As you drive towards the Sams Town Casino in Tunica Misssissippi, there is a farm on the right side of the road. The first time I passed it and thought I saw what appeared to be structures sitting on mounds. After several trips, I am certain this is a Mississippian site. The main house sits on a mound - next to it appears to be a low burial mound, and behind it a large temple mound. I mentioned this to Dr. David Dye who lives nearby in Memphis. He referred to it as the Robinsonville Site.

Last night I had the pleasure of attending a talk by John Broster ( Tennessee Divisison of Archaeology ) about the newly discovered "Sinclair Site" in Wayne County, Tennessee. This Paleo Period quarry site spans 15 acres and is home to a high quality Buffalo River chert that was favored by these ancient hunters. We saw photographs of huge blades and blade tools ( some exceeding 12 inches ) as well as several points, blade cores and other lithic debitage. The site was visited last week by Ken Tankersley from the Smithsonian, and it PROBABLY will fundmentally change our view of Paleo Man in North America. It was discovered in September of 2008, so the talk was on the 'cuting edge' of knowledge and research.
This talk was hosted by Dr. Kevin Smith and the Middle Cumberland Archaeological Society (MCAS ) one of the oldest groups in Tennessee. I had the pleasure of seeing many other collectors and amateur archaeologists. John Pafford and Dr. Cushman attended, and John and I had a very good chat. He filled me in on the GIRS Nashville Show that will be held at a new location, the Briley Parkway Mariott. It sounds like a fine event.
I also had the pleasure of speaking with Ellis Durham about his interest in IR technology. Ellis is quite an advanced collector with a background in the sciences. He has been investigating the applications of IR technology and what if can and cannot do. As some of you know, I wrote and article in the January Journal that discussed this technology and it's possible impact on collecting and artifacts. Bill Breckenrdige, Dave Walley and Jim Horst are all advocates of this new technology. Hopefully it can help improve our knowledge of the ancients. I know Dr. jim Cherry, who helped me research the article had a long talk with Bill and Jim at the recent Springdale Show. I'm looking forward to discussing with him what he learned.

Date: Feb 15, 2009
I'll be attending the Show in Gallatin a week from today and the Collinsville Show the first weekend of March - and will be taking some pictures for the Journal at each one. If you desire to have something pictured, you can bring your artfact(s) to either one and I'll be more than happy to take some pictures. I will not have a table at Gallatin, so you'll have to track me down walking through the show - HA !

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     I think this blogging space is a wonderful addition to our artifact community. What a great place to share our ideas, discoveries and collections!
     I truly enjoy being Editor of the Central States Journal. There are restrictions in any publication, 56 pages for instance, and hopefully this blog will alllow me to share things that are beyond the scope of the magazine.      For those of you who don't know me, I've collected since 1990 attended shows since 1992. I feel lucky to have known some truly great collectors and received guidance from many of them. John Berner and John Crowley were instrumental in myself agreeing to become editor of the Journal. It is quite a task, as I asemble it all and furnish the publisher a completed product.      I have made it a goal to have a superb collection. As many of you know, this is not easy. Were I wealthy it might be less difficult, but I am not. What I have done is take the initative when the opportunity was there, biting the bullet and acquiring even if it meant going into debt.      I truly enjoy artifacts with a history and that have some signficence. I originally collected from all areas ( including fakes ), but a conversation with Tony Stein led me into the world of the Mississippians. Having a focus has made it much easier to refine my collection and know what I desire to acquire.
     I wish it was possible to find all of these wonderful objects from the past, but we all know that's impossible. Thanks to the efforts of others in the past, I've been given the opportunity to own some truly wonderful things. I do find it amusing when I run into someone who is unfamiliar with collecting asks "Did you find all of these?".      I have been the victum of scams and other frauds through the years. These bad encounters have helped sharpen my skills in detecting them. The one thing I can offer everyone is the statement - "If it's too good to be true, it probably is". We all sucker up for the deal on a "once in a lifetime" acquisition that is priced cheap. A Bargin ! My friend John Berner has stated:  "There were no bargins in the past, there will be none in the future, and there are none today". A truly fine artifact retains its value. No one is going to sell their $5,000 Clovis for $1000.  Usually that Clovis turns out to be something we'd like to go bury in the yard once we find out we've been had.      I welcome your comments and suggestions for the Journal. We're all in this together !
     Finally, if you are not a Central States member, become one. Four issues a year for $21.00. You must join a state society. If you need more information I'll be more than glad to help. You can visit the Central States Website by scrolling down the main "ARROWHEADS.COM" website to the bottom and clicking on the Central States logo. You can see shows, acquire older Journals and much more.