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HOHOKAM DISAPPEARANCE • NEW DEAL ARCHAEOLOGY • THE 920-MILE DIG americanamerican archaeologyarchaeologyFALL 2008 a quarterly publication of Vol. 12 No. 3 The Archaeological Conservancy UncoveringUncovering 1818thth-Century-Century FrenchFrench andand IndianIndian TradeTrade $3.95 AA fall08 front end.indd 1 8/19/08 3:21:25 PM AA fall08 front end.indd 2 8/19/08 3:21:59 PM american archaeologyfall 2008 a quarterly publication of The Archaeological Conservancy Vol. 12 No. 3 COVER FEATURE 20 CONTACT COMMERCE BY DIANE CLAY An 18th-century village in northern Oklahoma is yielding information about early trade between the Wichita Indians and the French. 12 THE 920-MILE DIG BY MIKE TONER An immense cultural resource management project has its risks and rewards. 26 A NEW LIFE IN NEW PHILADELPHIA GARY LAWSON GARY BY MALCOLM GAY The town of New Philadelphia was founded by a freed slave in 1836. It was inhabited by blacks and whites during a time of racial strife. Archaeologists are investigating the abandoned town to learn about its race relations. 32 WHAT BECAME OF THE HOHOKAM? BY TIM VANDERPOOL The Hohokam thrived for centuries in southern Arizona before mysteriously collapsing. An ambitious research project offers insights into the causes of the collapse. 38 A NEW DEAL FOR ARCHAEOLOGY BY DAVID MALAKOFF During the Great Depression, New Deal programs gave people various jobs, including digging archaeological sites. Despite being untrained, excavators working in WWW.GEORGIAHISTORY.COM SOCIETY HISTORICAL THE GEORGIA southwestern Pennsylvania made an important contribution. 2 Lay of the Land 44 new acquisition 3 Letters A GLIMPSE OF THE SUSQUEHANNOCK The Upper Leibhart site is one of the last major 5 Events villages inhabited by this culture. 7 In the News George Washington’s Childhood Home 46 new acquisition Found • Mississippian Site Destroyed • PRESERVING AN UNUSUAL PUEBLO-PERIOD VILLAGE Civil War Sloop Disovered The Wancura-Johnson site could provide a clear picture of its prehistoric occupants. 50 Field Notes 52 Reviews 47 point acquisition KEEPING A LATE ADENA MOUND INTACT 54 Expeditions The Conservancy preserves the Dorr 2 Mound in Southeastern Ohio. 48 point acquisition COVER: Archaeologist Richard Drass photographs a postmold that was A PICTURE OF THE PLAINS VILLAGE TRADITION uncovered at the Bryson-Paddock site. The Flaming Arrow site apparently played a role Photograph by Gary Lawson in the Hidatsa origin myth. american archaeology 1 AA fall08 front end.indd 1 8/26/08 10:00:46 PM Lay of the Land A Look at Contract Archaeology ontract archaeologists do the the Bureau of Land Management to vast majority of fi eldwork in supervise this work. Cthe United States today. Hun- In this huge project the principal dreds of fi rms are working on projects contractor did highly professional across the country fi nding and mitigat- work, but another fi rm involved in the ing archaeological sites in advance of project did not perform so well. This is construction. They often receive little too often the case with contract archae- attention from other archaeologists ology. A bigger problem is the compul- DARREN POORE and the public, but the work they do is sion to dig up (or salvage) archaeologi- Mark Michel, President vital. In this issue of American Archae- cal sites that are in the path of projects. preservation that meets the standards ology we focus on one large project More and more, contract archaeologists of conservation archaeology. Progress (see “The 920-Mile Dig,” page 12) that and regulators are seeing the folly in is being made, but more needs to be involves an underground cable running using this approach for every site. They done to make preservation instead of from Texas to California. The contract are working with the Conservancy and salvage one of the options of contract archaeologists found dozens of sites— others to preserve sites in place, be it in archaeology. some that are extremely important. It the middle of a subdivision or along a is the job of state historic preservation highway. Often the construction can be offi ces and federal land managers like moved a short distance to allow in situ 2 fall • 2008 AA fall08 front end.indd 2 8/19/08 3:22:23 PM Letters The Indy Effect I read “How North American Agriculture Began” (Spring Editor’s Corner 2008). What a fantastic and enlightening article. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) Your magazine always has was established in 1935 by Franklin Delano superb, informative articles Roosevelt to combat the soaring unemploy- that keep us archaeology ment caused by the Great Depression. Dur- afi cionados in the loop. ing its short existence, the WPA employed Speaking of which, there millions of people in numerous endeavors, is a new Indiana Jones one of which was archaeology. WPA offi cials movie out called Indiana found the fi eld to be particularly attrac- Jones and the Kingdom tive because excavations employed many of the Crystal Skull, and people at relatively little expense, and they it seems to be inspiring didn’t compete with private enterprise. kids to become more Archaeology has changed a great deal interested in archaeology. over the last 70 years; many of its practitio- I noticed as I was picking ners boast Ph.Ds and they can utilize remark- up your magazine that there was a group of kids reading your able technology in their investigations. But latest issue and talking about Indiana Jones and how archaeology is as our feature “A New Deal for Archaeology” conducted. Movies really infl uence the public, and Indiana Jones is (see page 38) shows, Depression-era work- introducing archaeology to a younger generation. ers, many of whom were untrained, made Paul Dale Roberts a signifi cant contribution to archaeology Elk Grove, California in southwestern Pennsylvania and in other parts of the country as well. In addition to providing employment, References Required the excavations in Pennsylvania’s Somerset I am a long-time member of the Conservancy and I greatly enjoy read- County served to prove that Native Ameri- ing American Archaeology. However, I do fi nd it occasionally quite cans had occupied the region for millennia. frustrating that the articles typically do not provide references of any As for the rest of the country, Depression- kind. I am mostly interested in being able to follow up on a particu- era archaeological projects made the public larly good article such as the recent “How North American Agriculture aware that there were many more sites than Began.” It would greatly enhance the value of the article and the impact they realized, according to John Jameson Jr., of the magazine should articles provide a few references for readers to an archaeologist at the National Park Ser- pursue on their own. This might lead, for example, to more volunteers vice’s Southeast Archeological Center, who on digs, contributions to funding, etc. But that requires an informed has written about this period. The public readership. I look forward in the future to American Archaeology pro- also came to realize that these sites were viding its readers opportunities for digging on their own. endangered by development, looters, and George Rumney other threats. Bowie, Maryland “During the New Deal, a whole gen- eration of archaeologists concentrated on native and historic period cultures in the Sending Letters to American Archaeology United States,” Jameson added. “This is the American Archaeology welcomes your letters. Write to us at 5301 Central Avenue NE, basis for modern Americanist specialization Suite 902, Albuquerque, NM 87108-1517, or send us e-mail at [email protected]. of many university departments today.” We reserve the right to edit and publish letters in the magazine’s Letters department as space permits. Please include your name, address, and telephone number with all correspondence, including e-mail messages. american archaeology 3 AA fall08 front end.indd 3 8/19/08 3:22:35 PM Welcome to the ArchAeologicAl conservAncy! he Archaeological Conservancy 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 Donald Craib, Virginia • Janet Creighton, Washington • Janet EtsHokin, Illinois sites in the United States. Jerry Golden, Colorado • W. James Judge, Colorado t Since its beginning in 1980, Jay T. Last, California • Dorinda Oliver, New York the Conservancy has preserved more Rosamond Stanton, Montana • Vincas Steponaitis, North Carolina than 365 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 Caitlin Lanigan, Administrative Assistant • 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. • P.O. Box 270 • Marks, Mississippi 38646 is lost. By permanently preserving George Lowry, Field Representative endangered ruins, we make sure they Gene Hurych, Western Region (916) 424-6240 will be here for future generations to 6130 Freeport Blvd., #100H • Sacramento, California 95822 study and enjoy.