June 14 and 15, 2003

From: Scott Beld
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2003
To: Oxbow Archaeologists
Subject: Ponton Site - June 14 and 15, 2003

Hi Oxbow Archaeologist,

Well – here’s the first update of the summer!

We met Saturday morning (June 14) at 9:00 in the Visitor Center for the first session of the workshop. Mary Wackerlee, Francis Phetteplace, and Greg and Lia Young are doing the workshop (Greg and Lia are from the Clinton Valley Chapter). Maryann, Brigitte, and Al were also there. I talked about archaeology for about an hour and a half and then we went over to the Ponton site (11 A.M.). In the afternoon, we excavated unit 513R498 (see map and views1 and 2). This unit produced the usual brick, flat glass and nails. Decorated earthenware included Old Blue, Light Blue and Green Transfer, and Handpainted. A few pipe fragments were also recovered.

After we were done excavating Saturday, I went to 20MD534 and reexposed Feature 5, a Late Woodland feature we had identified in 2000.

Sunday morning (June 15), we went to 20MD534 and I showed the group (Brigitte, Mary, Francis, Greg, and Lia) how we excavate features. I began the SE quarter of the feature and we recovered several bodysherds, a rimsherd, and a charred fragment of a deer phalange. I showed the rimsherd to Meghan Howey here at the museum today to see if it is similar to the material she’s getting in the Houghton Lake area. She told me that it is (see rimsherd1) – the profile and the decoration on the lip are very similar (see rimsherd2)!

Sunday afternoon, we went back to the Ponton site and excavated unit 512R498. Probably the most noteworthy find from this unit was a white “Agate” or “Prosser Patent” button. We found a fragment of one of these last year. They were invented in 1840 and date after the Ponton occupation – so this is some more evidence of a later occupation.

This week – on Wednesday afternoon I’ll be going to 20MD534 to try and finish Feature 5. Depending on how it’s going I may be there in the evening also.

I’ve been in touch with Terry Martin and he will be arriving Friday evening.

Saturday morning, we’ll be meeting in the Visitor Center at 9 A.M. for the faunal identification part of the workshop. Then on Saturday evening at 7 P.M. in the Visitor Center auditorium, Terry will be speaking on Lake Sturgeon (see the notice I sent out earlier)!

On Sunday, we’ll conclude the workshop by excavating at the Ponton site with Terry.

If I find anything interesting in Fea. 5 on Wednesday I’ll try to send out another update later in the week. Otherwise, I’ll look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Scott

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Scott G. Beld, Ph.D.
Research Associate II
The University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology
1109 Geddes Road
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1079
Phone: 734-764-0489 (UMMP Main Office)
734-763-9253 (My Office)
Fax: 734-936-1380
Email: sbeld@umich.edu
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