Friday, May 25, 2018
By a pond
At the edge of a pond there is a pretty forest path.
I go there sometimes to take pictures. Kids on dirt bikes use the path, too. Their tires churn up the soil, use of the path causes erosion. Looking down, I noticed a thin, sharp flake of broken quartz. This is a clue. I took a closer look. Along a short stretch of this path, about 15 feet of it, the dark soil was flecked with occasional flakes and chips of quartz. The larger chunks suggest that people were breaking down quartz cobbles to make tools. The small thin flakes appeared to me to be the result of tool sharpening. I think people lived right here, on the edge of the pond.
What's this on the path?
It's a worn out and broken Squibnocket Triangle projectile point made of a crystal quartz material. It's really beat up but is a nice material and it took a lot of skill to make this.
I think it is incredible that in 2018 it is possible to readily discern the traces left behind by people who lived in this exact place thousands of years ago. I think it is fascinating and I would like to think that others would also find it interesting to know that early man lived here at the edge of this little pond where they like to swim and fish. I think it would be great if there was some kind of sign or marker to inform people about this. I fear that it is more likely that some day machines will come and grade this trail, or put a house or building here. I imagine that many who might know of a site like this, are worried about looters coming with shovels to take the artifacts (and I am sure there are more and better arrowheads here). I imagine this place will remain completely intact, right up until the day it is completely destroyed.
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6 comments :
Makes we wonder if there is a landowner who could give permission to dig.
Amazing crystal quartz!
I believe it is most likely town owned land, and if so it is illegal to remove artifacts without permission of the state archaeologist, from my understanding. I don't think the town owned status will help much to protect this in the long term, adjacent areas are being developed as we speak. I would think this would be a great public archaeology project for someone, it looks to be a well-defined and intact small site that is currently eroding out and, I think, probably deserving of being salvaged before it is further damaged. I'm sure a lot of local people would be amazed to see the artifacts that I am sure are here to be found.
In my town the rule is that artifacts need to be given to the "responsible authority". With a bit of tongue-in-cheek, I consider that to be me.
I feel that if people were less "afraid?" of discussing the true age and hidden beauty of some of these sites it could inspire more public demand for study and preservation.
Greg, I agree with you. I think the aura of secrecy does more harm than good.
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