Perplexing Pipestone

    Leveling a unit can prove a challenge, especially after a long day of shovel skimming and troweling in the summer heat. At the end of the day, I decided to take a few centimeters off of the northeast corner near the balk in order to get an even 20 centimeters below datum all around. Suddenly, a bright red object appeared starkly against the dark brown soil of the plow zone (right). At first glance, we identified the object as a catlinite adornment artifact. Catlinite is a soft, red clay stone that is easily worked. In the photograph below, you can see how this item was drilled down the center so that it could be strung and worn. Catlinite is generally used by Native Americans to make pipes or ornaments and is a culturally significant stone. What could this mean for Fort St. Joseph?  

   Further research proved to be quite interesting. After reading many articles, we found out that catlinite is actually a misnomer for any red workable stone used by the Native Americans. This means that there are other stones that look similar and act similar, but are actually a different stone altogether. Pipestone is the proper term to call these artifacts since it is impossible to differentiate the mineral composition by sight. Even more surprising, catlinite can only be found in Minnesota, whereas pipestone deposits are found in Kansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The Pipestone National Monument in Minnesota is well known for being the source of many catlinite artifacts such as ceremonial pipes, pendants, and other types of ornamentation. This means that the artifact I found came from out of state, and had to have been traded to end up at Fort St. Joseph. If we were able to test the mineral composition of the artifact I found, that would allow us to locate exactly where the stone was mined from. In this case, I am personally not exactly sure in which state it originates, but it is a very interesting find nonetheless.

    Over 300,000 artifacts have been recovered from Fort St. Joseph since 2002. Out of hundreds of thousands of artifacts, less than 30 examples of pipestone pieces have been recovered. What this means for the fort, I can only imagine. Perhaps this piece was given as a gift to the people of the post by a Native American, or maybe they traded it for other goods. In my opinion, this artifact is a BIG deal. Since it is so rare and came from a distant state, it must have meant something grand to the people of the time. I can’t wait to see what other stories the artifacts of Fort St. Joseph will tell!

- Adyn

References

Archaeology, PA. “Red Plains Pipestone: Catlinite ?” Red Plains Pipestone: Catlinite?, 30 Dec. 2010, twipa.blogspot.com/2010/12/when-george-catlin-renowned-19th.html?m=1.  

Emerson, Thomas E., and Randall E. Hughes. “De-Mything the Cahokia Catlinite Trade.” Plains Anthropologist, vol. 46, no. 176, 2001, pp. 149–61, https://doi.org/10.1080/2052546.2001.11932066. Permalink: https://primo-pmtna01.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/9hbp01/TN_cdi_proquest_journals_214772428 

Wisseman, Sarah U., et al. “Refining the Identification of Native American Pipestone Quarries in the Midcontinental United States.” Journal of Archaeological Science, vol. 39, no. 7, 2012, pp. 2496–505, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2012.04.007. Permalink: https://primo-pmtna01.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/9hbp01/TN_cdi_crossref_primary_10_1016_j_jas_2012_04_007 

Fort St. Joseph Critters

 Hello, fellow archaeology enthusiasts! 

My name is Hollie Powless, and I am currently in my last year of studying anthropology at WMU. 

While we are first and foremost focused on the archaeological aspects of this site, I cannot help but notice the natural world around us. Fort St. Joseph is located right on the river, surrounded by lush grasses and trees occupied by a vast array of animals. Many of these critters seem to have taken an interest in our work, frequently stopping by, and pausing in and around our units. Over the last two weeks in the field, my classmates and I have documented and discussed the various bugs and such we meet each day. Daddy long legs, isopods, dragonflies, bumblebees, beetles, slugs, worms, grubs, frogs, and toads are the most abundant across all the units thus far. Other creatures, including various waterfowl and songbirds, turtles, snakes, and an unexpected and adorable mink, grace our presence from a distance from time to time.

In our unit, which will be explored in greater depth in a future blog, my partner Emma and I have discovered and excavated a significant number of bone pieces and fragments. As a result of these excavations, we have started to question how the 18th-century fort’s animal inhabitants compare to what we see there today. Many of the bones we have found so far this field school season, as well as those that have been found in the past, belong to animals that still occupy the area (deer, raccoon, beaver, etc.). The bones of vertebrates, animals with spinal cords and backbones, including all mammals, reptiles, fish, amphibians, and birds, remain preserved in this heavily waterlogged archaeological site. The same, however, cannot be said for invertebrates like bugs, insects, arachnids, slugs, and worms. 

Is it possible that the same kinds of creepy crawlies we interact with now, existed among the Jesuit missionaries, French fur traders, and Natives over 300 years ago? This is an interesting question to propose, as it cannot be answered simply through bone analysis and identification, in the way vertebrates can. 

Although I admittedly would rather the spiders on the site not crawl up my pantlegs, I appreciate their presence in my first field school experience. We look at the bones of dead animals all day, and while undoubtedly exciting, I am thankful to otherwise be surrounded by life. With so much of our excavated bone being in tiny fragments, the hopping frogs and tweeting birds serve as a helpful reminder that though unrecognizable now, that bone once belonged to a living being. Remember to watch where you step if you come out to visit Fort St. Joseph because you never know what little critters might be visiting too!

Zooarchaeology Lab with Dr. Martin

Hey there,

Last week, we attended a zooarchaeology lab in the basement of the Niles District Library. We learned about the types of animals that lived in and around Fort St. Joseph, and how to identify and catalog their remains. Terry, the host, was extremely knowledgeable about bones, and could identify bone fragments after just a few seconds of looking at it. It helped provide a lot of context for the bones we are finding at the site. 

Zooarchaeology is the study of faunal remains found in archeological sites. Studying animal bones can reveal a lot about the people who hunted, farmed, and cooked them. In the big picture, this helps us have a better understanding of the daily life of people in the fort. Knowing the diet of the people who lived in the fort gives us a lot of information about wealth, living conditions, and population.

We are always on the lookout for bones that have any sort of human modification. Modifications come in a few different categories: cultural, natural, and environmental. Cultural modifications include butcher marks, evidence of hunting, cooked bones, and modifications for decorative use, such as drilled holes or etched designs. Natural modifications are usually marks leftover from predator animals, who often leave bite marks on the bones of prey. Environmental modifications come from the conditions that the remains are left in. High moisture environments, like the floodplain that the fort sits on, preserve bone differently than dry environments, and is important to consider when assessing remains.

One of the most common faunal remains found at the fort are deer bones. We have already identified a mandible, multiple teeth, and an astragalus (heel bone) across a few different units that all belong to deer. Deer are an important species to study, because they are commonly hunted, and their bones are used for all sorts of things, even today. I took this picture of an intact deer mandible at the lab (above left), to help identify the partial mandible found in our unit.

One of the most interesting things from the zooarchaeology lab was learning about the lack of fish bones found at the site. Carson, the lab coordinator, suggested that fish remains may be found in a garden-like deposit because fish could be used as fertilizer. This would explain why we haven't found many yet, and maybe in the future somebody will excavate a pile of fish bones and interpret the area as a garden. Terry did show us a fragment of cartilage and bone that came from a sturgeon (right), so we would know what to look for! 

• Kieran 

The Birds at Fort St. Joseph

Rolling up on site in the morning, one of the first sounds you are likely to be greeted by (given good weather) is the shrill cry of the many killdeer that gather along the St. Joseph river. Often their ruckus will continue throughout the day and even into the afternoon--becoming a sort of white noise in itself (or, perhaps more accurately: a white, black, and brown noise.)

The river in itself provides a great setting to see many birds. You might stroll over to the water screen, heavy bucket of plow zone in hand, and look over to see a flock of Canadian geese chilling out on the sandbar. I have also seen mallards hanging around, heard the chattering of many a belted kingfisher, and the shriek of a gull. One day we spotted a swan pair with their young cruising out on the water!

Now, you might say, “hey, you’re out there digging. Is there really time to be looking around at birds?” And yes, I have spent plenty of time scraping diligently away, hardly daring to look up too much as the hot afternoon rays beat down upon the earth. But that does not stop one from hearing the birds. And oh my, there are a lot of them. I have already discussed the cry of the killdeer. But there are plenty of other birds that makeup the background noise on site (or foreground noise, if you are a blue jay with plenty to say). On several days I have heard what is either a hairy or downy woodpecker--or both. Funnily, these two woodpeckers look similar to each other, too, though when you see them side-by-side you realize the harry is much larger. Speaking of larger woodpeckers, THE largest woodpecker (the pileated) has also been heard on site. I hope to see one flitting about one day when I am taking a water break!

There have also been the more gentle chips of the northern cardinal. I would not be surprised if some of these chips are those of the rose-breasted grosbeak--the two sound very similar at times. One afternoon, we saw a hawk (probably a redtail) circling over, calling. We have heard hawk calls on other days too but it’s also very likely that some of the noises we have heard are actually imitation calls done by blue jays! Chickadees have also made their presence known, usually earlier in the day. 

I hope that maybe one morning there will be a great blue heron along the bank--or maybe an osprey soaring above the water one afternoon. It is interesting to think about what same birds those who resided in the fort may have heard, what species may no longer be in the area or, in some cases--like that of the passenger pigeon--no longer exist. Did the French also get irritated with the call of the clever jays? While our excavations will likely not provide an answer to that question, it is good food for thought while I trowel away.

Abbey Churney

From Classroom to Field

        The 2023 excavation season at the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project has begun and marks 25 years of WMU excavations at the site. Ten students and one student leader started the field school with two days of introduction materials at Western Michigan University. I joined the field school to further my knowledge in archaeology and to get hands-on experience using excavation techniques. During the first two days, we were introduced to the history and excavation of Fort St. Joseph. We also practiced laying out our units and mapping so we were prepared when we visited the site. Erika Hartley, the director of the Project, took the time to present the material and methods in a way that provided the students with the skills needed to set up our dig units and lay the groundwork for our expanding knowledge of the site. Our goal is to be able to interpret and discuss our findings in the unit. 

The first day on site proved to be very challenging. The site had to be prepared for all the operations we would use to search for knowledge. We do not just dig holes in the dirt; we have to methodically measure and lay out units in such a way that future researchers can look at our paperwork and artifacts and be able to make inferences using that data. It requires careful planning and set up. 

       We do actually dig in the dirt, which we began shortly after setting up. The excitement has been palpable as each unit has found artifacts which makes for a promising season. In addition to troweling and gathering artifacts by hand, we also get to wet screen the material. Wet screening is a process where we take material from the unit and sift it through screens using water. The water breaks up the soil, allowing us to pick out small items that we would otherwise miss. Wet screening is essential at Fort St. Joseph because there are a lot of little artifacts. So far, we have found small bone fragments, seed beads, animal teeth, lead shots, and more. It is important for us to find these things so that we can try to piece together what life was like during the Fort’s occupational period. The students are striving hard to make their mark on the legacy at Fort St. Joseph and answer important questions about the site and the activities of those who used the fort. 

See you all at the Archaeology Open House on August 5 and 6!

- John Simmons

Indiana Jones and Archaeology

 Hey Gang! It’s me, Ian

Last weekend, Nick and I went to go see the new Indiana Jones movie in theaters. In between the handfuls of popcorn being shoved into my mouth and the sips of my drink I thought to myself, “This Indiana Jones guy isn’t doing real archeology.” I went back and re-examined some of the other movies and came to one conclusion. Indiana Jones is kind of a "treasure seeker" and does less archeology than a kid playing in a sandbox. 

In Raiders of The Lost Ark, for example, Indy gets contracted by the American government to go find the Ark of the Covenant. Contractual work is something most archaeologists come across in their career, but that is one of the only similarities between archeologists and Dr. Jones. He proceeds to go on an action packed adventure tearing up the desert and dig sites near Cairo. Believe it or not, many archaeologists get upset when their dig site is ruined or even walked over. But one of the biggest things I noticed in Raiders was the fact that Indy never once sat down to write out some paperwork. There was a scene of Indy with a pencil in his hand, but he was unable to write legibly because he forgot his clipboard. Field notes would have made this movie ten times more believable. In one of the final acts of the film, Jones threatens to blow up the Ark of the Covenant. BLOW IT UP! As an archaeologist in training, I would have cut my losses at that point. Even though the Ark got away, valuable knowledge was uncovered such as: where it was recovered from and some of its' importance.

In the Dial of Destiny, Indy is back to his old habits. It seems as though he is more interested in going on an adventure than finding out the historical and cultural significance of the Dial. At one point, Indy is tossing around some Clovis points just to get to a piece of the Dial. I know that the projectile points don’t possess magical properties, but they should still be treated with care. What if someone wanted to study the Clovis points only to realize that Indy had destroyed them by throwing them on the ground. It would be a tragedy! Going back to the magical properties of the items that Jones finds, I would like to point out that not every artifact is cursed or imbued with some crazy power. I may not have recovered the most artifacts at Fort St. Joseph, but I promise I have encountered no magical items. No bones that grant immortality. No tinkling cones that make the wearer invisible. Not even a single piece of clinker that makes the person that eats it have rock powers. If only!

If I were to make the next Indiana Jones movie more “realistic,” I would make a movie where Indy gets called out to a corn field and spends a few days clearing out the corn, laying out a 1 x 2 meter unit, and getting the depth measurements wrong a few times (happens to the best of us). Then, instead of fighting off Nazis or other extremist groups, he would be talking to interested passersby and wrestling with one of his toughest enemies yet--trying to obtain a grant from private investors. After making a convincing argument about hoping to find one simple artifact to the grant holders, he would shovel skim for a few hours and trowel. Jones would receive his fortune and glory by being the 34th person to find a stone tool in the area and figuring out where the edges of a certain site were located. It wouldn’t be much, but in the end, it wouldn't matter what he found, it is all about what he would find out.

Looking Back on Orientation

            On June 29th and June 30th, I started orientation for Western Michigan University’s Archaeological Field School. The field school is to take place in Niles, Michigan at Fort St. Joseph, but our orientation took place on Western’s main campus. I was joined by nine other students, our lab coordinator, and the instructor. 

            Our first day started off with introductions between ourselves, and then an introduction to the program. We each had been provided binders that included our class syllabus. We went through the syllabus that’s first section was the background of the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Program. The syllabus also included our schedule which showed the days we’d be in Niles, and what we’d be doing. I was glad to go over the syllabus, as I had been nervous about the program. I haven’t done a field school before so I had no clue what to expect. Reading through the syllabus in class was helpful to ease my anxiety. 

            On the second day, we started out by learning the field procedures. Our field procedures include record keeping (catalog numbers), starting excavation units, bag tags, etc. By having these procedures we are ensuring that we can get our work done in a way that everyone understands. Something else we covered was the “excavation unit level sheet” which is used to mark where artifacts are found in our excavation units. After learning about the procedures in the classroom we headed outside to practice these sheets, as well as practicing measuring out a unit. I really enjoyed being outside and doing this, because it was hands-on and I learn better by doing things hands-on. 

            Later in the day, we watched videos that taught us about the history of Fort St. Joseph and the area surrounding it. The fort was established in the late 1600s by the French and the residents fur traded with the Neshnabe. After watching the videos, we went over slides that taught us more about the fort, and about WMU’s involvement. Some of the slides included maps that showed where the 2022 field school’s students had excavated. This led to our last activity, where I conversed with other students about where we thought we should excavate this year.

            The rest of the day included us watching videos on Fort St Joseph and its involvement with the community. We watched videos about the yearly summer camp that is open to elementary through high school kids, as well as the open house we are to help put on later this summer. I think it’s really awesome that the fort, WMU, and the community of Niles are willing to come together to preserve this history. As much as I am nervous about the field school, I am much more excited to see what’s to come. I am excited that I was given the opportunity to join this program and be involved with the community.

Korrin Lovett