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Volume 6, Issue 2
THE SRAC JOURNAL
December 2010
Volume 6, Issue 3
THE SRAC JOURNAL T H E R EG I ON ’ S A R C H A E O LO G IC A L , C U LT U R A L , INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
AND
H I S T OR I C A L R E SO U R C E
PESTLES DEB TWIGG, SRAC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Pestles
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BY
Anne Bailey, Frontier Scout
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SRAC 2011 Wall Calendar
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SRAC...Who Are We…2010
6
SRAC Halloween Bash
8
Analyzing Proto-Susquehannock
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Lincoln Street School Project
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"There grew in North America, at the time of its discovery by Columbus, a profusion of seeds, nuts, and roots of various kinds, developing according to climate from northern Canada to southern Arizona. Man found these a valuable addition to his food-supply, and he made use of many of them that we of to-day should consider unpalatable. He procured shell-fish of various kinds both salt and fresh water; he knew the properties of many roots, bulbs, barks, and other plants. With the exception of such molluscs as he ate, and his fresh meat, the greater bulk of his food-
Recent Activity at SRAC
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SRAC Drumbeats 2010
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SRAC Giving Campaign
12
SRAC Journal Sponsors
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SRAC Receives Two Collections
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SRAC Coming Events
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Why Donate to SRAC
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DVDs On Sale
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was in the form of kernels, or grains, or bulbs, or nuts, which must needs be reduced to meal, or stripped of husks, or cracked and broken. To convert the raw food into palatable flour, he used both wooden and stone pestles in flat, oval, or round mortars, the form varying in different parts of the country." (Moorehead:1910) Warren K. Moorehead went on to classify stone pestles in his "Stone Age of North America" in the following manner: (a) Elongated, plain. (b) Elongated, ridged or ornamented. (c) Bell-shaped.
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(d) With flat surfaces (mano stones). (Continued on page 2)
Anne Bailey, Frontier Scout – Revolutionary War By Earl Robinson, SRAC Member Anne Bailey was born as Ann Hennis in Liverpool, England in 1742. She emigrated to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in 1765 at the age of 19 years. In 1765, she married a settler by the name of Richard Trotter. He served in Lord Dunmore's War and was killed on October 10, 1765, during a battle with Shawnee forces led by Chief Cornstalk at the Battle of Point Pleasant. The Virginia Militia was pressing the Shawnee to move to the Ohio River boundary accepted by the Iroquois in the treaty of 1768. Almost immediately after this battle, at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Lord Dunmore, the governor of Virginia, began leading British and Indians against the Virginia Militia. For this and other reasons, some historians consider the Battle of Point Pleasant
the "first battle" of the American Revolution. After her husband's death, Anne "put on her husband's fringed buckskin jacket," left her seven year old son with a neighbor, took a long rifle and began riding alone through Indian Territory. When the American Revolution broke out in full measure, Anne rode from settlement to settlement recruiting colonists to serve in the militia. Anne's wilderness survival skills matched those of any Native American and she used them daily, serving as a scout and messenger. Riding fearlessly through enemy territory, she delivered vital information to frontier outposts. At night she would sleep in caves and hollow (Continued on page 5)
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THE SRAC JOURNAL
Volume 6, Issue 2
PESTLES CONT. (Continued from page 1)
I cannot help but add an important addendum to Moorehead's list as Louise Welles Murray did in 1921 when reporting for our region - which we will classify as type (e) the unwieldy (giant) pestle: "Considerable data is available as to Algonkian culture, and Algonkian sites are easily identified by the long (elongated) pestle, steatite dish, chipped grooved axe, stemmed and notched points, ceremonial and "problematical" artifacts of early days...but to whom but mighty men belong the large chipped tomahawk, the unwieldy pestle, and the grooved axe 13 inches long?" - (Murray:1921) And if we are going to use size as a defining feature for categorization, I would also like to add one more type that is on display at SRAC as well, being the miniature pestle, which we will refer to here as type (f). Using the SRAC collection of local artifacts and with help from the NYS Museum, I will try to cover each category as best I can as representation of our region of the Twin Tier Region of southeastern NY and northeastern PA. Pestle Type A: Elongated, plain. This is the most common type of pestle found in the Twin Tier Region of NY and PA. Sometimes also referred to as "roller pestles" they have a rounded edge and look as if they could have been used to roll out ancient flat-breads long ago. These are so common in our region that some collectors claim they do not even pick them up if they see them in a newly plowed field in the spring anymore...And for this reason I want to remind everyone that all items showing use from ancient times are evidence and should be treated as such at all times. In fact there is some discussion that pestles should not be soaked and/or washed if they are to be used in current research. By analyzing starch residue in ancient grinding tools and charred remains in cookSRAC Collection ing pots, researchers are learning new things about the ancient cultures who used these tools. In fact, Jon Hart of the NYS Museum has presented at SRAC a very important work using residue in cooking pottery to unravel mysteries about Iroquoian life a thousand years ago. In it he claims: "Paleoethnobotanists are increasingly turning to the microbotanical record. Recent analysis of phytolith (a small
opaline rock consisting chiefly of fossil plant remains) assemblages from charred cooking residues on pottery sherds in central New York recovered using 209 rondel phytolith variables has identified maize as early as 2270 ¹ 35 B.P." - (Hart:2009) In the youtube video on SRAC’s website, Ted Keirshows you the average size of the pestles that are commonly found in our region. As Ted points out, it is not uncommon to see polished areas on these pestles that look as if they were used as a wet stone to sharpen blades or other stone tools as well. Other pestles of this type in the SRAC collections are very polished and it is doubtful to me at least that they were used in preparing food...The squared edged polished pestle shown here is rare for us to see in our region, and may or may not be actually better categorized in the next type of pestles that we are going to discuss...
SRAC Collection
Pestle Type B: Elongated, ridged or ornamented. This type of pestle is not common in our region. In fact I asked the NYS Museum for a photo to use in this article to even be able to give you an example. Please note that this image is copyrighted and that all photographs of NYS Museum artifacts may be used solely for research purposes -
NYS Museum: bear head effigy pestle; grey; 1 foot long, 2" diameter across head - 2 1/4" across base
for any other purpose you'll need to request official permission. Rock art specialist and author, Ed Lenik states that "effigy pestles probably date from Late Woodland (Ceramic) to Historic Contact periods (ca 1000 b.p. - 400 b.p.) It appears that bear effigy pestles were not utilized as domestic grinding tools but were fetishes or guardian spirits of the women" (Lenik:2002) The first time that I ever saw one of these was just a few years ago when SRAC representatives Ted Keir, Susan (Continued on page 3)
The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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PESTLES CONT. (Continued from page 2)
Fogel and I went to the NYS Museum and were given a tour to include a chance to photo all artifacts in their collection from our area. Once we had spent literally hours to that end, we then went around and looked at some other items. These pestles with effigies really caught my eye and have remained an oddity of interest. Since then I have talked with collectors from the Hudson Valley that have several of these types of pestles. As I have stated, I am no specialist on these artifacts, but simply by looking on Google quickly it seems that these effigy pestles were found mostly along the North Atlantic coastline region. When I scoured my files one last time for references for this posting, I came acrossed one reference from Louise Welles Murray that refers to a site just south of Nichols on the PA side of the border that may just have had one of these types of pestles:
on the left would be a rounded based pestle (there is a rounded edge around the base), while the one on the right is a flat based version. The NYS Museum reports that they have 4 exhibit quality bell pestles. (1 - ERIE COUNTY, 2 - LIVINGSTON COUNTY, and one unknown origin) Pestle Type D: With flat surfaces (mano stones). After re-inventorying our SRAC collection of thousands of artifacts on display, I found that flat sided pestles are more common than I thought in in our region... These were supposedly used on the end but also were used to mash or mull with their flat sides. As you can see by this pestle from the SRAC/Cowles Collection, the
"There are many steatite fragments, as a rule found near or on the hill, also many stone implements, pecked and chipped, and every type of celt. Hoes, long pestles (one with a supposed bird effigy at the end), and large mortars show agricultural habits." (Murray:1921) Because the private collector that found this artifact so long ago did not preserve it or have a photo taken or even record its existence beyond this word of mouth notation made by Murray, we will never know for sure if this was an actual effigy pestle or not. However, the NYS Museum does have a bird effigy pestle in their collection said to be in exhibit quality, so at least we know bird effigy pestles did exist and were also found in NY State. (OTSEGO COUNTY)
SRAC Collection
Mortar and flat-sided (mano) pestle
wear shows up in both the end and the flat sided area.
Pestle Type E: Unwieldy (giant). Louise Welles Murray reported many "over-sized" artifacts in our locality and reported at the infamous site found in her own garden (The Murray Garden) in 1883 there were "two pestles, one Other recorded types of ornamented pestles include phallic large and unwieldy but easily used by the big men here and human effigies and pestles with ridges carved around buried." their edges that are more commonly found in the western regions of North America. I am not familiar with any of At first, you might think that she was just exaggerating, but these, however, the NYS Museum does state that they do the truth is that the giant pestles in this category are actuhave 2 phallic effigy pestles in their collection of exhibit ally too big to be used simply by a woman pounding with it quality.(CAYUGA & SARATOGA COUNTIES) to grind corn. A closer look at the pestle shown below reveals that it has a notched end supposedly to be strapped Pestle Type C: Bell-shaped. The bell-shaped pestles are to a tree limb to help with the a lot more common in the Midwest than in our region, but otherwise back breaking methey do appear on our sites from time to time. We have a chanics of trying to pound ushandful on exhibit at SRAC currently, with one (the one on ing this huge stone tool. the right) specifically found at Spanish After taking inventory, I found Hill, in South Wavthat huge pestles in the SRAC erly, PA. collection are actually pretty common for our region, but the From what I have notched feature of the pestle read, bell shaped shown here is not. However, pestles have three until one of our members basic shapes, havbrought in one that he had ing either a flat base, found just a few weeks ago, I rounded base, or a didn't notice what actually is a pointed base. In the SRAC Collection (Continued on page 4) photo here, the one SRAC Collection The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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THE SRAC JOURNAL
PESTLES CONT. (Continued from page 3)
common feature for these giant pestles. One end of each of the giant pestles in our collections is broken or cut halfway. See the following image to see what I mean... At first I thought that this feature was just a common way that such a large pestle would break, but when you look closer, there seems to be signs of this area being worked. Whatever the actual cause is for this peculiar feature on all of our giant pestles, I thought it worthwhile to note it here.
SRAC Member Lon Kouterick
SRAC Collection
Pestle Type F: Miniature. What the purpose of these little pestles were - I am not sure - some say they were used with paint pots, but I see no staining on any of the ones at SRAC. At any rate they are quite common in our region and I wanted to make sure to note them in this report. Note there is a miniature flat sided pestle as well. Personally I doubt that we will ever know all of the uses that these artifacts here were used for. The truth is that many chefs today still use a mortar and pestle, as do doctors/pharmacists and others, and I would propose that there were at least as many uses (and users) for mortars and pestles centuSRAC Collection ries ago as there are today. References: Hart 2009:The use of multiple discriminate analysis in classifying prehistoric phytolith assemblages recovered from cooking residues . Authored Jon Hart, PhD; co-authored with R. G. Matson. Published: Journal of Archaeological Science, 2009 Lenik 2002: Picture Rocks : American Indian Rock Art in the Northeast Woodlands. Authored by: Ed Lenik . Published: University Press of New England 2002 Moorehead 1910: Stone Age In North America. Authored by: WARREN K. MOOREHEAD. Published: Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company, 1910 Murray 1921: Aboriginal Sites in and near "Teaoga," Now Athens, Pennsylvania. Authored by: Louise Welles Murray Source: American Anthropologist, New Series, Vol. 23, No. 3 (Jul. - Sep., 1921), pp. 268-297. Published by: Blackwell Publishing on behalf of the American Anthropological Association Special thanks to the NYS Museum for granting me use of the image of the bear effigy pestle and list of exhibit quality pestles. The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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THE SRAC JOURNAL
ANNE BAILEY, FRONTIER SCOUT - REVOLUTIONARY WAR CONT. (Continued from page 1)
trees to keep her ammunition dry. To keep from being discovered by Indians who might be tracking her, she would ride a half mile beyond her campsite, then turn her horse loose and walk back to her place of safety. On one winter's night, Anne was unable to build a fire to stay warm because of wind and snow. She crawled into a hollow tree and held her horses' head close to her body to allow his warm breath to keep her from freezing. On another occasion, while being tracked by hostile Indians, she crawled into a hollow log. The Indians searched all around, even sitting on the log she was hiding in. After the Indians left the area, Anne crawled out to find that the Indians had stolen her favorite horse, Liverpool. In the darkness, she tracked down the Indian encampment. Crawling silently among the horses she identified Liverpool. Letting out a terrifying, rebellious scream, she jumped onto Liverpool's back and galloped away into the darkness. Colonists less courageous began calling her "Mad Anne." In 1785, Anne married John Bailey, a frontiersman and ranger. The married couple moved to Clendenin's settlement in the Great Kanawha Valley. In 1791 local Fort Lee was under threat of attack. She made a 100 mile ride through the wilderness to Fort Savannah at Lewisburg, Virginia and back with much needed ammunition. She is credited with saving Fort Lee from destruction. She remained on duty until 1795, when the Treaty of Greenville ended the Northwest Indian War. When her husband John Bailey was murdered in 1794, she began living with her son. She died on November 22, 1825. Her remains were reentered at Tu-Endie-Wei State Park, the site of the Battle of Point Pleasant, where there is a museum that contains her memorabilia.
Battle of Point Pleasant Monument
SRAC 2011 WALL CALENDAR
Looking for that perfect gift for that person who is hard to buy for this Christmas? Look no further! SRAC has compiled 12 of the best of the best artifacts found in our region and placed them in a wall calendar that is both beautiful and educational and sure to become a collector item! While we will have some soon in the SRAC gift shop - those of you who are shopping online for Christmas can just use the following link and buy yours now! http://www.cafepress.com/SRAC.490075801 Shipping is really fast - but don't wait too long so that this present can be under the tree Christmas morning!
The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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THE SRAC JOURNAL
SRAC...Who We Are, 2010‌‌ I received an email from a new member recently saying that he had a hard time understanding who SRAC is and he asked if I could expand on it. After looking up a post that I created back in November 2007 on the SRAC blog when the blog began, titled, "SRAC - Who Are We?" (note the question mark!) and another the same month titled, "Stone Soup" I had to smile and reminisce a bit about how far we have come in such short time. If you have the opportunity, I hope that you will go to sracenter.blogspot.com and look back at the two posts referred to above, and that this will answer many questions you may have... My name is Deb Twigg, and I am one of the co-founders and currently executive director of the Susquehanna River Archaeological Center, (SRAC.) When those earlier posts were written, I remember that I was filled with anxiety and excitement about the huge undertaking that we'd signed up for...Creating a totally new nonprofit organization, buying an old run down warehouse style building with crumbling walls, and only having enough money after making the down payment to keep going for a few months without creating a way to generate revenue in the meantime....Looking back, I have to say that I learned A LOT in those first few years, and the biggest thing that I learned was that if you believe in your heart that you are supposed to do something - no matter how big or small it is - you need to first BELIEVE you can do it - and then roll up you sleeves and figure out how. While there were some who laughed at us for buying the 100-some year old building that we now call our Center back in December 2007, the minute that I walked in, I had a picture in my head that I drew out see below.) This became our plan for the main floor of the building that is pictured here. (Note when we first bought the building there were no walls or bathrooms on this floor.)
This is one of the pictures I took when we were looking at the building in October 2007
Those of you that walk in to SRAC will find this drawing from 2007 quite close to what you will find there today with some minor adjustments. You will also see our basic business plan from 2007 there as well. That is, that we would have a large gift shop, exhibit hall and lecture area to continuously offer new reasons for people to come back to our Center. My reasoning was that there are so many museums that we've all visited when we were children that still look the same today! By having an active Center, we have made a place that continuously changes and has new things to see and do. To see our latest renovations http://www.SRAcenter.org/Museum
and
additions,
visit:
While I realize that some of you may think that all of this, to this point, could have been chalked up to just over-confidence and a boatload of luck - we also had what I will call the first important ingredient all great non-profit organizations have in common - a great and unique cause. To me, SRAC's cause is like no other in the region. We not only work hard to educate private collectors about preserving the archaeology that is out there and not currently in the public eye, but we educate the public about our prehistoric past using what we have preserved. To this end, we have preserved 15 private collections that are on display in our exhibit hall and expect many more to be donated when collectors are ready to make a decision about where their collections should go past their lifetimes. Using this local archaeology, we continue to push ourselves and professional researchers to make the research continue in our region to help us figure out even more that we do not know. By inviting professional and avocational archaeologists and historical speakers to speak in our lecture hall, as well as private collectors to display their artifacts at certain events, we continue the efforts in learning and sharing every month. As stewards of our local archaeology and its preservation (Continued on page 7)
The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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SRAC...Who We Are, 2010...cont. line. Furthermore, nearly every one of our board members volunteers time in SRAC every week! To me this helps us all we have become a great example of educators that never to get to know each other and work together as a team - and stop learning. In addition to the public stopping in everyday it allows all of us to have a feel for the Center and those we at SRAC, local schools, local clubs and even nursing homes serve in the community. No showing up once a month for a make special field trips to our center... As you can see - our meeting if you are on our board - we expect more - and get energies and efforts are endless in supporting this meaning- it! ful cause. As a result, when someone enters our doors, they are welLooking back, the second important ingredient to our suc- comed with a friendly smile and a knowledgeable person cess in my mind is successful funding. Unlike other non- who can answer their questions. In fact co-founders Ted profit organizations, we signed a contract early on with co- Keir and Dick Cowles work one afternoon shift every week founder Dick Cowles that we would not accept federal or in our exhibit hall and it is no secret why those days are the state funding - and if we did , his family would have the right most popular days of the week for the public to visit SRAC! to remove his collection for the fear of new laws at some Ted is the point affecting his father’s collection. This caused us to have l ea d i ng to work a lot harder in that we never were able to get fundsource of ing in the way that most non-profits do from state or federal information funding. Instead, we would have to seek the support of our about the community organizations, philanthropic foundations and archaeology generous individuals. in our reAs a part of my role at SRAC, I have taken on the responsigion. A rebility of constantly seeking funding to keep SRAC afloat. tired high Initially, I thought the best plan was to go to big organizas c h o o l tions in the area, the hospitals, the banks and even the raceteacher with track, etc...but without fail, I was told that they did not see a degree in how SRAC could possibly survive, and therefore we were Earth Scinot a good investment...I remember smiling and saying, "We ence, Ted will survive because we have a great cause, a huge collecbecame an tion, etc" and at a certain point, realized that I just could not avocational archaeologist and private collector in his off seem to inspire large businesses because they had to see it hours. There is not a collector or professional in our region all on a spreadsheet - which makes sense because that's that does not know Ted Keir and respect his life's work in how they run their own businesses! I must note that this educating our community. In fact Ted still gives educational year's SRAC Giving Campaign did receive some donations lectures at SRAC a couple of times a year! His incredible (see below) from local businesses and my hope is that we collection can also be seen in SRAC's exhibit hall and if you are finally gaining the confidence of at least some of them! come on Tuesday afternoons, Ted will share his stories about the artifacts and where they were found with you perInstead, the largest donations by far have been by philansonally. thropic individuals and foundations that our cause actually speaks to above and beyond any spreadsheet. Since SepDick Cowles tember 2009 our donations were received in the following is the son of proportions: 73% from individuals, 23% from foundations, Mr. Ellsand 3% from local businesses. With that said, if you would w o r t h like to donate to SRAC, please visit Cowles, http://www.sracenter.org/Donations/ engineer by trade and an Sadly, today many large organizations are learning that earlier avoeven with a great cause and a lot more money than a new cational arorganization like SRAC has - that keeping their doors open chaeologist is still a challenge without dedicated people. With nearly the genera300 members to date and 100% volunteer staffing, I think tion before our staff by far surpasses any other nonprofit organization Ted Keir. that I am aware of. Furthermore, the fact that none of us Although have ever made a penny from all of the hours that we have Ellsworth donated is a credit to our board and volunteer staff and their passed away in 1991, his knowledge of the Chemung River dedication to our cause. It is also very efficient for us as a Valley, it's history and archaeology is unsurpassed even non-profit to not have salaries listed among our expense (Continued from page 6)
(Continued on page 8)
The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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SRAC...Who We Are, 2010...cont. (Continued from page 7)
today. Dick is the third co-founder of SRAC as he ended up with all of his father's artifacts which no local museum was able to take on because of it's sheer size. Once filling a three room basement, the Ellsworth Cowles collection was the foundation for the SRAC collection that now boasts 15 collections. Following in his father's foot steps, Dick also became a local historian, and is very knowledgeable in the Revolutionary War period for our region to include Sullivan's Campaign. If you visit the SRAC shop's book section, you will see books by both Dick and his father. SRAC is also currently seeking to compile a 500+ page book written by Ellsworth over his lifetime about our region's prehistory and early history. If you would like to meet Dick, simply stop in some Thursday afternoon, he'll be there with that great smile of his welcoming you as you come in the door.
So when I am asked "Who is SRAC?" I feel as though after 5 years of incorporation and becoming a non-profit organization, I have more confidence in answering that question, and how we actually have done it. While there are so many aspects of SRAC that are still left to discuss, I hope that I have given you a better answer than there was before. With many new things planned for the coming years such as more renovations, enlargement of our exhibit hall, addition of a research center and library on the second floor and even a classroom or two, I am sure I will make an addendum or two in the future. To learn more or to http://www.sracenter.org/
support
our
efforts,
visit
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about SRAC. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can call our Center at 607-565-7960, or email Both Ted and Dick, as well as the rest of the board, wear questions to info@sracenter.org. many other hats at SRAC!
BIG TURNOUT AT SRAC HALLOWEEN BASH! Valley kids had a real Halloween treat at the Susquehanna River Archaeological Center (SRAC) in Waverly on Saturday, October 30th. The Center hosted a costume party and hayride that was free for all to attend. Families who attended were first greeted by costumed SRAC board members who led them to the very popular hayride provided by Jim Kier (Red Tail Mulch.) Kier's daughter, Jody drove the tractor starting at SRAC and traveling around Muldoon Park throughout the event. Once attendees unloaded from the hayride and entered SRAC, they were offered refreshments that included pizza, donuts, cupcakes and cookies, and apple cider that were all donated for the occasion. Games throughout the night included a pumpkin coloring contest, "pin the tusk on the mammoth," a concentration game, and a "find the cats" game. The night concluded with a costume contest for both adults and children. Every child won at least one prize as well as received a trick or treat bag filled with candy and great prizes.
SRAC Board Members, Mary Keene and Mary Ann Taylor
SRAC's Deb Twigg said, "This event was one of those that are a running theme at SRAC, where we host a free community event and are assisted by other Valley businesses and organizations who help us make it a success. Parrish Deli, Stroehman's, Just Desserts, and Tops really stepped up and we really appreciate it. I also want to thank the VFW for making a hundred dollar donation towards the event as well. Last but not least I want to thank all of the SRAC volunteers that worked so hard all week setting up and at the event. By working together, we all gave a lot of families who attended a night to remember!"
The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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ANALYZING PROTO-SUSQUEHANNOCK SITES IN THE UPPER SUSQUEHANNA RIVER VALLEY Last spring I received an email from one of our SRAC professional advisors and anthropologist from Cornell University, Dr. Kurt Jordan. He had a student that he said he thought just might be as obsessed with the Susquehannocks as I was. He wanted to send her to SRAC to have us share what we have on all the sites in our region. Jasmine also graduated from Elizabethtown College 2009 with two B.A's: one in history and another in sociology/ anthropology. Her field work includes: Washington Boro site (Susquehannock - Lancaster, PA), Fort Hunter site (1760's Harrisburg, PA), London Town (18th century - Edgewater, MD), Pig Point (12thCentury- Anne Arundel County, MD), Walhain-St.Paul site (14th Century - Walhain, Belgium). She is currently employed full time as an archaeological field technician with Historic Saint Mary's City in Maryland. When Jasmine first arrived at SRAC, I gave her all of my research on all the sites I have studied and all of the resources that I used - to include 400-plus letters from the 1916 Moorehead expedition through our region, the videos and reports on the Englebert site, the Griffin report, and many others...Ted Keir also spent several days with her and showed her all the information, photos, and slides that he had on the sites in our region to include the Kennedy site. I also asked SRAC's Don Hunt to join in and take her on a ride, to physically show her the sites in our region and I even made a phone call to the family that now owns "the Murray Garden" and they walked that site that day as well. We also sent Jasmine to the Tioga Point Museum to see what else they might have that she could use, and although they refused to let her see any skeletal materials, she was happy with what she found there as well. All of this, as well as time she spent with professionals such as Dr. Barry Kent and researching sites such as the Washington Boro Susquehannock site in Lancaster, PA and others on the lower Susquehanna made me feel pretty confident that she was successful in collecting all different views concerning the archaeological sites reported to be "Susquehannock," "Proto-Susquehannock" and otherwise over the past 125 years.
At the end of the time that we had to spend with Jasmine as a part of her overall studies, I had to admit that maybe she WAS as obsessed with the Susquehannocks as I am - and I want to commend her for all of the hard work she did for this research project. After the time Jasmine spent with us, she spent another month finishing up her thesis to defend on September 30th at Cornell titled, "Analyzing Proto-Susquehannock sites in the Upper Susquehanna River Valley." It is my hope that this will be the first of what will be many research efforts on our region. On Wednesday September 29th we invited the public to preview her work in a presentation at SRAC. After working long hours with her and getting to know her, our board members were proud to see the work that Jasmine put together. Within weeks Jasmine received confirmation of her Master's Degree. She wrote in an email to me, "Hey! I got my M.A!!!!! The drive home was horrible, 9+ hours. I got back at 12:30 this morning. Thanks for everything, Deb! I really appreciate it J ~Jasmine" Thank you Jasmine, for letting SRAC be a part of your project! - Deb Twigg, SRAC
WAVERLY’S LINCOLN STREET SCOOL PROJECT Waverly's 4th grade at Lincoln Street School has just finished their curriculum on local Native American history that included a field trip to the Susquehanna River Archaeological Center (SRAC) at 345 Broad Street in downtown Waverly, NY earlier this year. As a part of their final testing on the topic, each student was asked to do a project which is now on display at SRAC. The public is invited to cast votes for their favorite projects - and the top three from both classrooms will be on display at SRAC for the next year. Votes are cast with pennies and all proceeds from the event benefit Lincoln Street's 4th grade class. Voting is already underway and will continue until the ceremony to announce winners occurs during the school's Christmas vacation. Lincoln Street 4th Graders ShayLynne Robbins and Haley Mack teamed up to create their Native American village scene pictured here, for their entry into the contest at SRAC. The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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Volume 6, Issue 2
R E C E NT A CT IV I T Y AT S R AC There is always something happening at SRAC! We just can’t say it enough! Whether it’s public events, educational programs, regular business hours, or the many hours spent behind the scenes by our fabulous volunteers, there is always something going on at the center. Every time you visit, it’s something new!
The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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THE SRAC JOURNAL
Volume 6, Issue 2
S R AC D RUM BE AT S 2 0 1 0 This year was the 7th annual "DrumBeats Through Time" event! It was held at the Susquehanna River Archaeological Center (SRAC) at 345 Broad Street, Waverly, NY on October 2, 1010. The day started with our annual membership meeting, and continued through day as the doors opened to the general public at 1:00pm. At 1:00pm there were artists under tents on the sidewalk that included Native Indian artwork, beadwork and jewelry as well as other items.
From 3:00 - 4:00pm, the Seneca Buffalo Creek Dancers performed at the Center. The Dance Group began in 1988 and is well known for being very proficient in their traditional Iroquois Social Dances. Many of the dancers in this group have won dance competitions for their particular categories at Pow Wow's across the country. Respected by Natives and non-Natives, the Buffalo Creek Dancers perform at many schools, colleges, festivals, and Pow Wows throughout the United States and Canada.
There was also an archaeology presentation that was rated one of the top ten scientific discoveries - "The Burning Tree Mastodon: Death...and Life...in the Ice Ages!" by popular speaker, Dr. Dee Anne Wymer, of Bloomsburg University. Dr. Wymer discussed how ancient PaleoIndians hunted and killed this mastodon that was uncovered in Newark, Ohio in 1990, and how he became preserved in the bottom of a small glacial pond allowing researchers to actually see the stomach contents, and the insights into the world of 11,400 years ago at the end of the last ice age. Dr. Wymer said, "His life...and death...reveal a remarkable story."
(Continued on page 15)
The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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Volume 6, Issue 2
THE SRAC JOURNAL
SRAC GIVING CAMPAIGN & SRAC JOURNAL SPONSORS Many have responded to the recent SRAC Giving Campaign (see below), but it’s not too late to show your support! Donations made in December will still qualify as a 2010 tax deduction. SRAC is a 501c3, (nonprofit organization) and all of our funding comes from our membership, the revenues that we can generate at the Center, donations from philanthropic organizations, and genGold Sponsor erous individuals like you. (None of our funding goes towards salaries as SRAC is staffed 100% by volunteers and open 5 days a week.) This year we reached out to you personally and asked that you consider us worthy of your support, which ultimately becomes support for our whole community. We want to personally thank each of you who supported us so far in the SRAC 2010 Giving Campaign.
John H. Murray & Sons 2592 Pennsylvania Ave. Sayre, PA 18840 570570-888888-2115
Individual Silver Sponsors: •
Mr. & Mrs Paul Depew
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Carol Ann Newbury
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John & Susan Moehlmann
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Linda Gorman
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Doug Ulkins
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Elisabeth Alamo
Mr. & Mrs. John Palmer
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Jim Nobles
Cecelia & Ernest Daher
Silver Sponsorship
Clare Printing 206 S. Keystone Ave. Sayre, PA 18840
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Rebecca Olivet
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Denis & Susan Brady
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Charlotte Arnold
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Marcia Cowles
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Linda WIntermute
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Olin West
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Bruce Boselli
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Mary Jane Safford •
Ted Keir
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Frank & Emma Mosch
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Bill & Pat Macnamara
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Mrs. P Jensen Monroe
Silver Sponsorship
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Terry & Connie Cockcroft
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Jerry Arnold
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Joseph Blood
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Jack Andrus
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Beryl Cleary
Nocchi Hoagie Stand 445 N. Keystone Ave. South Waverly, PA 18840
Individual Gold Sponsors: •
Jean Adair Wosinski
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Gennie & Peggy Burkhart
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Charlotte Cowles & Michael Belzer
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Deb Twigg & Susan Fogel
Individual Platinum Sponsor: •
Mary Jane Safford
Organization Silver Sponsors: •
Landy & Landy
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Tioga State Bank
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Belle's TV
Organization Gold Sponsors: •
Rynone Kitchen and Bath
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Elderwood
Organization Members: Dandy Mini Mart
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First Citizens National Bank
Chemung Canal Bank 405 Chemung St. Waverly, NY 14892 Silver Sponsorship
Organization Case Sponsor:
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Silver Sponsorship
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M&T Bank
Supporter Thank You Don & Tom For “16 Tons” - Gloria D.
Valley Energy 523 S. Keystone Ave. Sayre, PA 18840 Silver Sponsorship
Eby Insurance 426 S. Keystone Ave. Sayre, PA 18840
The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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THE SRAC JOURNAL
Volume 6, Issue 2
SRAC RECEIVES TWO COLLECTIONS Two more collections have been donated and placed under the stewardship of the Susquehanna River Archaeological Center (SRAC.) The collection was donated by Sally McQuay of Sayre, PA and was collected by her and her late husband George McQuay in Lycoming County near Williamsport, PA several years ago. The McQuay collection includes celts, blades, net sinkers, paint pots, game stones, and several stone tools and arrowheads. The second collection was donated by long time SRAC member, Richard Jackson. This collection includes research books and 60-some arrowheads that are sited and were collected from sites around Endicott, NY.
by families donating their personal collections and entrusting SRAC to preserve it in their family name in order for future generations to enjoy them." SRAC is located at 345 Broad Street, Waverly, NY and is open 1-5pm Tuesdays through Fridays and 11am - 4pm Saturdays. To learn more, visit www.SRACenter.org or call (607) 565-7960.
Our Headquarters Mail: SRAC PO Box 12 Sayre, PA 18840 Phone: 607-727-3111
The collections have been named "The McQuay/SRAC Collection" and "The Jackson/ SRAC Collection" respectively and they are both on display at SRAC along with thousands of local artifacts that can be seen during normal business hours. This makes a total of 15 collections that SRAC has been able to preserve to date. SRAC's Ted Keir said, "This is how our museum has grown -
Contact Us!
Email: info@SRACenter.org Our Center Location: 345 Broad St. Waverly, NY Ted Keir Exhibits the McQuay Collection
SRAC would like to put out a very special thank you to the Allen Pierce Foundation for their continued support! They show faith in our dedication to our mission, and they have since long before we even had a center to operate from. Thank You!
Phone: 607-565-7960 Website: SRACenter.org Online Giftshop: SRACenter.org/store Online Membership: SRACenter.org/join
RECENT CONTRIBUTORS TO SRAC Special thanks to the following for their support: • • • • • •
Wennawoods Publishing Peggy Burkhart Gloria Dick Waverly VFW Post 8104 Stanley Vanderlaan Tioga County Seniors Foundation
• • • •
Charlotte Rowe Allen Pierce Foundation Lincoln Street School 4th Grade Bob Williams
SRAC Blog: SRACenter.blogspot.co m Online Donations: SRACenter.org/ donations Mobile Website: SRACenter.org/mobile
The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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THE SRAC JOURNAL
Volume 6, Issue 2
Coming Events at SRAC Drawing in Color Class Every Wednesday until further notice, 6:00pm – 7:30pm SRAC - 345 Broad Street Waverly, NY If you are looking for some basic drawing, painting, or advanced techniques with different mediums, Albert White will take the time with you in an atmosphere that makes you feel welcome, in a class filled with conversation and interesting information as he teaches each of his students at their own level. White attended San Francisco Art Institute and graduated with honors from the Maryland Institute of Art. As an artist, Albert's paintings reflect sensitivity and power in wildlife, people, and the land. Class fees are just $10 per night! Call SRAC at 607-565-7960 or email info@sracenter.org to reserve you place today. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Waverly's Rodeo Tue, January 4, 2011, 6:30pm – 7:30pm SRAC - 345 Broad Street Waverly, NY Presented by Waverly's own Don Merrill - For nearly 20 years during the 1940's and 1950's, Waverly NY had a most unique claim to fame. It was home to the only rodeo ranch east of the Mississippi. Real cowboys and Indians rode through the streets of the village and just out of town could be seen teepees and bunkhouses, all the trappings of the real west. The JE Ranch - a national favorite rodeo will be the topic of this presentation. Loaded with memorabilia, artifacts and great discussion, this is a MUST SEE by anyone in the region! Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for SRAC members and $3 children under 18. Free admission to the SRAC exhibit hall is included in the admission price. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ray of Hope Healing Hypnotherapy Every Thursday in January, 2011 6:00 – 7:30 SRAC - 345 Broad Street Waverly, NY 1/6 – Healing & Relaxation, 1/13 – Weight Loss, 1/20 - Smoking Cessation, 1/27 – Psychic Development Dee Brenner is an L.P.N. and C.H.T. (Certified Hypnotherapist) who has worked in health care for 24 years. Dee will show you how to use the natural healing power of the mind with hypnosis by re-programming the subconscious mind to a new way of thinking. Join Dee for one, two, or all four of these enlightening sessions. Class fees are just $10 per night! Call SRAC at 607-565-7960 or email info@sracenter.org to reserve you place. Walk-ins welcome! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jewelry & Beading Class Sat, January 8, 2011 11:30am – 1:30pm SRAC, 345 Broad Street Waverly, NY Local lapidary Ellen Sisco is an artisan who is very knowledgeable about working stone, minerals, gemstones, and other suitably durable materials into decorative items. Supplies for the class include beads and all accessories to complete a necklace. Precious stones, clips, glass beads and polished glass chips are among the variety of beads that the attendees will be able to choose from. Fees for this two hour beading class are $25. RSVP's are greatly appreciated by calling the Center at (607)565-7960 or by emailing info@SRAcenter.org. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sullivan Campaign- the British Perspective Tue, February 1, 2011, 6:30pm – 7:30pm SRAC - 345 Broad St, Waverly, NY Sullivan Campaign- the British Perspective, by Dr. Robert Shephard. Dr. Shephard has been teaching European History at Elmira College since 1987, including courses on the Holocaust and on British, Russian, and women’s history, and seminars on Renaissance Italy, Tudor England, the French Revolution, and European Totalitarianism. His research (Continued on page 15)
The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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Volume 6, Issue 2
THE SRAC JOURNAL
Coming Events at SRAC cont. interests focus on early modern British political culture. Dr. Shephard has been a Regional Visiting Fellow at Cornell University and is currently the vice president of the International Sidney Society. He received the Gerald R. Rubio Award in 2005 for his article “The Political Commonplace Books of Sir Robert Sidney.” *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
LaSalle's Great Detour - by Dick Cowles Tue, April 5, 2011, 6:30pm – 7:30pm SRAC - 345 Broad Street Waverly, NY 14892 Cowles will present research that he and his father, Ellsworth Cowles did concerning yet another French explorer in our region, Cowles believes that in the 1670’s Rene Robert De La Salle searched for the corridor to the Mississippi River through our region, and as a result leads us to some interesting questions: • "Did La Salle actually discover the Mississippi River two years before the Jesuits, Marquette and Joliet made the claim?“ •"Does the Cowles' research prove that La Salle visited Spanish Hill's “Carantouan” nearly 60 years after Brule?“ Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for SRAC members and $3 children under 18. Free admission to the SRAC exhibit hall is included in the admission price. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
People Who Made a Difference, by Storyteller: Kate Dudding Tue, May 3, 2011, 6:30pm – 7:30pm SRAC - 345 Broad Street Waverly, NY Clifton Park, NY native and storyteller Kate Dudding creates entertaining, heartwarming, and memorable stories which give a voice to people from the past. On Tuesday, May 3rd, from 6:30 - 7:30 pm, Ms. Dudding will give her award winning performance at SRAC at 345 Broad Street Waverly, NY. "People Who Made a Difference" is a collection of stories of people who made a difference in the world, or their part of the world. While the audience may think they know the French chef whose work actually transformed the US, or the Broadway composer who had a hard time writing songs initially, each of these tales and many more told by this master storyteller are told in a way that will inspire you in a family friendly format. (This program is brought to you by a grant from the Tioga County Seniors Foundation.) *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Stay tuned! There’s always something happening at SRAC!!! SRAC DRUM BEATS 2010
CONT.
SRAC’s Deb Twigg states, “We like to close the DrumBeats Through Time event each year with Native American dancers, and we are lucky to have gotten the very best group, the Buffalo Creek Dancers from the Seneca Nation, because their schedules are filled for most of the year due to their popularity.” The crowd and their response was evidence of the dancers’ skills! The event and all the food were free to everyone for this special event. There was also a basket raffle to benefit the organization. Many thanks to the many people and organizations that donated basket items! It was another wonderful event enjoyed by many! We just keep making great memories at SRAC!
The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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Volume 6, Issue 2
THE SRAC JOURNAL
W H Y D O N AT E TO S R AC ? SRAC is a 501c3 (nonprofit organization) and all of our funding comes from our membership, the revenues that we can generate at the Center, and donations from incredible philanthropic organizations such as the Allen Pierce and Mildred Faulkner Truman foundations and generous individuals like you. Thank you to all of you that have supported us over the years. We hope that you can understand the importance of our mission and how important your support is for us to continue to thrive and succeed. We see every dollar donated to SRAC as an investment in our community. As you learn more about SRAC, we trust that you will too. Here are a some of the ways that you can help fund SRAC: Room Dedication Opportunity! Donors have the opportunity to have the SRAC Lecture Hall dedicated in a manner specified by the donor. This could be living tribute and/or an eternal memorial, and it is currently available for just one donor for a donation of $25,000 or more. Contact executive director, Deb Twigg at 607-727-3111 or dtwigg@sracenter.org to learn more. SRAC Journal Advertising/Sponsorships! Platinum $500.00 - Our top level of the SRAC Journal sponsorship! With your donation of $500 you will be facilitating the printing of one quarterly journal. Your donation will be recognized with a full half-page gray-scale or black and white ad that can measure up to 7 1/2� wide by 5� tall. Donations can also be made at the following levels for ads in smaller sizes: Gold $100.00 (4 lines of text, up to 35 characters each); Silver $50.00 (3 lines of text, up to 35 characters each); Supporter $25.00 (2 lines of text, up to 35 characters each); Friend $10.00 (1 line of text, up to 35 characters) Contact executive director, Deb Twigg at 607-727-3111 or dtwigg@sracenter.org to learn more.
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
The Leadership Company 234 Main Street Your Town, USA 555555-555555-5555
The Hollowell Family Jan, Christy Ryan, Allison, and Tommy Supporter
Friend The Lucky Penny Club
The Johnson Family In loving memory of our dad John
Donate a Local Collection. SRAC supports our local collectors. Since 2005, SRAC has received 13 collections and thousands of local Native American artifacts. We hope that our local collectors continue to fieldwalk and enjoy their collections. Without them, we would have very little evidence of our Native Indian past that remains in our community. All we ask is that they consider planning ahead. As many of you already know, many of our local collections have been lost in the past by ending up at auction houses at which point they were lost forever. SRAC was founded for this very purpose - to allow our private collectors a place where their collections can be housed in their name forever when they are ready to consider a new home for them; to consider the community's need to be able to see them and learn about our Native Indian past, and to allow more research to continue. For these reasons, SRAC will accept private collections (artifacts, books, etc) or will work with collectors for a future donation of a collection and will preserve and use them to benefit the community in the education of our local history for many generations to come. Looking for Instructors! SRAC is looking for instructors for educational, art, healthy living, and exercise classes. Please call Deb Twigg to discuss further at 607-727-3111.
Volunteers at SRAC usually volunteer for two hours a week. If you have two hours to come and have fun with us, please call Deb Twigg at 607-727-3111. Anyone who volunteers for 7 hour or more a month gets free admission to all SRAC events!
The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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Volume 6, Issue 2
THE SRAC JOURNAL
SRAC PRODUCED DVDS ON SALE **You can purchase the Woolly Mammoth DVD which includes: • All of the photos from the excavation • The newsreel • Ted Keir discussing the Spring Lake excavation They are on sale at the SRAC gift shop for just $5.99 plus tax. If you would like to purchase a copy for home delivery, send $7.99 (to include shipping) to SRAC Woolly Mammoth Dig DVD, PO Box 12, Sayre, PA 18840 and don't forget to include your mailing address.
**Also still available - SRAC's first movie "Glimpses of Our Past" tells the story of the thousands of years that man lived in our region and is available now at SRAC! BONUS: The DVD also includes two full length presentations! $9.99 plus tax at the gift shop, or send $11.99, along with your mailing address, to SRAC Glimpses of Our Past, PO Box 12, Sayre, PA 18840. All proceeds benefit the Susquehanna River Archaeological Center.
Did you know that SRAC was founded in 2005? In December 2007 we bought the building that is now our Center at 345 Broad St., Waverly, NY; and in just over two years, with the support of so many philanthropists and volunteers, we have renovated what was once an eye sore into a bustling Center with a gift shop, lecture hall, and exhibit hall for our community!
SRAC operates with 100% volunteer staffing. The people listed below donate hundreds of hours every month to make SRAC a success. Thank you for all that you do! We survive because of your efforts!
SRAC Board of Directors
SRAC Volunteers
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Deb Twigg
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Tom Vallilee
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Don Hunt
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Beryl Cleary
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Dick Cowles
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Janet Andrus
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Peggy Burkhart
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Sam Ayers
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Ted Keir
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Mary Ann Taylor
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Mary Keene
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Pat Miran
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Susan Fogel
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Mark Madill
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John and Dee Margetanski
The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org
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THE SRAC JOURNAL
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Volume 6, Issue 2
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The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies ~ www.SRACenter.org ~ email Info@SRACenter.org