Underwater expedition finds evidence for early Americans ...

[Ishtar]

... with prehistoric river systems and chert for toolmaking, offshore from Tampa.

In one of the more dramatic moments of an underwater archaeological survey co-led by Mercyhurst College archaeologist James Adovasio along Florida's Gulf Coast this summer, Andy Hemmings stood on an inundated river's edge where man hasn't set foot in more than 13,000 years.

Donning full scuba gear, Hemmings stood in 130 feet of water on a peninsula at the intersection of two ancient rivers nearly 100 miles offshore from Tampa. The last time humans could have stood in that spot, mammoth and mastodon roamed the terrain.

"The successful tracking of the St. Marks-Aucilla River and the Suwannee River, between 50 and 150 kilometers respectively, represents what we believe to be the most extensive delineation of submerged prehistoric river systems ever done anywhere in the world," Adovasio said.

Another pivotal find is the identification of chert at three dive sites along the river systems; chert is a superior quality fine-grained stone used by prehistoric peoples to make tools.

"There is no doubt," Adovasio said, "that we have found the haystacks and are one step closer to uncovering the archaeological needles," in effect, narrowing the search for evidence of early Americans in the now submerged Inner Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida coast.

Hemmings, one of the leading Paleoindian underwater archaeologists in North America, agreed. "My feeling is, given a little time to probe the sediments with a dredge, we will quickly find human artifacts." ...

..."Proof of past human habitation here would reinforce the disintegration of the once prevalent hypothesis about who the first Americans were, how they got here and when they arrived," said Adovasio, who rose to fame 30 years ago while excavating the Meadowcroft Rockshelter near Pittsburgh, Pa.

More here

[Minimalist]

Good find, Ish!

[Ishtar]

Yeah ... we'd been keeping an eye on it, over on the Gate.

[jw1815]

An online newsletter from Mercyhurst staff (sorry, didn't save the link) says they'll release a more complete report later in Sept. at a conference.

Speaking of Adovasio, has anybody read his book, First Americans, In Pursuit of Archaeology’s Greatest Mystery? Wasn’t aware of it until I stumbled on it while doing a search.

This link has an excerpt from the first chapter. Click on the link for "read an excerpt" under the photo of the book. Looks like a good read.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/bookse ... ovasio#EXC

[E.P. Grondine]

Investigating the quarries is a real good idea, but with a dredge they will have nothing datable.

Perhaps they should be looking for fishing sites near the river's mouths, or kill sites for game.

[Rokcet Scientist]

Hi Ish! Good to see you again!

[Leona Conner]

An online newsletter from Mercyhurst staff (sorry, didn't save the link) says they'll release a more complete report later in Sept. at a conference.

Speaking of Adovasio, has anybody read his book, First Americans, In Pursuit of Archaeology’s Greatest Mystery? Wasn’t aware of it until I stumbled on it while doing a search.

This link has an excerpt from the first chapter. Click on the link for "read an excerpt" under the photo of the book. Looks like a good read.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/bookse ... ovasio#EXC

I have the book and found it a very interesting read. Highly recommend it to anyone interested in the subject of First Americans.

[jw1815]

Thanks, Leona.

The writing sytle in the first chapter excerpt is lively, entertaining, and informative all at once. If the rest of the book maintains that style, I'm sure I'll enjoy it as well as learn from it.

[Leona Conner]

I have one other book by Adovasio and have found his writing to be quite lively.

[jw1815]

What's the title, and topic?

I've followed some of Adovasio's work through TV interviews and newspaper and magazine articles. But, never read a book by him.

[Leona Conner]

It's called "The Invisible Sex" and came out in '07. It's about the role women in prehistory played in the evolution of our culture. He talks about how much of what women made were soft artifacts (weaving, basket making, etc.) that didn't survive. I could go on and on, but read the book for yourself, I think you will find it very educating as well as entertaining.
Don't write it off, just because it's about women. Someone has finally given us credit for having brains back then.

[jw1815]

Don't write it off, just because it's about women.

I wouldn't write it off for any reason. Since Adovasio's specialty is weaving and textiles, I imagine that he has some good information on the subject.

[Leona Conner]

Don't write it off, just because it's about women.

I wouldn't write it off for any reason. Since Adovasio's specialty is weaving and textiles, I imagine that he has some good information on the subject.

Maybe I should have put a smiley face after that statement as I meant it rather tongue-in-cheek. I was raised in Los Angeles and now live in the south. I was amazed to discover that there are still men who think women are without brains and shouldn't try to think. Other than babies we contribute nothing to society.

[kbs2244]

Best advice I ever heard was
“Keep them pregnant, barefoot, and on the outskirts of town.”

The whole country started going to hell when Henry Ford sold Model T pick up trucks to farmers.
The farmers would teach their wives to drive so they could go into town to get parts for the busted tractor while he kept working on it.
Now that women were in town without their husbands to hold them in check the store owners started putting dress’s in the windows instead of tools.
Pretty soon the women thought that because they could spend money on their own they should be allowed to vote.
Now we have malls, the Shopping network and a retarded female third in line from the Presidency.

Blasted Henry Ford!

[Minimalist]

You're still single, eh kb?