Wednesday, March 26, 2014

  
These two points were the archaeological pride and joy of Raymond E. Scott (Sue's father). He had learned to love surface collecting artifacts, having been introduced to the hobby by his father-in-law, Pete Wylie. On April 11, 1970, Ray found these two points at a site called McAllister Springs near the town of Sweet Springs, MO. (I am sure I heard the story at least a hundred times.) Ray saw the tips of the two points sticking out of the ground right next to each other and he picked them up at the same time using one hand.

J. E. Wylie, Ray's brother-in-law (Pete's son) was the Head Forester for the Missouri Department on Conservation and also an artifact collector. He attempted to use his knowledge of sciences within the state of Missouri to have these points formally documented and recorded, but he never found the proper people who were interested in such information. I tried on a couple of occasions over the years as well, without success. Finally in 2014, I did come across the correct person to get the ball rolling. His name is Dr. Michael J. O'Brian, author of The Prehistory of Missouri (University of Missouri Press 1998). Dr. O'Brian is currently the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Missouri and the Director of the Museum of Anthropology there.

Following is a correspondence chain started with Dr. O'Brian. I hope family will find this adds interesting details to the Scott family legacy.

From: Jim Eilers
Organization: Jim Eilers
Date: Monday, March 3, 2014 12:26 AM
To: "OBrien, Michael J. (A&S Dean)"
Subject: Saline County Eden Point

Dr. O’Brien

Sorry to trouble you, but I am having a dickens of a time trying to find the right contact to formally report a piece found in your state which I think might be significant.

This point I believe to be an Eden was surface collected simultaneously with a Dalton point…both are (I think) Burlington formation chert

I would be pleased to share the specific location where these two points were collected if I knew to whom to report them.

I am contacting you because I recently acquired a copy of your Prehistory of Missouri.  The Dalton point seems to have peers in your text, but the Eden seems to be quite rare.

I’d appreciate a leg up getting these pieces in front of the proper person to have them recorded.

Thanks,

Jim Eilers
Villa Park, IL

On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 8:02 AM, OBrien, Michael J. (A&S Dean) wrote:
Hi, Jim; thanks for writing.  I have to tell you, that point is GREAT!  Most of us would call it a Scottsbluff point, but honestly, there's no real difference between those long, thin Scottsbluffs and Eden points except for the flaking pattern.  On Edens, you see ultra fine flake removal from each edge, with the flake scars terminating in the middle of the point and setting up a longitudinal ridge.  I'm attaching two photos that will show this.  On Scottsbluffs, the end product is more or less the same, but the flaking pattern is different.

As for recording the site, if you would like to send in a map that has it plotted, we can record it.  Once that's done, I'll ask one of the people who does that for me to get the site form back to you so that you can add more information.

I sure am glad you wrote, Jim; those points are just beautiful.  Mike

On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 10:10 AM, Jim Eilers wrote:
Mike,

Thank you for your prompt reply. Whether Scottsbluff or Eden, it is a real thrill to hold something so very ancient and so very finely crafted.

I married into a family and became the third generation of amateur archaeologists. My wife's grandfather, a grocer from Sweet Springs loved to walk cultivated fields and collect "arrowheads". It was also common knowledge among area children that Mr Pete would give you a candy bar if you brought him a arrowhead at his store.

The Scottsbluff and Dalton were collected before my time in the family, but if I heard the story once I heard it a hundred times. The pieces were sticking out of the ground point first and my father-in-law literally picked them up at the same time with one hand. The points were found April 11, 1970.

These were collected on private property adjacent to the McAllister Springs Access just off of County Highway K near Sweet Springs in Saline County. There is a skeleton of an old bridge across the Blackwater River there. The points were found not far from the north end of the old bridge. I am attaching a screen cap from Google Maps with the location of the find indicated. Here is the Google Maps link

https://www.google.com/maps/place/McAllister+Springs+Access/@38.9494201,-93.3471,212m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x87c3be0fefd0b48b:0xf33c4c01c7559c30

I am also including a second view from Maps that shows a large Archaic site nearby where the family collected over the years.

FYI....in the early 80's I was the President of the LaCrosse Area Archaeological Society in Wisconsin where I worked with Dr Jim Gallagher...perhaps you are acquainted.

I am pleased to find a proper home for this information. Thank you again for you interest and courtesy.

Regards,

Jim


Boldt, Jessica Lynn
Mar 20

to james.eilers
Hello Jim,

My name is Jessica Boldt and I manage the Archaeological Survey of Missouri (ASM).  Dean O’Brien sent me the information you provided about a few points and where they were collected.  The location actually looks to be a previously recorded site, the McAllister Bridge site - 23SA206.  Interestingly, it was recorded just a little over a month after your points were found.  I added your pictures and information to the ASM site file and database.  I have also attached a copy of the site form in case you would like to look at it.  It includes some pictures of the old bridge across the Blackwater River.

Thank you! Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.

--
Jessica Boldt
MU-Museum of Anthropology
Assistant Museum Curator