Arrowheadology.com: Arrowheads, Indian Artifacts and Early Man

Temple 2011 Comes to an End

Posted on 06. Jun, 2011 by Shannon Graham in Artifact Finds, Clovis, Events, Flint Knapping, Miscellaneous, Paleo, Projectile Techonolgoy, Texas

And as quickly as that (snapping fingers) the Temple, Texas 2011 Indian Artifact show is behind us.

Kudos are in order for Leslie Pfeifer and the members of The Genuine Indian Relic Society (G.I.R.S) who do all the ‘heavy lifting’ to present a first rate event. This show is co-hosted with The Texas Chapter of the Central States Archeological Society and is one of the best in the nation.

Every year upon entering the convention center, visitors are greeted with an exceptionally rare and well document display of ancient American history. This year was no different. A cache of Mogollon Anasazi white ware vessels were on display complete with a digital analysis of their contents. Why? Because four of the five pottery items are sealed with clay stoppers concealing their contents that have remained unseen for centuries. That is, unseen until the University of Texas’ Geology Department worked their magic with their computed tomography (CT) scanner.

The images of the CT scan have been digitally compiled into a video showing the many contents of the containers; shells, beads, prayer sticks, pendants, squash, corn, nuts and more. Many more items remain to be identified. Certain pieces isolated by the CT scan coupled with the aid of CAD software have been reproduced by a protyping machine that creates plastic/resin models of the contents found in the containers. Fascinating stuff that I can’t do justice with this brief blog article. Read the latest issue of the Prehistoric American for a full length feature on this amazing cache of artifacts. The owner is an individual with remarkable knowledge of this culture as well as unrivaled will power for not actually prying the lids off for just a first hand peek!

While predominantly a Texas show, many neighboring regions and cultures were on display. There is so much to see and so much knowledge in the room, it is difficult to digest it all. This year ended with a guided tour of the Gault Site, one of the largest and most information-yielding Clovis sites in North America.

Many Arrowheadologists were on hand as well sharing their knowledge and finds. George Looney was there with the largest (wooden) Clovis I’d ever seen. Paleo Troy and Arrow1 came showed some of their east Texas Paleo . Dollar Creek had hundreds if not thousands of artifacts from one Paleo site in east Texas. What he learned and shared is eye-opening in terms of chronology. He had a number of Wilson/Early Stemmed and some unique stemmed knives that appear to be contemporaries with San Patrice.

Ctripp and Pleeo had their amazing personal finds on site. JimC, a newcomer to this event, blew everyone’s mind with the sheer numbers and quality of artifacts from a single site in the Texas Hill Country. Don Black had his extensive, fine personal find collection there as well. Always a line waiting to speak with Don!

John. G. Scoggins was there with his fine family and rootbeer Scottsbluff. Lyle Nickel had his ever-growing collection of some of the finest southern Paleo around. Check out his displays! Somehow Patrico was allowed to leave the state (again) with all those fine Texas pieces. That ain’t right! Tchism was nearby with his high quality archaic Texas specimens.

It was good seeing Beforeyouknewme, JesseW and Tool Guy again and I hope to meet up again soon. Likewise it was good connecting a face with a name to Palmwood and Kirby. David and Darrell Crain were there as well as Jhaberer. Fantastic displays David has and this time complete with a personally found Andice!

Thanks to Clayton for the great hospitality and to Ray for telling more about his thesis on ‘Why We Collect’. Indianasmith was doing what I should have been doing and that is taking more photos. I caught up with Mark Adams briefly and saw many others that I didn’t get to speak with. At the risk of forgetting someone…Rick Hicks, Steven Moore, Bill W and I’m sure many more Arrowheadologist fall into this latter category. There’s always next year.

See you at Temple in 2012!

Related Posts

1. The Sun Sets on Temple.
2. UPDATED: Temple 2010 is in the Books
3. The Mullins Texas Clovis Cache