1999 SCRAP Field School -

Richard Boisvert, Deputy State Archaeologist, New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources, 1999

The third season of SCRAP fieldschools in Jefferson came to a close on July 31^st. This year we completed efforts begun in 1998 and initiated investigations in some new areas. Again, we were successful in expanding our database on the Paleoindian era in the North Country and we expect to be working on the analysis for a long time to come. The achievements of the fieldschool are briefly summarized below.

· Under the supervision of Ann Pilkovsky, we reopened the excavation blocks begun on 27-CO-30 in 1998 and excavated them down to completion, which entailed removing from 3 to 5 levels over the 28 square meters of previously opened area. We also opened up three additional square meters and took them to sterile levels. In all, we excavated 12 or 13 levels over the two seasons, achieving an overall depth of about 75 centimeters below the surface. No fluted pieces were found, although additional bifaces, end scrapers and retouched flakes were recovered.

· As we were finishing these excavations, we began reconnaissance shovel testing in the pasture north of the excavation blocks. Building on the preliminary work executed in August of last year, we extended the grid and sampled with shovel test pits and one meter test pits a much wider area. Our efforts were quite successful. We enlarged the identified site area threefold and recovered fragments of five fluted points. One of the specimens is, to the best of my knowledge, unique in northeastern Paleoindian archaeology. It is a "point" with two bases, one at each end. Though fragmentary, it clearly retains indented bases at opposite ends with channel flakes that meet head on. We speculate that it was a broken point that was reused as a fluting practice piece. It was found by Iris Baird, who shortly before finding the piece was heard philosophically musing that she really hadn’t found anything that year, but – Oh Well - someone had to dig the dry holes. Reconnaissance was also extended to the west end of the pasture where a crew under Dan Hill identified a new locus for site 27-CO-30, bringing the running total to four loci for the site.

· We also moved a large portion of the crew to a new site, 27-CO-31. This site was discovered in 1996 by a survey team (in the employ of Victoria Bunker, Inc. and under the supervision of Jane Potter) working on a proposed gas pipeline that would have eventually passed directly through the Israel River Complex. The pipeline was re-routed before it was built and consequently the construction firm never authorized follow-up work. We were interested because of the recovery of exotic chert debitage at the site. With the blessing of Victoria and Jane we continued the shovel testing on the site under the direction of Ed Bouras and discovered additional prehistoric material, including not only Munsungun chert but also a fragment of a carefully retouched unifacial tool. This specimen is suggestive of other Paleoindian tools, and will require further analysis in order to determine its age and function.

· In addition to the fieldwork on the sites, several of the crew – led by Ed Bouras– made several forays into the countryside in search of samples of the local Jefferson Rhyolite. Curiously, survey in and along the brooks coincided with the hottest days in the field. Regardless, many specimens of high quality rhyolite were found some of which visually matched varieties of rhyolite found in the excavations. These discoveries will assist significantly in our research on this locally used raw material.

· Back at the lab, the crew under the supervision of Sarah Dunham made significant progress in cataloging nearly all of the season’s findings as well as the remainders from the previous year – over 4000 catalog cards in all. Also, Mark Greenly made significant progress on floating the soil and feature fill samples from the 1998 and 1999 excavations. Hopefully, carbonized materials that he has recovered will provide firm radiocarbon dates.

· We also had the pleasure of hosting a ceremony celebrating the transfer of the Nevers Site (27-CO-29) from the Nevers family to the Archaeological Conservancy. This took place on July 12 at the Nevers Site and was attended by not only the family and the field crew but also Rob Crisell, representing the Archaeological Conservancy, Nancy Dutton, the Director of the Division of Historical Resources, Gary Hume the State Archaeologist, members of the local press and community members. This transfer marks the first acquisition by the Archaeological Conservancy in the East and is a landmark in the history of NH archaeology.

The Concord lab reopened on September 15 and volunteers are eagerly sought to assist in the continued processing and cataloging of the materials recovered in the last days of the season. The lab is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM to 4 PM and Wednesdays from 1 to 9 PM. Feel free to call ahead to ensure that the lab will be open when you arrive.