News: 1872 Otisville Mastodon Stomach Contents Examination,

Update from Ray Decker:

Dr. Guy Robinson and Mary Egan, biologists and members of the Fordham University academic staff, recently visited the site of the 1872 Otisville Mastodon exhumation. The fossil is now mounted at the Peabody museum, Yale Campus, New Haven, Conn. That museum has provided Dr. Robinson with a five pound ball of stomach contents exhumed with the fossil in 1872. By analyzing the pollen and seeds in the stomach contents, Dr. Robinson will discover the season of death and the health of the animal with respect to starvation. Starving animals consume non typical foodstuff.

Dr. Robinson and Ms. Egan were present at the exhumation of the Keeton Mastodon Tusks this summer, and will prepare a similar report with respect to that fossil by studying the soil in contact with the fossil and extracting the pollen and seeds wherein.

Centuries of Orange County Archaeology

Click here for flyer

OR. CO. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

SYMPOSIUM

OCTOBER 31st

♦ SATURDAY

♦ 9 am – 5 pm VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL

♦ Rte. 17K Montgomery

Featuring 4 to 5 speakers on topics such as past mastodon discoveries in the Orange County, as well as information on a recent find (no real mastodon parts though): Dutchess Quarry Caves in Goshen, which have shown proof of the earliest occupation of ancient man in New England 12,500 years ago; N.Y. State Indian culture, customs, tools and weapon needs and usage. There will also be many artifact displays from personal collections and from local excavated sites. Demonstrations on arrowhead making (flint knapping) will go on all day.

Activities for children also!

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL:

CHUCK TUDOR 845- 562-9395

Local 220 million year old fossilized footprints!

Paul Olsen, the Arthur Storke Memorial Professor of Earth & Environment Sciences at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory will present “"The Beginning of Dinosaurs in New York and New Jersey" Sunday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m. in the Piermont Public Library, 25 Flywheel Park, Piermont.

In 1971, Qlsen and a friend discovered some 220 million year old fossilized footprints of, one of the "smaller" giant reptiles on a property in Orange town. This discovery inspired Paul Olsen to pursue a scientific carreer and now to preserve and protect these rare fossil remains through the creation of a public park.

For more information, call 845-359-4595 or http://piermontlibrary.org/events/piermont-friends-and-neighbors-paul-olsen/

September meeting: “Blacksmith Site..." by Jim Wosochlo

Jim presented his surface finds from this recently discovered site on his family's farm that the local lore says was home to a black blacksmith prior to the Civil War. Prehistoric finds range from a fluted point to contact period items. Historic period finds include a structure foundation and all sorts of domestic items and coins dated from 1801-1856. Above is a counterfeit 1854 half dollar made from a very dense brittle cast medal that Jim found near the foundation.

Above is a brass "Wright Brother" pin. Since the site was also used to train WWII pilots, one wonders who this "Wright Brother" was. Bottom line appears to read: "Maker Prita"

Jim Wosochlo presents “Black Smith Site..." at Sept. 18th meeting

“Black Smith Site... Schuylkill County, PA”

Presented By

Jim Wosochlo,

President of Chapter 14, The Forks of The Delaware & Second Vice President of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Inc. <www.pennsylvaniaarchaeology.com>

The Site I will be speaking about is a new site I have found on the lower half of my family’s farm... it has Historic and Pre-Historic finds...

According to my great grandparents a blacksmith lived at the site just before the Civil War. Among the items discovered on this site are pre-historic Lehigh Broad Points and other native artifacts. For the Historic finds, I have a great coin collection including a counterfeit 1854 Half Dollar. A large group of buttons, pipe stems, marbles and other historic artifacts. But nothing dates after the Civil War.

My family purchased the land during the early days of WW II when this site becomes a training Base for pilots.

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The Program is free and open to the public.

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For more information:

email: ioccnysaa@gmail.com

1609: Indians of the Wawayanda Lands at the Time of Hudson's Arrival

A unique exhibition of over 40 images of local Lenape Indian artifacts, diagrams of villages, maps of campsites and pathways enhanced by a display of clothing, tools, and household items.

The show opens on September 24 with a brief lecture at 7 pm by Dr. Richard Hull, Town Historian and Professor of history at NYU. He will sign copies of his recent work on local Indians in 1609.

Refreshments will be served.

(Supported, in part, by Orange County Planning Department and Town of Warwick.)

THE ARCHAEOLOGIST Vol. 9, September 2009 excerpts

President’s Message:

I look forward to seeing everyone on the 18^th and hope you had a wonderful summer. As many of you know I was working in Kenya for six weeks trying to locate groundwater sources to help elevate the severe drought they are currently experiencing. During that time I often wished I could have attended our chapter’s summer events, however I never worried about how they turned out because I knew they were in the hands of so many outstanding chapter members.

This summer was certainly an active one for the chapter and very rewarding thanks to the support of several dedicated members. The fall schedule is equally active with a major event each month. As a result of these activities our membership continues to grow bringing in people with a wide variety of skills and experience which helps strengthen our chapter. We are also lining up some interesting presentations for each meeting to keep the momentum going.

Please feel free to share your comments and suggestion with me at any time.

Dave

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Fall Conference: On Saturday, October 24^th, our chapter and the North Jersey Historical Society will co-sponsor a conference at Ringwood. Members Gary Keeton and Kate Ahmadi, Phd., will represent the chapter as speakers that day. Member Ed Lenik is chairman of the event. The morning program consists of a field trip and papers will be presented in the afternoon. More details will be posted here, ioccnysaa.blogspot.com, as they become availible. This is a great day for seeing fall foliage at its best.

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Fall Symposium: The symposium will be held on October 31^st, from 9 AM until 5 PM at the Montgomery Middle School located on Rt. 17K in Montgomery. There will be a full program of speakers and displays. Plan to attend and bring a friend, there will be lots of things to see and do, children are welcome. We will be inviting the public via the media and help will be needed. The focus of the symposium will be mastodons, in concert with the Town of Montgomery’s on-going promotion of the mastodons exhumed in the town and also the promotion of their new museum. Contact Charles Tudor directly or email us via the link on this page to get on the program as a speaker or to help in any way.

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Annual Dinner Chairman Charles Tudor has secured the facilities at the Town of Wallkill Golf Club for our annual dinner to be held on Sunday, November 22, beginning at 5 P.M.

The principal speaker for the evening will be Robert Ferenac, Phd., Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the NYS Museum.

This event will be catered by the Eagle’s Nest Restaurant, a culinary experience awaits. This event is open to the public, bring a friend. Details and registration data will be in the October newsletter.

The dinner will take the place of the November meeting. No Friday night meeting in November.

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Bravo to the Chairmen who headed our wonderful summer events:

Picnic: Tom Branan

Gander Mountain Event: Kevin Storms

Goshen Exposition: Walter McGrath

And a hearty 'Job Well Done' to all who participated!

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Please let us know if you do not receive your personal copy.

ANNUAL PEEBLES ISLAND OPEN HOUSE - Saturday, September 12, 2009

IT'S THE ANNUAL PEEBLES ISLAND OPEN HOUSE

Visit New York State's Historic Preservation and Conservation Headquarters

Saturday, September 12, 2009
11:00AM- 4:00 PM

Come join us for this family-friendly event, tour the facility and enjoy the park. Rain or shine!

• Enjoy a variety of exciting and engaging tours, programs, and events throughout the day.
• Discover how experts care for the state historic sites and their collections. Learn about some of New York State's most extraordinary historic resources.
• Get technical information and advice about historic rehabilitation, one of our most powerful recycling and "green" building strategies!
• Attend workshops on repairing and weatherizing your building.
• Explore the state park's hiking trails, bring a picnic and enjoy spectacular views of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers.

Don't miss the Waterford Tugboat Roundup taking place across the bridge! For more information, visit:http://town.waterford.ny.us/tugboat_roundup.htm.

For more information about the Open House,
visit www.nysparks.com/events/info.asp?eventID=10349
or call 518-237-8643, ext. 0.
On-site parking is available with shuttle service to and from the resource center.
Driving directions are available on the website.

Ray Decker speaks to Chester Rotary September 1st.

Ray Decker gave an engrossing talk promoting the IOCCNYSAA to the Central Orange (Chester) Sunrise Rotary Tuesday morning. After introducing the Chapter and giving a short history, Ray told the story of the discovery, study, preservation efforts and importance of Dutchess Quarry Caves. The last part was a discussion of the bountiful flora and fauna discoveries coming out of Orange County's black dirt, including the Sugar, Arborio and Keeton mastodon finds.

(Photo by Natasha Tomlin)

Ray was assisted by Chapter members Susan Roth and Clif Patrick.

The Rotary is a local service club composed primarily of business owners and managers.