May 16th meeting: "Archaeology, a Retrospect"

Public program following the May 16th meeting:

GORDON DEANGELO

presents:

"Archaeology, a Retrospect"

A review of several types of archaeology ranging from prehistoric to industrial practiced during the last 50 plus years.

Illustrated by site photos including some of our past noted archaeologists.

Trained by such people as Drs. Wm. Ritchie, Bob Funk, Peter Pratt, Jim Tuck, Ian Walker, Jack Cotter, Dave Starbuck, Pinky Harrington etc.

Worked on both historic & prehistoric, recently more time on historic i.e. Mount Independence (revolutionary War), Rogers Island (French & Indian War) Erie Canal Boat Museum.

- - - - -

The Program is free and open to the public.

- - - - -

For more information:

email: ioccnysaa@gmail.com

 

The Incorporated Orange County Chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association meets monthly on the third Friday at 7:30 pm in the community room of the Goshen Methodist Church, 115 Main St, Goshen, NY 10924. Use the Court Lane entrance - one flight up.

No meetings in July or August.

State personnel visit Orange County.

Staff from  the New York State Museum and the New York State Office of Historic Preservation joined the IOCCNYSAA for a tour of several important archeological sites in Orange County. It is essential for the staff to be not only familiar with the artifacts in the museum but also the contexts in which they where found.

Ray Decker discusses some of the archaic finds at a Town of Montgomery site with Jonathan C. Lothrop, Ph.D., RPA, Curator of Archaeology at the New York State Museum.

Owen Road site artifacts examined.  

Jonathan C. Lothrop, Curator of Archaeology at the New York State Museum climbs down to the Duchess Quarry Caves.

Ed Lenik explaining the history of Dutchess Quarry Caves excavations to the museum staff.

Jonathan C. Lothrop and Douglas Mackey, archaeologist from the State Office of Historic Preservation, at the entrance of Dutchess Quarry Cave #1.

Exploring the last stop on the tour: Orange Farms Cemetery.

Ray Decker's review of the Chapter's first 50 years.

Following the April 18th meeting, Ray presented an insightful history of our Chapter with personal remembrances. Above, shaking hands, are Chapter founder Selwyn Gibbs, and charter member, Bill Elhers. Sig. Oalfson, Eastern States Federation, looks on.

Dr. Arthur Parker, first New York State Museum archaeologist.

NYSAA member, Dr. William A. Ritchie, also from the New York State Museum, whose book on lithic points continues to be the seminal work on the subject.

Dr. Mariam White, shown here at a dig, went on to a distinguished career at the University of Buffalo

IOCCNYSAA member and NYSAA Fellow, Ed Lenik, is a renown authority on the Lenape Indians and the region's early Iron Industry.

Bill Ehler, center, with Harold Halcott, Mrs. Halcott and daughter at an early dig overlooking the Black Dirt.

Bill Ehler at Dutchess Quarry Caves in the 1960's.

Recovering the Sugar Loaf mastodon skeleton from the black dirt in the pouring rain.

The skull of the Arborio mastodon rescued during the construction of Interstate Route 84.

The lower jaw of the Arborio mastodon as it rests in the New York State Museum. This is a very rare example of a mastodon with three teeth - normally they have two. 

The Chapter did a lot of work at Fort Decker in Port Jervis.

Laurence Hansen shown here with a sunken barrel at the fort that may have been originally used to store live eels or perhaps catfish caught in the nearby Delaware River.  Later it appears to have been used as a trash receptacle.

Bravo to Ray Decker for a fascinating look at the Chapter's illustrious history!

An illustrated review of the Chapter's first 50 years

Public program following the April 18th meeting:

Kicking off our 50th anniversary as a member chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association, Past President Ray Decker will present an illustrated review of the Chapter's first 50 years. Including an extensive review of our involvement in the Dutchess Quarry Caves, one of the oldest known inhabited sites in the Northeast.

Here is a short video of one of the 12,500± year old fluted projectile points recovered during the 1960s excavations of the Dutchess Quarry Caves conducted under the supervision Drs. Steadman and Funk of the New York State Museum. 

(Dr. Robert E. Funk photo courtesy New York State Museum. Projectile point video - IOCNYSAA)

- - - - -

The Program is free and open to the public.

- - - - -