Headlight-Herald, Tillamook,iOre., Wed., September 6, 1989 - Pagé A? - . DIGGING UP ARTIFACTS Students in two archaeology classes - from Mt. Hood and Tillamook Bay Community Colleges dig up artifacts, left, from a trench next to the Wilson River on private land near the mouth. At right is a mammal's tooth that was found in the trench. Students, below, carefully sift through the dirt from the trench. The classes joined in the county for a field exploration under the guidance of Dr. John Woodward, archaeologist at Mt. Hood C.C., who is on the left side above the trench. (H-H photos by Carl Anderson) was,“ s.- Local archaeological dig turns up artifacts by Carl Anderson woman brings two small, finely shaped rocks to the archaeologist, carefully palming them, her hands grimy, perspiration beading on her brow from the labor in the trench. ' Dr. John Woodward looks at the pieces, turning them over and over, expertly eyeing the shape, and the type rock. "This one probably is the end of a knife," he says, “and this one an arrowhead." The woman puts the two pieces in a plastic sandwich baggie, deposits the bag among others in a growing pile, then returns to her labors, along with about two dozen other students. .. Woodward goes from one group of diggers and ‘sifters to another. answering questions, inspecting artifacts that the rich riverside soil yields to the shovels 21nd sifting screens. ’4 He is in his element, which is anyplace where i‘artifacts can be found, whether it be next to a river or on a mountainside. Woodward, who teaches archaeology at Mt. Hood Community College, came to Tillamook County the last ’two weeks and conducted a field class for students at Mt. Hood and Tillamook Bay Community Colleges. NVoodward said Wayne Jensen, director of the W Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, invited him to the county. The artifacts found in the county by Woodward and his students were handed over to Pioneer Museum- The first site for the field class was on private land on Nehalem Bay, Woodward said. He explained that the archaeological dig there did not yield many artifacts, although small pieces of beeswax were found underground, which also were given to the Pioneer gas-:14” Mayer‘wwhwflu The second site was along the Wilson River near the mouth, on private land, with permission given for they dig by the owner, Woodward emphasized. Many arrowheads were found at the river site, and have been found at other sites in the general area, indicating hunting was important, he added. Other than rock tools and arrowheads, the river site yielded old salmon bones and thousands of bay mussel shells, which indicate there was a different environment in the area then, he noted. Along withractual artifacts, finds like the fish bones and shells give environmental information on what type of food was eaten and where the bay may have been located in past centuries, Woodward said. He noted that natives who lived at [the site may have abandoned it for any number of reasons, or perhaps were decimated by disease. One of the diggers made an exciting find of a large fang in the trench dug by the river, and Woodward said it could be a bear’s tooth, or possibly from a sea mammal, adding that later tests would establish the origin more precisely. The trench is about five feet deep and 30 feet long, with students keeping track of artifacts in relation to the layer beneath the surface in which they are found. The layers are dug at every 10 or 20 centimeters, with the soil put into buckets then carefully sifted. The five-foot depth probably is where the original ground line was, Woodward said. Woodward said the Nehalem Bay site probably was active in the 16005, because of the beeswax find, and the Wilson River site may have been active 1,000 or more years ago, “as a ballpark figure.” He stressed that his archaeology classes have “very little actual classroom time,” with most of the time being spent in the field as a “hands-on scientific archaeological experience.” Woodward emphasized that given the recent attention given to treasure hunting in the area — he wants the public to know his activities are oriented on archaeological artifacts, for public knowledge and use, such as in the Pioneer Museum. 'I O1 BOOKSHOP teammate? * COLLECTOR'S ITEMS 'k LE. LOCAL AMETHYST. Open7Days-9AM.-6P.M. 10958. Hwy 101 macaw-3m Announcing money-saving news for State Farm drivers 50 and over. State Farm Mutual policyholders 50 and over who have no unmarried drivers under 25 in their household will now be getting a break on the cost of their car insurance. If you're 50 or over, call and see if you quality. 304 Nestucca - Tillamook 842-2771 run run Like a gourl neighbor, State Farm is thcrc. .mu...k._ State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company Home Office: Bloomingtonn, llllnois , OCR Text: Headlight-Herald, Tillamook,iOre., Wed., September 6, 1989 - Pagé A? - . DIGGING UP ARTIFACTS Students in two archaeology classes - from Mt. Hood and Tillamook Bay Community Colleges dig up artifacts, left, from a trench next to the Wilson River on private land near the mouth. At right is a mammal's tooth that was found in the trench. Students, below, carefully sift through the dirt from the trench. The classes joined in the county for a field exploration under the guidance of Dr. John Woodward, archaeologist at Mt. Hood C.C., who is on the left side above the trench. (H-H photos by Carl Anderson) was,“ s.- Local archaeological dig turns up artifacts by Carl Anderson woman brings two small, finely shaped rocks to the archaeologist, carefully palming them, her hands grimy, perspiration beading on her brow from the labor in the trench. ' Dr. John Woodward looks at the pieces, turning them over and over, expertly eyeing the shape, and the type rock. "This one probably is the end of a knife," he says, “and this one an arrowhead." The woman puts the two pieces in a plastic sandwich baggie, deposits the bag among others in a growing pile, then returns to her labors, along with about two dozen other students. .. Woodward goes from one group of diggers and ‘sifters to another. answering questions, inspecting artifacts that the rich riverside soil yields to the shovels 21nd sifting screens. ’4 He is in his element, which is anyplace where i‘artifacts can be found, whether it be next to a river or on a mountainside. Woodward, who teaches archaeology at Mt. Hood Community College, came to Tillamook County the last ’two weeks and conducted a field class for students at Mt. Hood and Tillamook Bay Community Colleges. NVoodward said Wayne Jensen, director of the W Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, invited him to the county. The artifacts found in the county by Woodward and his students were handed over to Pioneer Museum- The first site for the field class was on private land on Nehalem Bay, Woodward said. He explained that the archaeological dig there did not yield many artifacts, although small pieces of beeswax were found underground, which also were given to the Pioneer gas-:14” Mayer‘wwhwflu The second site was along the Wilson River near the mouth, on private land, with permission given for they dig by the owner, Woodward emphasized. Many arrowheads were found at the river site, and have been found at other sites in the general area, indicating hunting was important, he added. Other than rock tools and arrowheads, the river site yielded old salmon bones and thousands of bay mussel shells, which indicate there was a different environment in the area then, he noted. Along withractual artifacts, finds like the fish bones and shells give environmental information on what type of food was eaten and where the bay may have been located in past centuries, Woodward said. He noted that natives who lived at [the site may have abandoned it for any number of reasons, or perhaps were decimated by disease. One of the diggers made an exciting find of a large fang in the trench dug by the river, and Woodward said it could be a bear’s tooth, or possibly from a sea mammal, adding that later tests would establish the origin more precisely. The trench is about five feet deep and 30 feet long, with students keeping track of artifacts in relation to the layer beneath the surface in which they are found. The layers are dug at every 10 or 20 centimeters, with the soil put into buckets then carefully sifted. The five-foot depth probably is where the original ground line was, Woodward said. Woodward said the Nehalem Bay site probably was active in the 16005, because of the beeswax find, and the Wilson River site may have been active 1,000 or more years ago, “as a ballpark figure.” He stressed that his archaeology classes have “very little actual classroom time,” with most of the time being spent in the field as a “hands-on scientific archaeological experience.” Woodward emphasized that given the recent attention given to treasure hunting in the area — he wants the public to know his activities are oriented on archaeological artifacts, for public knowledge and use, such as in the Pioneer Museum. 'I O1 BOOKSHOP teammate? * COLLECTOR'S ITEMS 'k LE. LOCAL AMETHYST. Open7Days-9AM.-6P.M. 10958. Hwy 101 macaw-3m Announcing money-saving news for State Farm drivers 50 and over. State Farm Mutual policyholders 50 and over who have no unmarried drivers under 25 in their household will now be getting a break on the cost of their car insurance. If you're 50 or over, call and see if you quality. 304 Nestucca - Tillamook 842-2771 run run Like a gourl neighbor, State Farm is thcrc. .mu...k._ State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company Home Office: Bloomingtonn, llllnois , Nehalem Valley Historical Society,Under Construction,August 2023 Shipment Scans,Misc. Folder 2,Dr. John Woodward local dig archaeologist circa 1989, pics and clippings of local dig and other similars,P01 (9).tif, P01 (9).tif