, serve our history. existed in California. though it wasn’t lacking in ambition. Six of these were religious colo- Russia focused mostly on Alaska, but Paul Dale Roberts nies: the Mormon settlement in San its reach extended to California and Elk Grove, California Bernardino (1851–1855), Fountain even Hawaii. Colonization, for the Grove (1870s–1900), Point Loma Russians, was primarily a business (1890s–1940s), Temple Home (1900s– proposition, that business being West Coast Utopia 1910+–), Pisgah Grande (19teens– furs. But as the other foreign powers learned, conquering the New World I’m a long-time member of The Arch- 1920) and Holy City (early 1900s–1950). was no simple matter. aeological Conservancy and an avid Another 11 were founded on secular The Russians, like the European reader of every issue of American principles: Modjeska’s Farm (1870s), powers, overwhelmed many of the Archaeology. I’m writing to comment Icaria Speranza (1880s), Joyful (1880s), natives they encountered with their on “The Remnants of Utopia” article Kaweah (1880s–1890s), Winters Island superior technology. They were bru- that appeared in the Spring 2009 issue. (1890s), Altruria (1890s), Little Land- tal at times, slaughtering the natives The second paragraph of the ers (early 1900s), Fellowship Farm or forcing them into servitude. But it article states that there were a number (19teens-1920s), Llano del Rio (early also served their interests to minimize of 19th-century utopian communities 1900s), Army of Industry (early 1900s) their effect on the native cultures, in the Eastern U.S., “…but the Aurora and Tuolumne Farm (1945–1950). and some of the lower class Russians Colony was the only utopian settle- adopted native ways. Due to the scar- ment on the West Coast.” However, J. Charles Whatford city of Russian women, cohabitation as documented by Robert V. Hine Associate State Archaeologist and intermarriage were encouraged in California’s Utopian Colonies, for Santa Rosa, California by Russian leaders. By the mid 1800s the American colonies were no longer yielding a Sending Letters to American Archaeology profit, so the Russians, in true busi- ness fashion, chose to sell. As we do American Archaeology welcomes your letters. Write to us at 5301 Central Avenue NE, know from the history books, the Suite 902, Albuquerque, NM 87108-1517, or send us e-mail at [email protected]. United States bought Alaska for $7.2 We reserve the right to edit and publish letters in the magazine’s Letters department million in 1867. as space permits. Please include your name, address, and telephone number 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 Board of Directors organization that identifies, Gordon Wilson, New Mexico CHAIRMAN acquires, and preserves the Cecil F. Antone, Arizona • Carol Condie, New Mexico most significant archaeological Janet Creighton, Washington • Janet EtsHokin, Illinois sites in the United States. Jerry Golden, Colorado • W. James Judge, Colorado Sincet its beginning in 1980, the Jay T. Last, California • Dorinda Oliver, New York Conservancy has preserved more Rosamond Stanton, Montana • Vincas Steponaitis, North Carolina than 375 sites across the nation, Dee Ann Story, Texas • Stewart L. Udall, New Mexico ranging in age from the earliest Conservancy Staff habitation sites in North America to Mark Michel, President • Tione Joseph, Business Manager a 19th-century frontier army post. Lorna Wolf, Membership Director • Sarah Tiberi, Special Projects Director We are building a national system of Shelley Smith, Membership Assistant • Melissa Montoya, Administrative Assistant archaeological preserves to ensure Patrick Leach, Administrative Assistant the survival of our irreplaceable cultural heritage. Regional Offices and Directors Jim Walker, Vice President, Southwest 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 • Steve Koczan, Field Representative left virtually no written records of their Paul Gardner, Vice President, Midwest Region (614) 267-1100 cultures. Clues that might someday solve 3620 N. High St. #307 • Columbus, Ohio 43214 the mysteries of prehistoric America Josh McConaughy, Field Representative are still missing, and when a ruin is destroyed by looters, or leveled for a Jessica Crawford, Southeast Region (662) 326-6465 shopping center, precious information 315 Locust St.