SCRAP Octoberfest 1998

Richard Boisvert, Deputy State Archaeologist, New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources, 1996

As the great philosopher and Hall of Fame Catcher once said "It ain't over 'til it's over". The 1998 SCRAP field school remained incomplete until the excavations in two major blocks were finished. When the purchase option was signed for the Nevers Site (27-CO-29) excavations were suspended so as to turn the crew to work on 27-CO-30 where slope erosion was a threat. The two blocks in question were lined with plastic and plans made to complete the unexcavated levels.

We returned to the site on October 21 and re-opened the site. The blocks were frontfilled (well, if putting the dirt back is backfilling, then taking said dirt out again must be ...) and a large steel frame tent was erected over the block to receive the greatest attention. The tent was loaned to SCRAP by PeeMee Bolding on behalf of the Boldwing Clan, a Native American organization based in Goffstown, NH. It proved to be essential as cold rainy weather beset the crew on the following day. Intensive excavations were executed from October 22 through 25 by a crew of 15 to 20 individuals. In all, over 750 hours of volunteered labor were spent on the recovery. Sterile levels were finally reached, but only after five to nine levels were removed from the excavation blocks. The effort was worthwhile, as more diagnostic Paleo Indian artifacts were recovered. Most notable was a large uniface made on prismatic blade that was recovered by Steve Bayly. The specimen is made from the red variety of Munsungun Chert and is recognized as a flakeshaver or limace. Broken in use prehistorically, it was found in two fragments that were deposited approximately 15 cm apart. Also recovered were two biface fragments from units four meters apart that not only refit, but were discovered to conjoin with two more biface fragments found in 1997 and earlier in 1998. These two of the fragments were more than 13 meters apart upon recovery. The four pieces make up the major portion of a biface that was evidently broken in manufacture. The spatial distribution of the refit fragments reinforces our interpretation of the definition of the activity area at this locus of the site and we hope to add to this portion of the database with additional refit pieces. Unifaces, retouched flakes and a small but significant number of flakes made from exotic raw materials round out the notable artifacts recovered.

The efforts were not limited to data recovery, however. On Friday the 23rd the site was visited by all of the children from the Jefferson Elementary School. Iris Baird, a SCRAPer from Lancaster and Bonnie Hicks, a teacher in the school district, organized a day long series of events and presentations that constituted, in effect, Paleo Indian Day in Jefferson. In addition to tours of the site, led by K.D. Rafferty, SCRAP volunteer and PSC student, a flint knapping demonstration was given by Brian Stockman, and a simulated dig was carried out by the students under the supervision of Terry LaPointe. The highlight of the day was the singing by the children of songs on themes such as caribou hunting and how archaeologists "figure it out". Also visiting were many parents and other community members.

The work in October 1998 closes out the planned excavations at the Nevers Site. We look forward to the eventual purchase of the site by the Archaeological Conservancy and the completion of the laboratory work and analysis of the materials recovered. To date, we have over 3000 bags of artifacts plus some 500 bags of kibble yet to be processed. The task will be long and complicated, but it is clear that new and significant interpretations will be obtained from the investigations. Volunteers, as always, are needed to pursue this work.