The Orange County Mastadon, by Gary Keeton

Andaste Chapter of PA Archaeology Presents: 

The Orange County Mastodon
(a.k.a: Tuckamoose Mastodon)

by Gary Keeton, NYSAA

Discoverer, Glen Keeton, lower right - Gary Keeton in canoe on left.

(Photo by Ray Decker)

When: Sat, July 10, 2pm – 3pm

Where: Susquehanna River Archaeological Center (SRAC)- 345 Broad Street Waverly, NY

Description: The discovery of a 9-foot-long mastodon tusk in Orange County, NY will provide scientists with a new source of information about the prehistoric animal, according to the men who found and helped exhume it. Naturalist Gary Keeton, will talk about the discovery from 2009 in detail. The tusk, the longest ever found in New York, is expected to provide clues about the animal's age, its eating and travel habits, and the geography of our region some 13,000 years ago. Admission: Adults - $4, Students and seniors $3, Andaste Chapter and SRAC members- free.

Guy Robinson, "Ecological Sleuth," presented prestigious Cooper Award

Guy did his work on Orange County sites the Otisville mastodan site and the Benninwater site in Greenville.  He is also involved in the Tuckamoose site pollen analysis and also is arranging for identification of a sample of material taken from Dutchess Quarry #1 by member Eric Dratch, in an effort to identify the red deposit on the wall of the cave. If it is Ochre it may be man made and may represent a pictograph.

The Cooper award is a very prestigious award, and our Chapter is very proud to be associated with this research effort.

Pictured is Dr. Guy Robinson (right) and Dr. David Burney (left), both of Fordham U., at the Benninwater site.

More on Guy at http://tinyurl.com/2wo9dv5

By Ray Decker

2010 Annual Picnic

We were blessed with a wonderful day for this year's picnic! The only disappointment, was that Tom, who organized the event was in the hospital, the result complications from a dental procedure. Ray, got the call and took over. The food was plentiful and luscious! In addition to fine company and interesting conversations, Gary brought a bunch of obsidian and other knapping material and held a hands-on knapping session with Joe & Tsirk offering their expert guidance.

Ray taking a well earned nap.

We had a really nice day thanks to everyone's help, especially Ray & Tom - 

Bravo!

Gettysburg National Military Park under threat!

SAVING HISTORIC PLACES Say 'No' to Casino Development at Gettysburg

We need your help now! Gettysburg National Military Park is threatened by a developer who wants to build a casino a mere one-half mile from the historic battlefields. This hallowed ground was saved once before in 2006, but this most recent proposal is bigger, closer, and more intrusive. Join an active coalition of local, state, and national preservation groups in opposing the development and protecting this important place.

Link:

http://www.preservationnation.org/take-action/advocacy-center/national-action-alerts/say-no-to-casino-development-at-gettysburg.html

or

http://tinyurl.com/2cstvht

Reminder: June Meeting replaced by Chapter Picnic Saturday

Dear Chapter Members,

Please call Tom B if you are going to attend the picnic. We would like to know approximately how many are coming and what you will be bringing or ask Tom for suggestions. Call Tom B directly or use email ioccnysaa@gmail.com

I received the following message from Gary Sipila.

Hey Dave –

I’m really looking forward to this Saturday’s picnic and was hoping that you could forward this message along to the rest of the club:

Hey all of you would be knappers!

It’s time to dust off your knapping kits in time for this Saturday’s picnic!

We’ve got some great stone for you to practice on (though I would suggest trying to break some rock prior to the picnic so you can get familiar with the tools once again!).

I’ll be happy to work with anyone!

Regards,

Gary Sipila

Hope to see you Saturday.

Dave

Florist site 6/132010

Survey pits continued Sunday. Lots of fire cracked rock, this time with some chunks of charcoal, along with chert chips and a couple of nodules came out of today's test pits, which were very deep to sterile soils.

Steph bringing up another sample.       Gary filing in.

Contact Stephanie for future dig schedule directly, or through email link on right.

John P. Tolosky 1922-2010

Long time IOCCNYSAA member John Tolosky died on June 2 at the age of 88.    He was predeceased in 1992 by his wife, also a long time member, Helen Tolosky.  John and Helen were stalwarts as excavators on several Chapter sites, including working every Sunday in season for over two years at the Mashipacong Island site on the Delaware River.  

In somewhat of a role reversal, it was Helen who was passionate about archaeology while John was ever by her side, working and sharing her day.  With John  taking direction from Helen, they were a very productive team.

The IOCCNYSAA owes a debt of gratitude to John and Helen Tolosky.

The Toloskys shown here working the registration desk at a NYS Annual meeting hosted by IOCCNYSAA at the Middletown Holiday Inn about 1980. 

Ray Decker

Washingtonville Site- June 6th.

When we arrived this morning, Priscilla noticed some disturbance in the last square! Since looters are always a worry, Gary investigated. He discovered a fresh partial deer fawn carcass, shallowly buried; presumably within the last day or two by a black bear.

The two adjacent squares dug today yielded lots of fire cracked rock and a modest number of chert flakes.