Archaeologica.org

http://www.athenapub.com/topper.htm

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In November 2004, Archaeologist Albert Goodyear of the University of South Carolina surprised scholars throughout the world with the claim that at the Topper site on the Savannah River, a layer containing stone artifacts and carbonized plant remains yielded radiocarbon dates from at least 50,000 years BP. This dating is far earlier than any other known Paleoindian sites in North or South America, with the exception of Pedra Furada, a group of rock shelters in eastern Brazil whose lowest levels are controversially dated at 48,000 years BP or greater (AR 3,2). If the dating at Topper is confirmed, this would be the earliest evidence of human presence on the North American continent, and the history of the original spread of Homo sapiens to the Americas would have to be largely rewritten.

This is from a couple of years ago but the info. is still quite timely.

Don't forget to look for fossilized head lice.

Minimalist wrote:Don't forget to look for fossilized head lice.

It's on the top of my list

Actually fleas don't have an endoskeleton, so I won't see any. They could be preserved in amber though. Chances are that I won't see anything but dirt. Fortunately, I'm no stranger to camping in the boonies.

Don't forget to look for fossilized head lice.

Sounds like a blast, Beag. Just remember, you have just as good of odds of uncovering a killer artifact as anyone else...unless you're on latrine duty.

Make sure and tell Big Al hey for all of us. We're rooting for him!! And you too, now!!

Sounds like a blast, Beag. Just remember, you have just as good of odds of uncovering a killer artifact as anyone else...unless you're on latrine duty.

Make sure and tell Big Al hey for all of us. We're rooting for him!! And you too, now!!

Alright, Beags. While on latrine duty make sure to scout around for fossilized fecal matter also. Don't mess around with the new, post-Clovis crap. The really old shit can give us clues to their diet as well as keeping you occupied at the same time since "an idle mind is the devil's workshop"!

And remember to tell Big Al that:

(1) We have hand axes and he doesn't,
(2) Our artifacts are nicer than his, and
(3) We can make jokes while he has to be serious.

Good luck being invited back!

And remember to tell Big Al that:

(1) We have hand axes and he doesn't,
(2) Our artifacts are nicer than his, and
(3) We can make jokes while he has to be serious.

Beags, since you are sacrificing yourself for science I thought you could use a little help while at Topper. I am recruiting the following girls to be your assistants while there:



Just tell your wife that they will be working with you in the furtherance of archaeological knowledge in North America. She'll understand, trust me.

I'm here to help.

I can almost guarantee you, none of those girls ever had 'dirt beneath their nails'.

They sure as hell don't look like they'd appreciate latrine duty.

They sure as hell don't look like they'd appreciate latrine duty.

Yeah ... but I bet they'd be great at mud wrestling!

Just tell your wife that they will be working with you

My wife is registered to go too. I just got a letter of confirmation.

I'm happy to hear that they have parking for RVs. That was a question I had. It's sounding better all the time.

And they have bathroom facilities, so I'm out of that job. We'll see.
There will be lots of pics.

Got your note Cogs.

http://www.cgcas.org/topper01.htm

This link is posted only for the pics. It's several years old but, through the pics, illustrates the nuts and bolts of the excavation.

My wife is registered to go too. I just got a letter of confirmation.

I'm happy to hear that they have parking for RVs. That was a question I had. It's sounding better all the time.

And they have bathroom facilities, so I'm out of that job. We'll see.
There will be lots of pics.

Now, hold on! Just because they have bathroom facilities doesn't mean that you're necessarily out of the latrine job, alright? I'll call Big Al to see what I can do in that regard. Further, I'm glad you're taking your RV since the gals and I will need a place to sleep ... your master bedroom should do just fine, thank you.

Please tell me you're bringing a generator since we'll want to party all night and tunes are mandatory. I'll bring a tent for you since you'll need to stay outside because of the smell. This seems like a fun time for all of us and I appreciate your invitation!

Please tell me you're bringing a generator

It's a built in 4,000 watt generator with an on/off button in the cabin.
It's loaded like you wouldn't believe. I have always said I camped a lot - I never said I "roughed it".

About you staying in it? - read some of my posts in Firearms Archaeology.

http://www.spaceguarduk.com/news.htm

Near the bays, in South Carolina, the team has also been looking for evidence at a Clovis site known as Topper. Clovis points are abundant in this region. But Albert Goodyear, an archaeologist at the University of South Carolina at Columbia, will report in Acapulco that there was a sharp decline in Clovis points at Topper during the Younger Dryas. This, the team argues, is evidence that at that time humans went through some sort of population collapse. But other archaeologists say they have no evidence of a similar decline in other Palaeoindian populations; even as the Clovis culture was disappearing, other cultures arose in its place, for reasons not entirely understood

Hi Gang, I'm back. I am tired and have a lot of road on me, but I wanted to get this info here ASAP.

Read the first post on this site to find out what is coming out of Acapulco this next week. I was lucky enough to be at the same table with Al Goodyear on Tues. night (not really, as Dr. Goodyear made a point of meeting all the "newbies"), and he talked about this new theory being presented. Not all of it is new - it's just fitting in with other puzzle pieces.

Topper was great. I'll be posting some pics and info soon. Everyone that possibly can should go next year.

One more thing: Charlie, Cogs, et al, I saw an artifact slowly come out of the excavation pit that I was working. From the time that the brush uncovered about a quarter size portion of it. Yes - there are hand axes in North America. The two archaeologists who removed it call it the "Topper Chopper". I hope the pics turned out.

G'night.