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Library program focused on Southern Wisconsin and Evansville archeology
On July 23, 2015, Eager Free Public Library and The Grove Society of Evansville sponsored a program about Southern Wisconsin archaeology presented by Amy Rosebrough, Staff Archaeologist at the State Archaeology and Maritime Preservation Department of the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Dr. Rosebrough’s presentation, “Archaeology of Southern Wisconsin,” was an overview of Wisconsin archaeology during the 13,000-year span of Wisconsin’s history.
The presentation coincided with the Grove Society's newest acquisition of arrow points donated by Nancy Norgord of Oshkosh. The arrow points, some possibly 8,000-10,000 years old, were found on a farm owned by her maternal grandparents, Marvin Patterson and Leticia (Finn) Patterson. The farm was located on what is now Evansville’s east side.
On April 16, Norgord, who still has many Patterson and Ehle relatives living in the area, donated to the Evansville Grove Society a framed collection of arrow points and a hand-written note from her mother, which said: “The Indian arrows were all picked up on our farm.”
Nancy’s mother was Genevieve Patterson, daughter of Marvin Ernest and Letitia Finn Patterson. The farm was located east of Evansville, on Main Street/Highway 14, between Dean Clinic and County Highway M.
Rosebrough’s initial assessment after viewing a photograph of the arrow points was: “It is clear that the collection contains a wide variety of point types from a long period of history, including several early varieties that aren’t seen that often . . .One blade is unusual, but the straight haft and slight ears at its base seem to suggest a Scottsbluff identification. If so, the point is between 8000 to 10,000 years old.”
The Patterson family moved to the farm on March 1, 1914 as Marvin “wanted more outdoor work,” Nancy Norgord said. He had been employed as a train dispatcher in Baraboo before moving to Evansville. The points were found on the farm over a period of years while Marvin and his family lived there until they moved to South First Street.
Rosebrough has a PhD in anthropology/archaeology from the University of Wisconsin -Madison with a focus on effigy builders, their mounds, and their pottery.
The presentation will take place in the program room, in the lower level of the Library.
Eager Free Public Library is located at 39 W. Main St., Evansville. The building is handicapped accessible. The phone is 882-2260. The website address is: www.als.lib.wi.us/EFPL. You can follow the library on Twitter (EagerFreePL), Facebook (Eager Free Public Library) and Pinterest (eagerfree). The library hours are: Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Photograph of framed collection of arrow points donated to the Grove Society by Nancy Norgord of Oshkosh.
Photograph of cigar box, which stored the arrow points before Genevieve had some of them framed. The handwritten note was found inside the box.
Paleo-Indian (late Ice Age, first peoples in Wisconsin)
Scottsbluff:
One point that seems to reflect this style is located in the framed collection. The blade is unusual, but the straight haft and slight ears at its base seem to suggest a Scottsbluff identification. If so, the point is between 8000 to 10,000 years old.
Early Archaic (vegetation begins to change towards modern conditions, human population densities begin to rise)
Thebes Notched:
The framed portion of the collection contains one definite Thebes Notched point. These are very distinctive, so identification is certain. These points are between 8000 to 10,000 years old, but your point should be closer to 8000 than10,000 since Thebes points post-date Scottsbluff points in #isconsin.·
Kirk Corner-Notched:
The framed portion of the collection contains one point that I am fairly certain is a Kirk Corner-Notched point. Other Kirks may be present, but again they are similar enough to Hardin and Steuben points that I would like to check them in person before making a final identification. Kirk points are between 8900 to 9500 years old.
Hardin Barbed:
Some of the points in the collection may be Hardin Barbed points, which are similar in outline to two other point styles (Kirk-Corner Notched and Steuben Expanding Stem. I'll need to see these in person to check their cross-sections to tell which are which. There is a wide range of dates for these points, but they are usually considered to be anywhere from 7,500 years old up to 10,000 years old.
Middle Archaic (first copper mining and working, establishment of continent-wide trade routes)
Raddatz Side-Notched:
The framed portion of the collection contains a few small Raddatz Side-Notched points.
These points were manufactured between 5000 and 8000 years ago.
Matanzas Side-Notched:
The cigar box contains a few probable Matanzas points, which are a later version of the Raddatz style.
They are between 5000 to 5700 years old.
Late Archaic (increasing religious complexity, early experiments with manipulation of plants)
Durst Stemmed:
Durst points are represented in both the framed and cigar box portions of the collection. Durst points were made between 3800 and 5500 years ago.·
Preston Corner-Notched:
There is one possible Preston point in the cigar box. If it is what it appears to be, then it was made around 3,500 years ago.
Early Woodland (first gardens, first pottery, first burial mounds)
Kramer Stemmed:
The cigar box contains at least one, and possibly two Kramer Stemmed points. The second Kramer may be a Waubesa with a snapped base, so I/ll need to check that one in person to tell. $ramer points were made between 2500 and 3000years ago.·
Waubesa Contracting Stemmed:
If the second possible Kramer point in the cigar box is a Waubesa point instead, then it was made between 1800 to 2500 years ago.
Middle Woodland (widespread religious movements and trade, use ofmounds to create astronomical calendars, high levels of artistice$pression)
·
Snyders Cluster:
Two points in the framed set fall within a broad range of style called the 'Snyders' cluster, but can't be attributed to specific point types. They date to the period between 2200 and 1800 years ago.
Steuben Expanding Stem:
Some of the less identifiable points in the collection may be Steuben points and I'll have to see them in person to tell for sure. If some are Steubens, they date to the period between 1500 and 1700 years ago.
Late Woodland (shift towards local interests and drop-off in trade, rise of effigy mound builders)
Honey Creek Corner-Notched:
9 couple of the smaller corner notched points in the framed case and cigar box may be Honey Creek points. If so, they are the oldest true arrow points known in Wisconsin and were made between 1200 and 1700 years ago.·
Madison Triangular
The small, simple, triangular points in the framed case (and one possible one in the cigar box - I'll have to check) are Madison Triangulars. These little arrow points were made by the effigy builders and their descendants, right up to the period of European contact (1100 to 300 years ago). One of the triangular
points in the framed case is a little too long to be an arrow point, and may be a knife made in the same style...sometimes called a Kolterman Knife, though it is a little too narrow compared to other Kolterman Knives I've seen. The Cigar box also contains an assortment of other stone tools and chippings. Quite a few of the pieces in the box are chippings of stone that were either by-products of tool manufacture or by-products that were picked up and used as a handy and quick tool before being thrown away. The box also contains a couple of drill bits, some hide scrapers, lots of broken tips of spear points or knives, and some blanks/bifaces. Blanks/bifaces are pieces of stone that were worked down into an all-purpose shape and then carried around, ready to be made into a spearpoint, knife, or other tool as circumstances demanded. Most of the stone types look to be local varieties, with the exception of one point in the framed case, which is made of orthoquartzite from northwestern Wisconsin (it is the brownish, sparkly one that looks a little glassy).
If you have any further questions, please let me know. I will be out of the office working with 4th graders the remainder of this week, but will check e-mail in the evenings.
Amy L. Rosebrough
Staff Archaeologist
State Archaeology and Maritime Preservation Program
Wisconsin Historical Society
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706
1-608-264-6494
[email protected]
www.wisconsinhistory.org
Collecting, Sharing and Preserving Stories Since 1846.
On July 23, 2015, Eager Free Public Library and The Grove Society of Evansville sponsored a program about Southern Wisconsin archaeology presented by Amy Rosebrough, Staff Archaeologist at the State Archaeology and Maritime Preservation Department of the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Dr. Rosebrough’s presentation, “Archaeology of Southern Wisconsin,” was an overview of Wisconsin archaeology during the 13,000-year span of Wisconsin’s history.
The presentation coincided with the Grove Society's newest acquisition of arrow points donated by Nancy Norgord of Oshkosh. The arrow points, some possibly 8,000-10,000 years old, were found on a farm owned by her maternal grandparents, Marvin Patterson and Leticia (Finn) Patterson. The farm was located on what is now Evansville’s east side.
On April 16, Norgord, who still has many Patterson and Ehle relatives living in the area, donated to the Evansville Grove Society a framed collection of arrow points and a hand-written note from her mother, which said: “The Indian arrows were all picked up on our farm.”
Nancy’s mother was Genevieve Patterson, daughter of Marvin Ernest and Letitia Finn Patterson. The farm was located east of Evansville, on Main Street/Highway 14, between Dean Clinic and County Highway M.
Rosebrough’s initial assessment after viewing a photograph of the arrow points was: “It is clear that the collection contains a wide variety of point types from a long period of history, including several early varieties that aren’t seen that often . . .One blade is unusual, but the straight haft and slight ears at its base seem to suggest a Scottsbluff identification. If so, the point is between 8000 to 10,000 years old.”
The Patterson family moved to the farm on March 1, 1914 as Marvin “wanted more outdoor work,” Nancy Norgord said. He had been employed as a train dispatcher in Baraboo before moving to Evansville. The points were found on the farm over a period of years while Marvin and his family lived there until they moved to South First Street.
Rosebrough has a PhD in anthropology/archaeology from the University of Wisconsin -Madison with a focus on effigy builders, their mounds, and their pottery.
The presentation will take place in the program room, in the lower level of the Library.
Eager Free Public Library is located at 39 W. Main St., Evansville. The building is handicapped accessible. The phone is 882-2260. The website address is: www.als.lib.wi.us/EFPL. You can follow the library on Twitter (EagerFreePL), Facebook (Eager Free Public Library) and Pinterest (eagerfree). The library hours are: Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Photograph of framed collection of arrow points donated to the Grove Society by Nancy Norgord of Oshkosh.
Photograph of cigar box, which stored the arrow points before Genevieve had some of them framed. The handwritten note was found inside the box.
Paleo-Indian (late Ice Age, first peoples in Wisconsin)
Scottsbluff:
One point that seems to reflect this style is located in the framed collection. The blade is unusual, but the straight haft and slight ears at its base seem to suggest a Scottsbluff identification. If so, the point is between 8000 to 10,000 years old.
Early Archaic (vegetation begins to change towards modern conditions, human population densities begin to rise)
Thebes Notched:
The framed portion of the collection contains one definite Thebes Notched point. These are very distinctive, so identification is certain. These points are between 8000 to 10,000 years old, but your point should be closer to 8000 than10,000 since Thebes points post-date Scottsbluff points in #isconsin.·
Kirk Corner-Notched:
The framed portion of the collection contains one point that I am fairly certain is a Kirk Corner-Notched point. Other Kirks may be present, but again they are similar enough to Hardin and Steuben points that I would like to check them in person before making a final identification. Kirk points are between 8900 to 9500 years old.
Hardin Barbed:
Some of the points in the collection may be Hardin Barbed points, which are similar in outline to two other point styles (Kirk-Corner Notched and Steuben Expanding Stem. I'll need to see these in person to check their cross-sections to tell which are which. There is a wide range of dates for these points, but they are usually considered to be anywhere from 7,500 years old up to 10,000 years old.
Middle Archaic (first copper mining and working, establishment of continent-wide trade routes)
Raddatz Side-Notched:
The framed portion of the collection contains a few small Raddatz Side-Notched points.
These points were manufactured between 5000 and 8000 years ago.
Matanzas Side-Notched:
The cigar box contains a few probable Matanzas points, which are a later version of the Raddatz style.
They are between 5000 to 5700 years old.
Late Archaic (increasing religious complexity, early experiments with manipulation of plants)
Durst Stemmed:
Durst points are represented in both the framed and cigar box portions of the collection. Durst points were made between 3800 and 5500 years ago.·
Preston Corner-Notched:
There is one possible Preston point in the cigar box. If it is what it appears to be, then it was made around 3,500 years ago.
Early Woodland (first gardens, first pottery, first burial mounds)
Kramer Stemmed:
The cigar box contains at least one, and possibly two Kramer Stemmed points. The second Kramer may be a Waubesa with a snapped base, so I/ll need to check that one in person to tell. $ramer points were made between 2500 and 3000years ago.·
Waubesa Contracting Stemmed:
If the second possible Kramer point in the cigar box is a Waubesa point instead, then it was made between 1800 to 2500 years ago.
Middle Woodland (widespread religious movements and trade, use ofmounds to create astronomical calendars, high levels of artistice$pression)
·
Snyders Cluster:
Two points in the framed set fall within a broad range of style called the 'Snyders' cluster, but can't be attributed to specific point types. They date to the period between 2200 and 1800 years ago.
Steuben Expanding Stem:
Some of the less identifiable points in the collection may be Steuben points and I'll have to see them in person to tell for sure. If some are Steubens, they date to the period between 1500 and 1700 years ago.
Late Woodland (shift towards local interests and drop-off in trade, rise of effigy mound builders)
Honey Creek Corner-Notched:
9 couple of the smaller corner notched points in the framed case and cigar box may be Honey Creek points. If so, they are the oldest true arrow points known in Wisconsin and were made between 1200 and 1700 years ago.·
Madison Triangular
The small, simple, triangular points in the framed case (and one possible one in the cigar box - I'll have to check) are Madison Triangulars. These little arrow points were made by the effigy builders and their descendants, right up to the period of European contact (1100 to 300 years ago). One of the triangular
points in the framed case is a little too long to be an arrow point, and may be a knife made in the same style...sometimes called a Kolterman Knife, though it is a little too narrow compared to other Kolterman Knives I've seen. The Cigar box also contains an assortment of other stone tools and chippings. Quite a few of the pieces in the box are chippings of stone that were either by-products of tool manufacture or by-products that were picked up and used as a handy and quick tool before being thrown away. The box also contains a couple of drill bits, some hide scrapers, lots of broken tips of spear points or knives, and some blanks/bifaces. Blanks/bifaces are pieces of stone that were worked down into an all-purpose shape and then carried around, ready to be made into a spearpoint, knife, or other tool as circumstances demanded. Most of the stone types look to be local varieties, with the exception of one point in the framed case, which is made of orthoquartzite from northwestern Wisconsin (it is the brownish, sparkly one that looks a little glassy).
If you have any further questions, please let me know. I will be out of the office working with 4th graders the remainder of this week, but will check e-mail in the evenings.
Amy L. Rosebrough
Staff Archaeologist
State Archaeology and Maritime Preservation Program
Wisconsin Historical Society
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706
1-608-264-6494
[email protected]
www.wisconsinhistory.org
Collecting, Sharing and Preserving Stories Since 1846.
