3. Local Archeological Finds

Buckeye Fiberscope

A Monthly Newspaper for Buckeye Employees

Vol. VI, Number 4 – October, 1976

Taylor Countians Preserve Local Archeological Finds

Fiberscope offers special thanks to Mrs. Louise Childers for compiling and preparing the feature story in this issue. Mrs. Childers expresses her thanks to the local “archeologists” and artifact collectors for furnishing interviews and allowing photography of the artifact collections.

“TREAD SOFTLY HERE WHITE MAN, FOR ‘ERE YOU CAME STRANGE RACES LIVED, FOUGHT AND LOVED.”

So reads a marker near the famous Rock Eagle Indian Mound in Putman County not far from Eatonton, Georgia. This has been pronounced by authorities as being “the most perfect prehistoric mound in North America and is approximately two thousand years old.

But what does a mound in Georgia have to do with Indian artifacts found in Taylor County and who were these “men of strange races”.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of several local amateur archeologists and a few outside professionals, it is known that this part of the Florida peninsular was also home of these unknown races of men. Many theories abound as to the origin of this first man and the most accepted one is that he came from Asia by way of the land bridge to what is now Alaska. They came not in large groups but in small bands, supposedly seeking new hunting grounds. As one wave followed another, they pressed on into the interior until they covered the continent on into is not Central America and on to the tip of South America.

Possibly the tribes came from differing sections. This may account for the variety in cultures that developed in different lands. It has been established that the first were primarily hunters and left no physical evidence of villages or permanent quarters. But they did leave something more lasting – their tools and hunting equipment. Along with the bones of the now extinct animals that were their prey it is possible to give a dating of sorts to the time.

Now, Taylor County has not been the site of any remarkable developed mounds nor remains of large villages that came about in the evolution of the cultures found elsewhere. None of the cultures developed quickly but overlapped through a span of thousands of years. Since the early Indians roamed, the same earmarks are found on many sites so that the points and projectiles and tools found here can rightfully be called by the names given to those found in other sites. For instance, the CLOVIS point, as well as the FOLSOM, first unearthed in the deserts of the West have been found in the county. That proclivity to travel remained a trait with the succeeding tribes or peoples – for they too, traveled and traded accounting for much of the rocks and stones found here not native to the region.

To understand more about the development of these people, one must rely on the period assigned to them by scientific discoveries. One important fact to keep in mind is that the Paleo man did not build mounds, make pottery, or use a bow and arrow. But he did use stone tools as axes, scrapers, points, gravers, knives, and a variety of other tools.

As a starting point, the first man will be known as Early Paleo man – circa 8000 B.C. plus, which is the breakdown used by Ripley P. Bullen of the University of Florida State Museum and followed by many local people. Late Paleo is established to be within the time period of 8000 – 7,500 B.C.; Early Ceramic or Archaic 7,500 to 5,000 B.C.; Late Preceramic, 5,000 to 2,000 B.C.; Florida Transistional and Orange, 2,000 to 400 B.C.; then as we enter the period of pottery and mounds the cultural periods are known by names. Those that apply to this dating 400 B.C. to 400 A.D., are Deptford, Swift Creek and possibly Glades I and IIB. Weeden Island is better known here with possible Glades being found – that is A.D. 400 to 1,300. The later period might include what is called Weeden Island II, Fort Walton and Safety Harbor, which is Post A.D. 1,300.

Other students of archeology break down the time according to the area of the discovered and give those names as evidenced as finds around Key Marco, which is very early. But, among the fine collections of local people that are well arranged, carefully taken care of and displayed as in a museum one can find some from any of these periods. In fact, if they were all combined, would put some museums to shame.

Although it is true that excavations of these Indian sites has not been made to any great extent here by professionals as in other areas, back in 1903 and later in 1914, B. C. Moore sponsored by the Smithsonian Institute visited the area and made initial digs at Spring Warrior, Aucilla and Econfina. Reports of these efforts are found in Archeology of the Florida Gulf Coast compiled by Gordon R. Riley in 1949. This has served as a veritable “Bible” for the local searchers.

Many reports exist of what the Indians looked like who were found by the early explorers. Cabeza De Vaco, who was a barter trader in the Gulf region around 1535, gave an accurate picture of native Indians. Later William Bartram, an Englishman, told of his many experiences and in 1743, a surveyor, Bernard Romans went into detail about his contacts with different tribes.

Of course, we all know from history of the different Indians – and up until today we hear of the names – and who can forget the Seminoles. But none of these were people that really lived here first. Whatever happened to the Paleo man no one knows. But when the Spaniards first came, there were supposed to be three tribes living in Florida.

The Apalchee, lived in the upper part of the peninsular; the Timucuans,  a peaceful tribe who made their homes along the low coastal lands; and the Calusa, a fierce war-like tribe in South Florida. They all belonged to the larger tribe or nation known as the Muskhogean – part of the Creek confederacy. But the Spanish invaders in a short time caused the ruin of these tribes when they were sold into slavery or either died of disease.

At this point it is interesting to note that all these people may have come from those original Paleo men – who were in turn a hybrid of many others in the native Asia. Those who went further south created the great Aztec and Mayan civilizations.

Over the years, since Moore first made his digs along the coast, others have found mounds there and inland as well. Fish Creek at one time was a fruitful area, also the Fenholloway, and all the major streams and creeks around Eridu. These places have given up pottery, skeletons, tools, and numerous other items associated with early Indian life. But nowhere have the finds been as rich in antiquity as those in the streams and creeks. Here have been found, along with the bones of the wooly mammoth, mastodon and tapir, the projectiles and points used in bringing down the huge animals as they went to drink at evening. Along with these points many other treasures have been found.

 It is always of great interest to learn how one is motivated to begin the hobby of collecting, whether it is artifacts or any other specimen. In the case of Ellis Moore, his becoming “hooked” was finding several stone objects, later identified as “celts.” These items appear in all the different cultural periods, following the Paleo man, but vary in material and final design. Some were definitely ceremonial in nature. Their use, he explained, could have been that of an ax and used as part of the pieces to cut down trees. He is very proud of his collection and rightfully so. He started in 1961 devoting his efforts to what he could find above ground, beside streams and in undisturbed mounds. In 1970 he started diving. This effort brought out a bonanza of finds. To show for this among his large collection are a prehistoric beaver tooth, tapir jaw, mastodon tooth, mammoth tooth and numerous articles made of bone including a handsome comb. His pride and joy is a piece of the lower trunk of the little known four-tusk mastodon. Ellis states that he found a tusk once and brought it home but failed to treat it after removing it from the water. This, he said, resulted in the tusk disintegrating into fragments.

His point collection is very outstanding, exhibiting all periods from Paleo on down. Many were found in the river and are now stained from the tannic acid. He has drills, thumbscrews, grinders and innumerable ornaments. One prize is a carved gorget representing a fish which was an ornament. Another is a gorget with two holes that may have hung around the neck. He also includes in his showing two fine effigy pipes along with pipe fragments. A highlight of his pottery collection is an effigy bowl shaped like a duck.

Moore counts among his most prized objects a piece of the lower double tusked mastodoan, mastodoan teeth, a mammoth jaw as well as a tapir jaw. Along with these fossils he has found points that link them to the Paleo man. In addition to these he has found bone points, coral pins – used to gig fish – and a combined Paleo point with a bone point.

One can not talk very long with Dennis Ross about his artifacts without feeling the deep interest that he has in them and most important – what they represent. Each and every piece has real meaning to him as if some of the spirit of these ancient people had entered into him. In fact he says, he would like to have lived in that long ago period when the nomadic hunters roamed the country seeking their food and clothing from the huge animals that are no longer here.

His empathy for those early hunters is genuine – for he too loves to hunt. His walls in his special display room show his vast array of hunting equipment. His eyes glow when he picks up one of his finds and starts to tell its use and age. Ross’s collection of pottery is outstanding covering several periods of time. Some of the artifacts are made of greenstone – a material foreign to this area which proves, he says, that the early Indians traded among themselves or else made long trips to secure materials. Among his collection are many plummets. These are similar to the plumb-bobs used by surveyors. His prized possession is that of a clay figure. Although the legs are gone the details reminds one of Mayan art or Pre-Columbian art.

Included in Ross’ collection are a manatee rib, Clovis points, a coral head, and a mastodon tooth – all found in a mound. Also found were graphite, mica, steatite, and quartz plus the red powder used for paint. He plans someday to make his own “atlatl” or throwing stick which he has sketched, showing its component parts. The atlatl includes a hook, the shaft, a bannerstone, the projectile and the handle which was usually a deer bone.

Dennis’ pottery collection is very large – showing different periods – with the designs varying from the plain, the checked, the stamped, incised and engraved. He is one young man who has tried to learn all that he can of those wonderful people who lived so free.

It is natural to group Ellis Moore, Dennis Ross and Hugh Lilliott together for they have shared exploration and great interest in preserving their finds. All have tried to interest archeologists from the universities in doing “digs” here but have not had much success. However, only recently, in Dixie County, a young man did excavate a mound called “The Garden Patch Site” – a minor Weeden Island ceremonial center. Tim A. Kohler used this as his thesis to the graduate council of the University of Florida. He was assisted by many people in a detailed study of all phases of the area. Except for C. B. Moore’s early visit to the coast where he found several mounds along the rivers, there have not been many who were professionals who had enough interest in the area. Thanks to these amateurs however, the artifacts have been saved.

Lilliott like Ross, is a pure hunter and as such has great respect for all that these early people did – and what they left behind. Although they had no written language, these people devised tools necessary to live – and some of their crude stone tools are like tools used today. From bits of stone they shaped tools such as thumb screws, awls, rasps, knives, scrapers, fish scalers, drills and many types of ornaments.

The most outstanding thing in Hugh’s collection is a mastodon fossil with skull with only the jaw bone or lower mandible missing. Even of greater importance is that he found a large point in the spinal column. Because there was not a professional around when it was brought up from the river bed, it has not been authenticated – but Hugh is confident of its age.

In addition to this piece he has others such as parts of a tapir, a wooly mammoth, camel’s tooth, sloth toes, and leg bones. Other artifacts that have been brought up from the rivers and streams include many points, ivory harpoons, hair pins that are intricately carved and others made of ivory with a delicate design, fishing hooks, gorgets and other Paleo points. Lilliott says in one dive he found five pipes – one an effigy pipe of a turkey.

Hugh’s first interest was awakened when, at the early age of six, he was walking along the beach and found a point. Now he dives in 40 feet or more of water – searching for the valuable objects left by the early man.

With Sid Russell, searching for artifacts has been very much a family affair – with his wife Margaret, displaying keen interest in it and his young son, Brian, developing an appreciation for his father’s collection. His most recent find is a white, finely flaked point that he found in a muck pond.

Most of his finds have been in forestry site preparation where new roads are being built. Many of his points are made of flint – a metamorphic rock. Included in his collection are a winged Bolen point, a Hernando serrated kirk, and a Lafayette – a definite Paleo point. Other stone tools include tree hatchets, a hide scraper, knife, and a spade. He has beads made of petrified wood. One of his interesting finds is a winged Bolen point – part of a harpoon found at what is known as Coker Creek.

Russell extends his interest to visiting places where there are museums displaying artifacts. Although most of his collections came from Taylor County he has extended his search to Jefferson and Lafayette counties.

All of his collections are carefully mounted on large boards for better display.

The writer owes a great debt to Jack Simpson who initially introduced her to the fantastic world on the early man, both here and elsewhere, by supplying her with books. Dennis Ross also shared with her some of his material as did Hugh Lilliott. It was received from Jack Simpson the invaluable book from the Smithsonian – Archeology of the Florida Gulf Coast – a report of early studies made here.

Jack, who lives on the Aucilla, was inspired and led into his studies by his late mother, Mrs. Jessie Simpson. He told of how she guided him and others in searching out and studying about the wonders that were our heritage from those early people.

Some of his finds has been given to Florida State University. Most of his collection has been found from scuba diving in the Aucilla or along the banks. When the land was higher, he said, there were many favorite watering places along the flowing stream. He has found all types of mounds, burial, ceremonial and the Midden or refuse ones. Interestingly enough, Simpson has a theory which has been expressed by others, that due to the unusual coastline along this section of the Gulf, that there may be many mounds where there are high points. Among his river finds are pummets which intrigue him as to their actual use.

From some of the shards of broken pottery, a friend of his Ivan Grandrum has reproduced a bowl – an ornate artifact replica of the Weeden Island period. Also he has a copy of the famous deer head found I Key Marco mangrove swamp in 1895 which represents a very fine example of wooden artifacts.

One shard that he has displays a sun motif while another has a true cross on it. He points out that after the Spaniards came the Indians used some of their materials to make their own ornaments, utensils and such.

Included in his river finds are many bone points, fish hooks made from deer bones, pummets which he still believes were used as net sinkers, a bone spear and tomahawk. It is evident from his collection as in others,  that much of the materials used were for trade.

He has samples of pottery or shards of many different cultural periods. He too, has many fine arrowheads which were used to shoot birds – and explained that according to research the bow and arrow did not come into use until around 500 B.C., and was developed after the large game disappeared.

Jack Willis who started his collection over 20 years ago has confined himself to points and projectiles. He, too, is a student of history of the early man, Indians, from all ages and has depended upon sources of archeology, ethnology and anthropology for his knowledge. Willis’ collection ranges from large projectiles to the fine bird points, and includes stone tools.

Many of his points were found in the Fenholloway area where reportedly the last Indian settlement was located. Others have been located in the Spring Warrior area, along the coast and local streams. Plowed fields, he explained, always uncovered many of his finds. He shares his finds and interest with his Boy Scout troops and his sons.

He welcomes questions about them and each is marked as to the year found. Jack shows a quiet respect for those people who lived so close to nature – he feels an affinity with them.

Rudy Borklund and his wife, Mary Jane, have shared their interest in artifacts. Mary Jane’s mother, Pearl Linton, also has a fine collection for she, too, joined in many searches.

Most of the Borklund’s work was done several years ago. For help they went to Dr. David Phelps, a professor at F. S. U. Phelps identified some of their finds which he said were made either 500 B.C. to 500 A.D. His theory is that the Indians who were here when the Spanish came – the Timucuans – migrated from the Yucatan Peninsula. According to Mary Jane the one large mound which they found was dug according to a suggested method by Dr. Phelps. Here they found at three feet below sea level nine skulls and various artifacts. She said they found Deptford pottery in one section and Weeden Island in another. Altogether there were 17 burials.

One prized pot is incised and has five legs. It has two holes – one on each side. Also special is a Monitor pipe – called a “peace pipe” which is from 500 B.C. to 100 A.D. Some of the materials had come from the Spaniards.

Local amateur archeologist come in all ages – and in one instance there is a three generation party who joined in the search for these marvelous pieces of evidence of early cultures. Neel Lindsey was encouraged by his grandmother, Louise Butler, and his great-grandmother. In fact, according to Neel, the skull which is a prize in his collection was found by his great-grandmother, Mrs. Rogers. Mrs. Butler sought professional advice and assistance in their exploration in order to preserve any objects that they might discover or unearth. Most of this took place several years ago and the greatest find was at Fish Creek which was a known site. However, other locations in the county were rich sources. A large site at Melviney, according to Neel, was where C. B. Moore did some of his work in the early years.

Charles Mauldin of F. S. U. did guide them in the start of their diggings. All of this was 13 years ago but Neel remembers vividly the thrill of uncovering artifacts. He has a fine collection – most enclosed in a large glass cabinet.

Among his choice pieces are both Paleo and transitional points – including a Greenbier, a Bullen, and a beveled Bolen. In the pot collection there is a turtle effigy pot, and a double effigy pot. This, Neel said, was found at the Spring Warrior resting on a sheet of mica which is native to Georgia. Inside the pot were pendants.

Scuba diving also accounted for a portion of Neel’s collection. Among his pot collection, four were found that were “killed” and one intact. One pot found in the Wacissa had the design of “sun and hands” around the rim.

One hears that in some case the mounds have been purposely destroyed or else in over eagerness, much valuable material has been needlessly destroyed. But in the case of all that shared their finds with the writer, none of this was true.