GOD‘S PECULIAR PEOPLE • PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS • EUROPEAN DISEASES american archaeologyFALL 2001 a quarterly publication of The Archaeological Conservancy Vol. 5 No. 3 TheThe GaultGault Site:Site: AA CloClovisvis TrTreasureasuree TrTrovovee $3.95 $3.95 HELP PRESERVE A WINDOW INTO THE PAST Join The Archaeological Conservancy and become a member of the only national non-profit organization preserving the country’s endangered archaeological sites. Your support will help save America’s cultural heritage before it’s lost forever. As a Conservancy member, you’ll receive American Archaeology, which will keep you up to date on the latest discoveries, news, and events in archaeology in the Americas. You’ll also learn about the Conservancy’s current preservation projects. To join the Conservancy, simply fill out ✃ the form below and return it to us. Sign me up! 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FA00A america quarterly publication of The Archaeologicalan Conser archaeologyvancy Vol. 5 No. 3 fall 2001 COVER FEATURE 22 CHALLENGING THE CLOVIS PARADIGM BY CLAIRE POOLE One of North America’s premier Clovis sites may yield new information about its inhabitants. 12 AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS 14 GOD’S PECULIAR PEOPLE BY BOB BROOKE An investigation of one of America’s first religious communes corrects historical accounts. 28 THE FIRST AMERICANS BY BRIAN FAGAN Making the case for the Clovis. 33 THE CONSEQUENCES OF CONTACT BY TAMAR STIEBER Did European diseases decimate Native American populations? 40 new acquisition: DEFENDING KING AND COUNTRY An 18th-century British fort is preserved. 2 Lay of the Land 41 new acquisition: 3 Letters BIG NEWS IN THE BARRIO 5 Events The Barrio de Tubac is the southern portion of Arizona’s first permanent 7 In the News European settlement. Big Eddy Is Washing Away • Oregon Trail Tragedy Uncovered • 42 point acquisition: Maya Art Shows Scribes’ A MIDDLE MISSISSIPPIAN Influence. METROPOLIS 44 Field Notes The Conservancy acquires an Arkansas mound center. 46 Expeditions 48 Reviews 43 point acquisition: SAVING MOUNDS IN MICHIGAN COVER: A Clovis point found at The Sumnerville mound group may the Gault site in central Texas. help archaeologists learn about the A remarkable number of Clovis Goodall Hopewell. artifacts have been found there. Photograph by Darren Poore american archaeology 1 Lay of the Land Uncovering the Details of History hen you mention the word com- ogists are working to help us under- mune today, most people think of stand that movement by combining W the 1960s collectives of pot- history, the written record of the smoking, long-haired flower children. past, with archaeology, a science that Those are mostly gone now and soon until recently dealt almost exclusively to be forgotten. Lest we forget too with prehistory in the Americas. much of the important role of com- Archaeologists deal with the ma- munes in American history, American terial record of the past, the debris Archaeology covers fresh archaeo- left behind. Historical archaeologists logical work at an important religious are finding that the written record commune at Ephrata,in eastern Penn- tells only part of the story, and that it testing those communes of the sylvania, that was founded in 1732. is often distorted by its authors for 1960s and finding all kinds of things Communes of all kinds were any number of reasons. Historical ar- the written record omitted. common in pre-Civil War America— chaeology gives us the opportunity religious, economic, free-thinking, to add details as well as test the ve- utopian…. They played an important racity of the sources. role in our history, but one that is lit- We can be assured that the next MARK MICHEL tle remembered. Historical archaeol- generation of archaeologists will be President MORE THAN JUST A TOUR... THE CROW CANYON EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE THE ARCHAEOLOGY AND CULTURES CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST AND THE WORLD ON HORSEBACK APRIL 2 - 7, 2002 WITH RENOWNED AND ENGAGING SCHOLARSINA COASTAL CALIFORNIA’S CHUMASH WAY THE CASUAL TOURIST CANNOT. ROCK ART & CULTURE APRIL 7 - 13, 2002 HIKING NAVAJO MOUNTAIN: SOLITARY SENTINEL OF THE RAINBOW PLATEAU APRIL 21 - 27, 2002 SHAFT TOMBS & FORGOTTEN CITIES: DISCOVERIES IN WEST MEXICO APRIL 26 - MAY 5, 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. 2 fall • 2001 Letters Too Little of to $35 retail west of the Little Bighorn Mississippi, a Spencer, As a member of the complete with 100 rounds of ammu- Conservancy,I enjoy all the issues of nition, could be bought for about $7 Editor’s Corner American Archaeology, but the Sum- in the same area. Two of the feature articles in this issue— mer issue was really fantastic. One of The presence of Spencer car- “The First Americans” and “Challenging the reasons I joined was because of tridges on the Indian side of the bat- the Clovis Paradigm”—touch upon one of my fascination with and concern for tle in 1875 should surprise no one, the most interesting debates in American Southwestern prehistoric sites. The and it is certainly not evidence of In- archaeology: Who were the first people article “Driving into Prehistory”was dians hoarding Spencer ammunition, to inhabit the New World? In the former especially wonderful. which remained plentiful for at least article, archaeologist Brian Fagan makes However, it is Anita Stratos's article another quarter of a century. the case for the Clovis being first; in the “Archaeology Goes to War” that is the C. F. Eckhardt latter piece, archaeologist Michael subject of this request. The Little Seguin, Texas Collins expresses a contrary view. Bighorn story is another of my main in- Not so long ago, as Fagan says, terests. Stratos did a wonderful job Piecing the Puzzle Together “Clovis first” was a truism. But over the within the confines of the magazine, Seeing the rock foundation of a last few decades, a number of re- but I would love to see more and read Hohokam building on page 40 of the searchers have questioned this “fact.” more from the two archaeologists in Summer issue was simply amazing. Sites that claim to offer evidence of pre- her story. Unfortunately, the map at the Archaeologists are like detectives; Clovis occupation, such as Monte Verde, top of page 20 is so small as to be in- they can take pieces of the puzzle Cactus Hill, Meadowcroft, and Topper distinct.The location of artifacts shown and put them together and tell you (see the News article on page 10) fuel is vital to the story and to understand- what the ruins mean. In this case, the debate. ing who did what, where, and when. they determined it was an agricul- Some archaeologists speak of a Thank you for your dedication tural building. “Clovis police” that refuses to consider and mission. It makes life not only A tip of the proverbial hat to Del the possibility of a pre-Clovis people. more enjoyable, but more rewarding Webb for recognizing that this site Fagan, clearly,is not a member of this to know of your vital work. needs to be preserved and being gen- force. He makes his case for Clovis with (Jared) Adam Lynch erous enough to donate it. reluctance. I have spoken to several ar- Monroeville, Pennsylvania Robert Charles Mitchell II chaeologists about this debate and the Sacramento, California majority of them believe the Clovis were No Shortage of Spencers the first Americans. But, with one ex- In the article “Archaeology Goes to ception, they were anything but dog- War,” the author states that Spencer Sending Letters to matic in their reasoning or dismissive rifle/carbine ammunition hadn’t American Archaeology of the work done at pre-Clovis sites. been manufactured for at least eight American Archaeology welcomes your Let the debate continue uncon- years prior to the Red River War of letters. Write to us at 5301 Central strained by ideology and closed-mind- 1875. In fact, several companies of Avenue NE, Suite 402, Albuquerque, NM edness. Without the free exchange of the 9th and 10th cavalry were still 87108-1517, or send us e-mail at arch- ideas, there is no debate. armed with Spencers as late as 1874. [email protected]. The U.S. Army bought over 15,000 We reserve the right to edit and pub- lish letters in the magazine’s Letters Spencer rifles between 1861 and department as space permits. Please 1865 and outfitted 10 regiments of include your name, address, and telephone Michael Bawaya cavalry with Spencer carbines be- number with all correspondence, including Editor tween 1866 and 1871.While a new e-mail messages. Winchester ’66 or ’73 cost about $30 american archaeology 3 WELCOME TO ® THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL 5301 Central Avenue NE, Suite 402 CONSERVANCY! Albuquerque, NM 87108-1517 • (505) 266-1540 www.americanarchaeology.org he Archaeological Conservancy is the only national non-profit Board of Directors organization that identifies, ac- Earl Gadbery, Pennsylvania, CHAIRMAN quires, and preserves the most sig- Olds Anderson, Michigan • Cecil F.