Interesting Discovery Today

[Th3rty7]

This morning the archaeology society I belong to investigated and discovered a middle woodland stone burial site in western Virginia most likely associated with the Shawnee culture. The archaeologist with us confirmed it was " the real deal ", and we did some measurements and recorded and documented the find. It is located about a third of a mile from a river and sits in a really peaceful spot along a small creek and several springs. On the way up the creek to the site we stopped to see some nice large fossils that had blown out of a hillside cave from major floods years ago, crinoids and some barnacle like types. Thought I'd share a couple pictures with you. The last pics are somewhat recent finds, a crystal thumbscraper and a couple early archaic points from WV.

 

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[Tnmountains]

Neat discovery!!!! Looks like it is in mound form and un- dug.. Nice bunch of points as well. Is the first one a buzzard roost or a kirk and maybe the last one a brewerton? Nice finds Thirty7 . Will your chapter excavate?
TnMtns

 

[Th3rty7]

Neat discovery!!!! Looks like it is in mound form and un- dug.. Nice bunch of points as well. Is the first one a buzzard roost or a kirk and maybe the last one a brewerton? Nice finds Thirty7 . Will your chapter excavate?
TnMtns

Thanks, yeah it's medium sized pieces of limestone stacked in a mound. Kind of camouflage from all the dirt and leaves and shrubs growing out of it. One of many in a small area(over 30) and one of the few that hasn't been looted. There's a chance my chapter will be involved in excavating the mound, but more likely will be done by archies from a nearby university. I should at least get a front row seat to watch the process anyway.

I'd say kirk or palmer on the first, it's about an inch and a quarter, second may be a dalton varient, and brewerton(mid archaic) or ecusta on the last. Nice calls

 

[theviking]

Great stuff! We have several woodland period rock mounds around this area. Nice artifacts, I have a crystal thumbnail scraper similar to yours. Thanks for sharing.H.H.

 

[naturegirl]

That IS interesting thirty7. Thanks for a look at the real deal. I see piles sometimes and wonder just how they got there. I don't know about mounds like that in my neck of the woods. What are the diminsions of that mound? I also see where some of our universities do excavations in the summer, and the public is allowed to watch, I may have to go to one of those. At least to see how it's done. Not that I would dig into a mound. Thanks for the look.

 

[Adena_man]

Incredible! Burial mounds. fossils, points, wow! Awesome discovery. That quartz scraper is really nice. I have a quartz scraper that I found, but it is not clear quartz like your's.

 

[Th3rty7]

That IS interesting thirty7. Thanks for a look at the real deal. I see piles sometimes and wonder just how they got there. I don't know about mounds like that in my neck of the woods. What are the diminsions of that mound? I also see where some of our universities do excavations in the summer, and the public is allowed to watch, I may have to go to one of those. At least to see how it's done. Not that I would dig into a mound. Thanks for the look.

Sure naturegirl. The dimensions of the mound are roughly 18' x 20', around 4' tall. The archaeologist with us said these type of burial mounds usually contain one or two important members of the tribe.

 

[Th3rty7]

Appreciate the kind words viking and adena man. That quartz would be tough to work but the super hard material provides a sharp scraping/ cutting edge that would last a long time.

 

[archer66]

Way cool mound...wonder why that one wasn't looted like the others around it

 

[Th3rty7]

Way cool mound...wonder why that one wasn't looted like the others around it

Probably because it's pretty well hidden and the landowner is a respectful guy.