Skeletal Remains May Be 11,000 Years Old (Lake Jackson, Texas)

Houston Chronicle ^ | 8-9-2002 | Terry Kliewer

[ValerieUSA]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/metropolitan/1529357

Archaeologist wants to keep digging

Next step depends on tribes' go-ahead
By TERRY KLIEWER Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle

The archaeologist who found what may be the oldest human skeletal remains yet discovered in North America hopes the federal agency in charge of the excavation site will approve further digging before the end of this year.

Robert d'Aigle, owner of CRC International Archaeology & Ecology in Spring, said Friday that he believes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which controls the land where the bones were found, should promptly allow more exploration.

D'Aigle this week disclosed that the bones he found in 1999 were radiocarbon-dated to at least 11,000 years ago. He said he had not been free to reveal his discovery until after he had submitted a final report to his federal sponsors this week.

Other scientists on the project speculate that the remains come from a young woman who became trapped in heavy mud, d'Aigle said.

He said he and a team of scientists probably could be ready to return by December for more work at the now re-covered site in the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge in southern Brazoria County.

But an official's response wasn't encouraging.

"It's way too early for us to do anything but preserve and protect the remains in place," said Dave Siegel, historic preservation officer for the Fish and Wildlife Service's southwest region.

He said additional excavation depends on response from Native American tribes who, by law, must be consulted first. The comment process has just begun, Siegel said, and no closing date has been set.

Siegel said the remains -- a skull, a partial jaw with teeth and two vertebrae -- will stay with d'Aigle while arrangements are made to move them to the University of Texas Center for Archaeological Research in Austin.

D'Aigle, whose company serves as an archaeological consultant for government and private-sector clients, said he understands the federal comment period that Siegel mentioned will conclude by December or earlier.

"We could be ready to go back within two weeks of that time, which would be prime time for excavation because of dry weather," he said.

D'Aigle said he would like to follow up first on a promising area near the discovery site where core-drilled soil samples suggest the presence of a cache of oyster shells several feet down.

He said the shells may have been piled there to provide footing for the prehistoric people who hunted and fished along an ancient waterway through the area.

Another scientist familiar with d'Aigle's discovery speculated this week that other skeletons may be buried there as well.

Boulder, Colo., geologist Bob Stafford said it seems likely that the area, once a bog, probably claimed other victims in its day. The discovery and dating of more remains would help to verify initial indications that the skeleton d'Aigle found is indeed about 11,000 years old, he said.

[blam]

Patrick Mcgoohan(Turn volume up)

[blam]

Thanks Valerie. It does not sound promising. The 'Indians' don't want to know that it may not be 'them.'

[MeekOneGOP]

"So, it says they weren't the Indians ancestors. I read it, and maybe I overlooked it, but where does it theorize they were from? "

The artifacts that are being found (Topper Site) are like those (forgot what they're called) found on the Iberian (Spain) penensula. Also, the Cactus Hill site.

My take on things are that there were Caucasian types coming to North America thousands of years ago from two different directions, through Asia (Siberia/Japan) and then across the European ice bridge and also 'hopping' along both coasts by boat. The Native Americans (as we know them today) did not arrive until about 6,000 years ago.

Thanks! So, then, if I understand correctly, the issue is: Who got to North America first, right?

Ming, the first part of my screen name, is from mainland China. I have told her that the American Indians are the descendants from the people in Asia. So what I wanted to do was make sure I'm not giving her bad information (and I'd just like to know). My Grandmother (my Dad's mother) was 1/2 Cherokee. That would make me 1/8th Cherokee (if math applies to genetics like that, lol).

Now that my interest is piqued here, I'd appreciate it if you have any links to:

1. The migration of Asians to North America and the origin of North American Indians.

2. Your theory regarding Caucasian migration via the two routes.

In the meantime, I'll be doing some Google Searches, etc. to see what I can find.

Thanks, FRiend!

Have a cup while you FReep !

[blam]

Explorer From China Who Beat Columbus To America

[blam]

A Short History Of The Eskimos

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks, FRiend ! Here's a "reminder to self" bump to come back Manana for
review.....

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for the links. I bumped your article and saved the Eskimo one on
my favs.

[#3Fan]

Oldest skeleton only 10,500 years old...hmmm...and only three found to boot. Interesting in light of possible crustal displacement.

[blam]

"Oldest skeleton only 10,500 years old...hmmm...and only three found to boot. Interesting in light of possible crustal displacement."

They'll find many more now that they know to keep digging right through the 'Clovis Barrier.'

[Thommas]

The only thing not unusual is that she voted for Gore 3 times in the last election.....

[#3Fan]

They'll find many more now that they know to keep digging right through the 'Clovis Barrier.'

Speaking of crustal displacement, have you been keeping up with the activities at Lake Vostok in Antarctica?

[blam]

"Speaking of crustal displacement, have you been keeping up with the activities at Lake Vostok in Antarctica?"

Yup. I expect they will eventually contaminate it. (accidently)

[donozark]

A Sunday morning bump for you.

[#3Fan]

Yup. I expect they will eventually contaminate it. (accidently)

Amazing it's 65 degrees. I wonder who's living in it? :^)

[blam]

"Amazing it's 65 degrees. I wonder who's< living in it? :^)

Who's? Don't go flaky on me, ahem. They do expect (eventually) to find some unusual life there.

[maxwell]

only the third human skeleton in North America that dates back at least 10,000 years.

ZOWIE! That's pretty cool sh!t, bro! Close to Houston, right? I don't know much about carbon dating other than the basic exponential form of the equation that describes it, N(t) = N0 exp(-at), I know folks have had questions about its reliability and whatnot...

PDO, that's what I'd call it. Pretty Damn OLD. ;)

[TX Bluebonnet]

There were a bunch of old graves found in April in Victoria County, TX by the Army Corps of Engineers widening the Victoria Barge Canal near the local DuPont Plant. Everything is still in limbo as far as I know while everyone wrings their hands together over what to do.

They mention consulting with 3 tribes, but the local Native Americans were Karankawas, and as far as I know, there are no organized descendents of the tribe. I didn't really understand why Native American Indians would have jurisdiction over prehistoric artifacts.

Following is an article from the Victoria Advocate, if anyone is interested.

Ancient remains are waiting for decision
The Victoria Advocate
By: DAVID TEWES

No decision has been made on what to do with the human remains discovered in Victoria County at one of the oldest and largest archaeological sites in North America, but a federal official said she hopes to have an answer for the public in four or five months.

Archaeologist Janelle Stokes with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said that agency is continuing to work with representatives of Native American tribes, archaeologists and others to come up with a recommendation.

``We're hoping to put a first proposal in front of all of the interested parties sometime in May and work on that with all of the groups,'' she said. ``We're hoping to have a formal recommendation from the agency by the end of the summer.''

Stokes said the corps is working with the DuPont plant, which owns the property, and hopefully the two will come up with a mutually agreeable decision.

Spokeswoman Amy Hodges with DuPont said the company doesn't want to rush into a decision. ``The dialogue taking place is very important,'' she said. ``When you're looking at what's the right thing to do, you don't want to rush that process.''

The archaeological dig was done for the corps of engineers as part of the project to widen and deepen the Victoria Barge Canal. While the improvements only affected a small portion of the site, which contained no human remains, a corps official has said it's standard operating procedure to examine the entire site.

The excavation produced a large collection of artifacts from 1,000 to 12,000 years old. A prehistoric cemetery dating from 6,300 to 7,500 years ago was also found, and about 79 burials were discovered there.

Stokes said there are likely other burials, but the corps stopped the excavation because it felt enough information was already available.

Archaeologists and historians are concerned that the unearthed remains and artifacts will be reburied without further study. They said that would rob them of the chance to investigate what they consider an important chapter in the history of early man.

While the corps will make a recommendation based on public input about what should be done with the remains and artifacts, the final decision rests with DuPont because it owns the land.

Hodges said that as property owner, the company is involved because it is the steward of the land on which the remains and artifacts were found.

``We don't believe we own human remains,'' she said. ``No one owns human remains. We're supporting the corps process because it's bringing in opinions of diverse parties.''

Both Hodges and Stokes said the Society for American Archaeology, the Council of Texas Archaeologists and the Texas Archaeological Society are also being consulted as part of the decision-making process.

``They represent the opinions of professional and avocation archaeologists,'' Stokes said. ``We have had a meeting with them and they are advising us of their recommendations and on the significance of the site, and the archeological analyses they think should be performed.''

But she added that's just one side of the issue. Stokes said the corps is also talking with the Native Americans, the state historic preservation officer and other individuals.

She said the corps will conduct another meeting with the Native Americans in May.

Stokes said representatives from three tribes that attended a meeting with the corps in Victoria earlier this year agreed the remains should be reburied. But she said opinions varied on how much, if any, study should be done.

David Tewes is a reporter for The Victoria Advocate. Contact him by e-mail at dtewes@vicad.com. Originally published on: April 25, 2002 on page 1A.

[blam]

"I didn't really understand why Native American Indians would have jurisdiction over prehistoric artifacts."

It is erroeously(sp) believed that the Indians alive today are the descendents of all who came before. This is clearly not the case and the PC BS allowed legislation to be passed to that affect.

They (the Indians) reburied Buhl Woman, probably a relative of Kennewick Man, before any study could be done. This is an outrage. There weren't any Indians (as we know them today) in North America prior to 6,000 years ago.

[painter]

HEY.

That looks like the guy who played Jeann Luc-Picard (Patric Steward) in Star Trek Next Generation.