March 21st meeting program by 'Doc' Baynes

Following the March 21st meeting which will be held in the 

upstairs courtroom of the 1841 Court House at 101 Main Street, Goshen, NY

Sterling Forest State Park Education Ranger

‘Doc’ Baynes

Will relay the story of Sterling Forest, primarily the mining industry from 1736 through 1923. It is the story of the mines, furnaces and its geology, its flora & fauna, its people and the vital roll it played in the founding of these United States!

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The Program is free and open to the public.

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Due to a scheduling conflict the March 21st meeting which will be held in the upstairs courtroom of the 1841 Court House at 101 Main Street, Goshen, NY

Normally, the monthly the Incorporated Orange County Chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association meeting Friday evenings at 7:30 pm are held in the community room of the Goshen Methodist Church, 115 Main St, Goshen, NY 10924.  Please enter by the side door on Court Lane. The community room is one flight up and to your right.

Goshen United Methodist Church

(845) 291-3943

115 Main St

Goshen, NY 10924

NO MEETING: July & August

Bill Sandy speaks on recent Wallkill Valley discoveries

Bill Sandy talked extensively, to a standing room only crowd, on the discoveries made in the Wallkill Valley region which runs from Sussex, through Orange and into Ulster Counties. He put recent findings in context with the history of  local archaeological investigations going all the way back to 1801 when  portraitist and polymath Charles Wilson Peale excavated two nearly complete mastodon skeletons. This became known as the First US Scientific Expedition - right here in Orange County!

Early investigators studied large and sturdy artifacts such as the bones of Peistocene megafauna in addition to stone spear and arrow points. With the development of carbon dating in the 1950's organic remains such as charcoal came under scrutiny as a reliable method to date sites, such as Dutchess Quarry Caves, the oldest known site of human activity in the northeast dating back about 12,500 years ago. This chapter investigated the site under the direction of NY State Archeologist Dr. Funk in the 1960s.   In the 1980, Bill invented a flotation device to sort tiny objects and discovered beads made of fossil crinoids at the Historian Minisink site, although he didn't know what they were at the time. These tiny 1650 year old beads, some only 2 mm in diameter, are believed to be the first wampum.  The use of wampum was the glue that held the Iroquois Federation together.   Bill's flotation technique also separated charcoal, seeds, and other bits.  This process allowed the team to gather enough charcoal to carbon date the site to 420 AD. The seeds provided valuable insight into environmental conditions at the that time in addition to medicinal practices of the period.  For example, Bill found a great deal of bayberry seeds which are effective in treating fevers.

 

Minisink Town Historian Carol Van Buren accepts artifacts from the Historian Site.  The Site was named to honor her role in establishing and supporting the Town’s Cultural Resource Management law (photo by William Sandy). Seal of the Town of Minisink showing the Town’s Native American and Agricultural Heritage.

 The Hansen Rock Shelter 

yielded the most pottery found, so far, at any one location in Orange

 County. Bill Ehlers illustrated some of these artifacts along with a few of the lithic (stone) points and tools recovered there.

 Minisink Museum Curator Larry Hansen (left) and archeologists William Sandy and Eugene Boesch examine artifacts from Hansen Rockshelter (photo by Carol Van Buren). 

Just over the New Jersey border, during a road repair, artifacts were uncovered, which lead to the discovery of the Black Creek site. This important site was nearly lost to development. The Chapter was among the many groups that fought for its preservation. Luckily it was accepted into the Wawayanda State Park and is safe! Indians and archeologists hold a ceremony at the dedication of the Black Creek Site, Vernon, NJ, within Wawayanda State Park.  (photo by Greg Werkheiser). 

Three areas of current concern are the loss of local cemeteries, the lack of cultural resource management laws and the number of contract archeological studies being conducted in the region for which the findings are held in secret by the projects required to do these studies. Bill urged the audience to check out any digs or studies and bring those findings into the public view so that knowledge is not lost.

Below, following his presentation, Bill discusses local findings with members of the audience.

2008 Algonquians Peoples Seminar

New York State Museum

Madison Avenue, Albany New York

March 22, 2008

8:45 - 9:10   Registration

9:10 – 9:20   Welcome & Board Introduction     Mariann Mantzouris, Steve Comer, & Rich Walling

9:20 – 9:50 Thanksgiving Address and Words of Wisdom by Tom Porter

9:55 – 10:15   Tom Lake - First Nations, Last Elephants: Native People Come to the Hudson Valley

10:20 – 10:40   Lucille Lewis Johnson – Prehistoric Habitation of the Hudson Valley: Recent Research and Prospects

10:40 – 11:00   Break

11:05 – 11:25   Christopher Lindner & Susan Hinkle - Old Roots Producing Hybrid Shoots

11:30 – 11:50   Ron Welburn  -The Platos: A Long Island Algonquian Extended Family and Its 19 Century New England Circles

11:55 – 12:15   Daniel E. Mazeau – Prehistoric  Settlement  Along the Nissequogue River System in Central Long Island, New York

12:15 -1:15   Lunch (on your own -Subway Deli is located on the 4^th floor)

1:15 – 1:35   Barry Keegan-Informal talk on dugout and other canoes

1:40 – 2:00 David Cornelius – Native Genealogy

2:05 – 3:15 Susan-Allette Dublin – Drams Along the Mohicanituk

3:15 – 3:30   Break

3:35 – 3:55   Susan M. Taffe – The Delaware Stick Dance: An Adopted Haudenosaunee Social Dance Song

3:40 – 4:15 Richie Plass - Traditional and Contemporary Native American Music

 4:15 – 6:00 Buffet and Social Hour-Buffalo Stew, Turkey, Algonquian Three Sister Rice, Wild Mushroom Side, Algonquian Three-Bean Bake, and Pumpkin Pudding for dessert~ 

2008 Algonquians Peoples Seminar Registration Form

New York State Museum    March 22, 2008

PLEASE PRINT

Name_______________________

Address_____________________

Phone  (       )__________- _____________E-Mail______________________________________

Early Registration pre-paid by Feb. 15, 08  Seminar & Buffet   $35.00  Number Attending_____

Seminar & Buffet after Feb, 15, 08                Seminar & Buffet   $40.00  Number Attending____ 

NAIHRV Members                                              Seminar & Buffet  $30.00  Number Attending____

Student with School ID                                      Seminar Only         $20.00  Number Attending____

Student with School ID                                      Seminar & Buffet   $30.00 Number Attending____

Please make payment out to NAIHRV       Mail completed form and payment to:

NAIHRV

Mariann Mantzouris

PO Box 327

Sand Lake, NY 12153

For questions email Mariann Mantzouris, Seminar Chairwoman at marimantz@aol.com or call 518-369-8116

The New York State Museum is housed in the Cultural Education Center in Albany, New York. The Cultural Education Center (CEC) is at the south end of the Empire State Plaza, across Madison Avenue (Route 20) from the Plaza (at the opposite end from the Capitol). 

 (518) 474-5877 Directions- by the NYS Museum Google Maps

From the East: Take I-90 West to I-787 South to exit 3B to US 20 West. Continue on US 20 West (Madison Avenue) to the CEC.  

From From the South: Take Thruway Exit 23 to I-787 North to Exit 4 to US 20 West. Continue on US 20 West (Madison Avenue) to the CEC.                                                                                                                                                                                       

From the West:  Take Thruway Exit24toI-90East to I-787 South to exit 3B to US 20 West. Continue on US 20 West (Madison Avenue) to the CEC.                                                                                                                                                               

From the North: Take the Northway (I-87) or Route 9 to I-90 East to I-787 South to exit 3B to US 20 West. Continue on US 20 West (Madison Avenue) to the CEC.                                                                                                                                                                Alternate Approach from I-787: 
Follow Empire State Plaza signs, proceed straight under the Plaza, then bear left to loop back under the Plaza. Use one of the underground parking lots or take the P1 exit and go through the arch to Madison Avenue.

 Parking is available, free on weekends, in the two lots adjacent to the Museum, on Madison Ave.            

February 15th meeting Program by Bill Sandy

Incorporated Orange County Chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association

Following the February 15th meeting

Archaeologist William Sandy

presents:

CURRENT & FUTURE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN THE ORANGE COUNTY BLACK DIRT AREA

 

In recent years, archaeologists have made remarkable discoveries at Black Dirt area sites in the towns of Minisink, Wawayanda and Warwick. This area along the WallkillRiver in Orange County, New York is famous for the abundant remains of extinct Ice Age Fauna and a variety of important Native American sites.

 

The year 2008 marks the 50^th Anniversary of the Incorporated Orange County Chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association (IOCC).  Archeologists working in the Black Dirt area, and everyone concerned with New York history are indebted to the IOCC for the ground-breaking work done by the chapter.  In 1962, with the guidance of State Archeologist Dr. Robert Funk, the IOCC began their work at Dutchess Quarry Caves, near Goshen; that work gained nationwide attention for its discoveries of very Early Man.  In 1982, the chapter started innovative work on the Hansen Rockshelter in Minisink.  A preliminary report on this site has just been completed, 25 years later, and will be presented for the first time.

Presenter William Sandy is a contract archaeologist who has excavated sites throughout the region.  An expert on the recovery and seeds and small artifacts, he made a remarkable discovery at a Minisink Site, fossil crinoids fashioned into beads.  At 1650 years old, they may be some of the oldest money in New York.  This presentation will also discuss how local Cultural Resource Management regulations are bringing modern archaeology to Orange County.  It will also discuss ideas for the future of Black Dirt Archaeology, including continued Chapter work on the conservation and interpretation of important sites like Dutchess Quarry Caves and Hansen Rockshelter. 

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The Program is free and open to the public.

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The monthly the Incorporated Orange County Chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association meeting Friday evenings at 7:30 pm in the community room of the Goshen Methodist Church, 115 Main St, Goshen, NY 10924.  Please enter by the side door on Court Lane. The community room is one flight up and to your right.

Goshen United Methodist Church

(845) 291-3943

115 Main St

Goshen, NY 10924

NO MEETING: July & August

New York State Archives/Library/Museum expedition

A small group ventured to the New York State Archives/Library/Museum in Albany,  Wednesday, January 30th. Ray had made arrangements with the Museum staff to visit the Dutchess Quarry Caves artifacts. Seen here is Andrea Lain, Archeology Collections Manager, Ray Decker, Frank Mapes and Doc Baynes examining the Dutchess Quarry Caves drawer.  The famed Cumberland point is clearly visible in its own container.

While Ray and Frank consulted with the Museum and Library senior staff, Clif Patrick, former member Doc Baynes and Rod Johnson researched the the Archives and Special Collections. 

Frank, below, in front of the Arborio Mastodon, (Mammut Americanum) specimen recovered by the chapter from the I-84 construction site near Montgomery in the 1960s. Also photos of flat-headed peccary (Platygonus compressus) and giant beaver (Castoroides ohioensis) skulls...fragments found at D.Q.

Of course, Ray had to check out the Otisville Firetruck.  An old NYC truck used at the NYC Board of Health Tuberculosis Hospital at Otisville and sent to the museum when the State took over in 1955.  T.B. Hospital is now both a state and a Federal prison. 

Ray couldn't resist a little side excursion to the Great Algonkian Flint Mines at Coxsackie, NY on the return trip. We reached the site as darkness fell, but the size of the site and workings were just amazing!