The AACA Magazine- Volume 7 Issue 2

Volume Number 7 Issue Number 2

Summer/Fall 2009

THE AACA MAGAZINE

Christopher Columbus and New World Explorations Edition

http://www.theaaca.com/aaca/index.php

AACA MAGAZINE

Authentic Artifacts Collectors Association, Inc. www.theaaca.com Volume Number 7 Issue Number 2 Summer/Fall 2009

On the Cover

This fine group of points were found by AACA

member Steve

Table of Contents

Presidents Message, From The Editor Pg 1

Director Retirements Pg 2

Meet Your New Board Members Pg 3-4

Christopher Columbus and the New World Pg 5-10

The Taino Pg 11-13

The Boat That Opened the New World Pg14-15

In Situ Section Pg 16-23

Animal In Situs Pg 24-30

Editor Steve Stangland

Design & Layout by Robert J Dills

http://www.theaaca.com/

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From the President’s Desk

Just a quick note to all AACA members to bring everyone up-to-date on some recent minor changes in the

wording of the AACA Rules. Rule #4 has been clarified to pertain to all sales, "without exception" in

offering the AACA guarantee. There had been some misunderstanding but this should clarify that all sales are

covered. Also, Rule #12 has been clarified to apply to the optional eBay private auction/private

feedback features, which are not permitted. There had been some question as to this issue.

I'd also like to thank all of our members that helped to make Expo 09 in Kentucky another wonderful show.

We had almost a full house of exquisite displays and hundreds of interested collectors in attendance. A fine

meal of catfish and fixins was enjoyed by members on Saturday night at the Expo. Please put the third

weekend in July of 2010 on your calendar for Expo 10!

Membership enrollment in our Association continues to steadily grow. A big welcome to all of our new

members! Please do not overlook all of the resources on the AACA website that are only available to you by

logging on to the site first. There is a lifetime of reading there, plus the Members Forum for continuing

conversations and questions. The AACA is here to educate and help collectors of ancient Native American

artifacts.

Have a fine Fall hunt,

Cliff Jackson

AACA President

From the Editor’s Desk

This issue features articles that concern “Christopher Columbus and New World Explorations.” To be

perfectly honest, we had hoped that the membership would send us more articles than what we received.

Nevertheless, this issue of the AACA Magazine includes three articles that center around New World

explorations. One of the articles has enough length to provide the magazine with plenty of “meat and

substance.” If it‟s too much for you to read in one sitting, we encourage you to make several visits! This

historically interesting article was written by recently-retired Director Steve Puttera.

The next issue will represent more of a “potpourri” of submissions. So those of you who have sent in articles

that are not “Christopher Columbus related” will probably see your articles in the next issue of the magazine.

Please continue to send us short or medium-length articles about your personal artifact adventures or anything

else you might want to write that is related to Native American culture. Because this is an on-line magazine,

articles get more attention when they include one or more pictures.

Do not forget to take your camera along on your hunting trips. We always need and welcome in situ pictures –

as long as they fall into the category of being “above average.” Besides artifact in situs, the present issue

includes a section of in situ animal pictures. If this experiment is well received, we will try to continue it.

This, of course, relies on you, the membership, to send us pictures of those cute little insects and animals that

you capture on film while in the field!

Welcome to the fall issue. We hope you enjoy it!

AACA MAGAZINE



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DIRECTOR RETIREMENTS

Matt Rowe

We would like to thank our former Webmaster and Director, Matt Rowe, who retired from his

AACA directorship in May of 2009. Matt provided his wisdom and leadership to the AACA for

many years. His contributions to the artifact collecting world are much appreciated by many.

As Matt is now the curator at the Museum of Native American Artifacts in Bentonville,

Arkansas, he certainly has his hands full of wonderful artifacts. We wish him the very best in his

future.

Steve Puttera

The AACA also thanks Steve Puttera for his

service while on the association‟s Board of

Directors. It has been a true pleasure to work

with him the past several years. Steve has been

an avid long-time collector of artifacts from

both Ohio and abroad. While Steve goes back

to focusing on his collections from Ohio and

Costa Rica, we will miss his regular input and

wish him well.

Director Puttera at the July 2008 AACA Expo in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky

Entrance to Museum of Native American Artifacts, Bentonville, Arkansas - Curator: Matt Rowe


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Meet Your Three New Directors

In the last year several members retired from the service of the AACA Board of Directors. For

a number of months the Board has searched for dedicated and qualified collectors who would

be willing to spend some of their extra time in furthering the goals of the AACA. The AACA

Board of Directors is proud to announce that we have elected three new members to the Board.

We are especially delighted that the thirteen-member Board now has two members of the

“fairer sex!” The three new Board members are individuals who love the out-of-doors and are

especially dedicated to the hobby. Now they want to help in bettering the hobby for YOU -

our 3200 members. Because they will be working for you, we want you to meet them!

Robert Whalen

I'm a life long resident of the Great Lakes state of Michigan. My wife Lori and I have been

together for nearly 30 years now and are proud parents of three daughters and grandparents of

two grandsons and one granddaughter. Together we operate an on-line artifact business at

www.whalens-artifacts.com. As some of you may be aware of, on eBay we operate as

“whalens-artifacts.”

I began collecting artifacts at

a young age when my great

grandmother gave me my

first arrowhead which she

had found as a child. From

that day on the interest in

Native American artifacts

and their history only

grew. I must add I'm very

lucky to have a wife who

enjoys these ancient relics as

much as I do!

Primarily, I collect hard-

stone relics but enjoy all

types of artifacts from

historic to pre-historic. My

hobbies are hunting, fishing,

landscaping, gardening, and

of course relic collecting!


http://www.whalens-artifacts.com/

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Kathy Shelton

Kathy Shelton was born and raised in

western Kentucky. She is happily

married with one child and her

interests range from cooking to

medieval torture devices! Since so

much of her life growing up on the

family farm included looking at dirt,

it was only natural that she

developed an interest in some of the

things you might find there. She has

collected Native American artifacts

for the last decade (or so) and is

enjoying learning about what she has

found. Most days find her in the

garden, where she raises food for her

family and for sale to others. Kathy

looks forward to serving on the

AACA Board of Directors.

Aaron Kilander

I was born in 1974 and live in

northwest Indiana. I have been

collecting and going to shows since I

was a kid. Because my father was

taking me surface hunting in Indiana

and cave digging in Missouri since

elementary school, I have pretty

much grown up around relics and the

hobby. Over the years I‟ve been

fortunate to meet a lot of good

people, see a lot of nice relics, and

learn a lot along the way. Nice slate

is our primary focus, but we still

collect other things, including flint

and stone primarily from the Central

States area, as well as relics from

Florida, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

We also collect some Pre-Columbian

items.


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Christopher Columbus

and

The New World By Steve Puttera

Christoforo Colombo was born in or near Genoa, Italy in 1441 or 1442. He was born into a fairly well-

to-do family of weavers and clothiers. From the early 1470‟s onwards he became engaged in seagoing

expeditions, mainly in the Mediterranean, but he made at least one excursion to the far North Atlantic and at

least one voyage to the Atlantic coast of tropical Africa. It was during these travels that Columbus learned the

basics of navigation.

Columbus married the daughter of a nobleman in the late 1470‟s and a son, Diego, was born to them

around 1480 on the Island of Madeira, a Portuguese possession. His wife, Felipa, died in 1485. Another son,

Ferdinand, was fathered out of wedlock in 1488.

In 1484 Columbus proposed to the king of Portugal his plan to seek the Orient by way of a western

voyage, but he received no interest in such a foolhardy scheme and was turned down. He proposed the same

plan to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain around 1487 and they finally accepted his proposal in

January of 1492, agreeing to all his terms.

Columbus went to Palos, Spain, to put together ships and crews for the venture. Here he met the

Pinzon family, a prosperous group with considerable local status and maritime experience. They were a great

asset in securing his ships and crew. With ninety men, they set sail on August 3, 1492, with Columbus being

Admiral of the fleet.


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First Voyage

August 3, 1492 to March 15, 1493

Everyone knows that Columbus sailed with three vessels: the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. The Santa

Maria, Columbus‟ first flagship, was classed as a “nao” (ship, carrack) and was considerably larger than the

other two, which were classed as caravels. The caravels were much swifter and maneuverable than the larger

cargo ship, and much better suited for the forthcoming duties around shallow water areas with their less weight

and draft. Of the three vessels, the Nina was the Admiral‟s favorite and it is said that during this and two other

voyages that he logged 25,000 miles on her. Vincente Yanez Pinzon captained the Nina; his brother, Martin

Alonso Pinzon, was the captain of the Pinta. The fleet departed Spain on August 3, 1492.

Columbus and the captains of the two caravels went ashore on “San Salvador” to find it well populated with

native people. Columbus states in his journal that the people all went about naked, but many had their faces

and bodies painted in colors of black or red. From his journal entry of Saturday, October 13, he states: “In the

early morning many of the islanders came to the beach, all young, as I have said, tall and handsome, their hair

not curly but flowing and thick, like horsehair. They are all broader in the forehead and head than any people I

have ever seen, with fine large eyes, none of them is black; they are rather the same color as the folk in the

Canary Islands.” He also states that many came out to his anchored ships in dugout canoes, some being large

enough to carry forty or fifty men; others smaller, with only one man.

The Indians of the Bahamas, and indeed all whom Columbus encountered on his first voyage belonged

to the so-called “Taino” culture of the Arawak language group. “Taino,” in the native language, meant

“good,” “prudent,” or “noble.” Their ancestors had immigrated to the Antilles from the mainland of South

America, and within a few centuries of Columbus‟ voyage, had branched out to populate Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica

and the Bahamas, pushing back or enslaving an earlier and more primitive tribe known as the Siboney. The

Tainos were fairly advanced in civilization, growing corn, squash, yams and other roots, making Cassava

bread from yucca, spinning and weaving cotton, making a fine brown pottery adorned with grotesque heads,

and creating a myriad of various ornaments and utensils of wood and shell. They also created many fine celts

and effigy forms from stone.

After running south to the

Canary Islands, the fleet ran a

westerly course until making

landfall on October 12 at one of

the Bahamian Islands, which

the naked inhabitants called

“Guanahani.” Columbus named

this island “San Salvador.” The

trip has taken almost two and a

half months. There have been at

least ten proposed landfall

locations, with no actual proof

as to exactly which island it

was. Watling Island, Samana

Cay, and the Plana Cays are the

most likely candidates.


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They lived in huts made of wooden frames and palm thatch. The broad, low foreheads that Columbus

remarked about were due to “cradle boarding,” a process of artificially flattening the skulls of infants, by

pressing them between boards. Let it also be said that these people were excellent mariners and powerful

swimmers, and exploited all of the marine resources they had at hand. They also supplemented their diet by

hunting birds, various reptiles such as iguanas, turtles, snakes and a small forest rodent called a “hutia.” They

also raised and ate a small, barkless, domesticated dog. The manatee (sea cow) was easily caught and prized

for its meat and fat. The rib bones of the manatee were intricately carved with various designs and were used

ceremonially.

Columbus observed that the Tainos lived in large permanent villages in Hispaniola (Dominican Republic) and

Puerto Rico, on the coasts and also far inland. Each village was ruled by a chief, or “cacique,” and averaged

one to two thousand people.

After more island-hopping in the Bahamas, the fleet continued south until they reached the northeastern shore

of Cuba on October 28, where they spent nearly a month exploring before heading southeast. On December 5,

they reached the large island of Haiti/Santo Domingo, which Columbus named “Hispaniola,” where they

explored along its northern shore.The flagship Santa Maria ran aground on a reef on Christmas Eve and

foundered the next day. Columbus only had the Nina with him at this time as Martin Alonso and the Pinta had

defected nearly a month earlier to do his own exploring. Columbus, with much help from the local Chief,

Guacanagari and his people, dismantled the Santa Maria and used the remains to build a fort on shore, which

he named “La Navidad” (Christmas). But the tiny Nina, now the Admiral‟s flagship, could not hold all the

remaining crew, so Columbus was forced to leave about forty men at La Navidad to await his return from

Spain. The Nina departed from La Navidad on January 2, 1493, and continued eastward along the coast of

Hispaniola, where on January 6 they sighted and came upon the Pinta. On January 16 the two caravels headed

for Spain. Both vessels arrived in Spain two months later after being battered by fierce storms and becoming

separated again near the Azores.


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Second Voyage

October, 1493 to March, 1496

After the success of Columbus‟ first voyage, he had little trouble convincing the Spanish Sovereigns to

follow up immediately with a second voyage. Unlike the exploratory first voyage, the second voyage was a

massive colonization effort, comprised of seventeen ships and around 1200 men. The second voyage brought

European livestock (horses, sheep and cattle) to America for the first time.

The fleet sailed from Cadiz on September 25, 1493, and left the Canary Islands on October 13, 1493.

Hoping to make landfall at Hispaniola where he had left the forty men at La Navidad, Columbus maintained a

course of west-southwest the entire voyage and sighted Dominica (an island in the Lesser Antilles) on

November 3, just twenty-one days from the Canaries, a remarkably fast trip. He had only missed his

destination by about four degrees of latitude, as he came up south and east of Hispaniola.

During the next two weeks, the fleet moved northwest, following the chain of the Lesser Antilles,

discovering the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico before arriving at Hispaniola on November

22.

Returning to his fortress at La Navidad on November 28, Columbus found that the fort had been

burned and all the men he had left there on the first voyage were dead. According to the account of

Guacanagari, the local chief who had befriended Columbus on the first voyage, the men at La Navidad had

fallen to arguing amongst themselves over women and gold. Some of the men had left the fort in the

intervening months and some of the rest had raided an inland tribe and kidnapped their women. The men of

that tribe retaliated by destroying La Navidad and killing the few remaining Spaniards.

Columbus, much disheartened by what had happened to his colonists, sailed eastward along the north

coast of Hispaniola looking for a place to found a new colony. On December 8 he anchored at a good spot and

founded a new town he named La Isabela, after the Spanish Queen. The next several months were spent in

establishing the colony and exploring the interior of Hispaniola. With men and animals sick and dying,

Columbus sent twelve ships back home to Spain on February 2, 1494. With the ships sailed twenty-six

Indians, sixty parrots, an assortment of native foods and 30,000 ducats of gold.

In April Columbus sailed from Isabela with three of the remaining caravels on an exploration trip. He

was still searching for China, which he thought still existed somewhere towards the west. His flagship was

now the spirited little Nina, of which he was now half owner. He sailed along the south coast of Cuba, then

south to Jamaica where he met up with hostile Indians. He then sailed back to Cuba where he followed the

entire southern Cuban coast to almost its western end, where he turned around and headed back towards

Hispaniola, this time along its unexplored southern coast on his way back to Isabela. By now it was the end of

September and Columbus was seriously ill. Further exploration was abandoned.

For the next year and a half Columbus tried to rule the colony, but with little success. La Isabela had

turned out to be a bad location, being in a swampy area with few resources and a poor harbor.

A summer hurricane had hit Isabela and destroyed three of the four ships in the harbor; only the Nina

was left. From the destroyed vessels, a new vessel was constructed, being the first ship to be built in the New

World. She was christened “Santa Cruz,” but was nicknamed and known as “India.”

As supplies brought from Spain dwindled, and relations with the Indians soured, Columbus decided to

return to Spain. Isabela was all but abandoned, and the founding of a new capital, Santo Domingo, on the

southeast corner of Hispaniola was begun in 1496-1497.

Columbus left Isabela on March 10 with the two caravels, Nina and India, and sighted the coast of

Portugal on June 8, 1496, his second voyage complete.


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Third Voyage

1498 - 1500

Columbus left Spain on May 30, 1498, with six ships, arriving in the Canary Islands June 19. Leaving

the Canaries, the fleet split up, with three ships heading directly for Hispaniola with supplies for the colonists.

The other three, with Columbus as commander, were on a mission of exploration attempting to find any lands

south of the known islands in the Indies.

Following a parallel course with the coast of Africa, the Admiral‟s fleet stopped at the Cape Verde

Islands on July 1, with his objective being to obtain a deckload of the wild black cattle that lived there.

Unsuccessful in obtaining any cattle, he sailed from Cape Verde on July 4, on a southwest course. Soon he

found himself in the doldrums, where he could not sail because of lack of winds. Becalmed on July 13 and

drifting for eight days, little headway was made. Luckily, the drift was west-southwest; however, with the

great heat they experienced, many stores of food and water were spoiled and lost.

As prevailing winds returned on July 22, Columbus changed course to due west, and he sailed on a

straight line at about the ninth degree of latitude. By July 31 their water supply was very low, and Columbus

changed the course northward, towards Dominica, the island he had discovered on his second voyage. Little

did he know that another day‟s sail west would have put him in sight of the South American continent.

Shortly, an island was sighted to the west. Because of the island having three hills, Columbus named it

“Trinidad,” after the Holy Trinity. (Columbus was devoutly religious.)

The fleet obtained water on the south coast of Trinidad, and in the process sighted the coast of South

America. They explored the Gulf of Paria, which lies between Trinidad and the mainland and anchored at five

different locations along the Paria Peninsula. The men going ashore encountered the native population who

were well-armed with bows and arrows tipped with poisoned darts. It is doubtful whether Columbus himself

ever went ashore here because of his poor health; his eyes were so inflamed from lack of sleep he was nearly

blind.

On the morning of August 13 the fleet sailed out of the treacherous Gulf of Paria. With his health being

so poor, Columbus ordered sail set for Hispaniola, on a northwest by north course. This leg of the journey is a

remarkable feat of navigation, as he sailed across six hundred miles of open Caribbean Sea, not following any

chain of islands. He arrived at the southern shore of Hispaniola on August 19, 1498, just west of his

destination of the new capitol of Santo Domingo.

Arriving at Santo Domingo, Columbus

discovered that disgruntled colonists had

staged a revolt against his rule. He was

unable to put down the revolt and

eventually agreed to peace on

humiliating terms. But the troubles

continued and Ferdinand and Isabella

appointed Francisco de Bobadilla as

Royal Commissioner, with executive

power over Columbus. When Bobadilla

arrived in Santo Domingo, he

immediately had Columbus arrested, and

in October of 1500 the Admiral and his

two brothers were sent home to Spain in

chains.


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Fourth Voyage

1502 – 1504

Upon returning to Spain, Columbus was pardoned by the Sovereigns for any wrongdoings of which he

had been accused. Two years later, after being constantly pestered by Columbus, they consented to one more

final voyage. At fifty-one years old and in precarious health, Columbus started out on his final voyage on May

11, 1502, leaving Cadiz with four old ships and one hundred forty men.

Arriving at Santo Domingo on Hispaniola June 29, 1502, he asked permission to enter the harbor, and

he saw signs that a storm was developing. As he was unwelcome he was denied permission. He also warned

that a large treasure fleet that was assembling for a return voyage to Spain should not leave the safety of the

harbor until the storm had passed. The Admiral was scoffed at, his warnings not heeded, and the fleet was at

sea when the hurricane hit. Twenty ships were sunk, nine others limped back to Santo Domingo and only one

ship made it back to Spain. Over five hundred men perished, including Columbus‟ enemy Bobadilla.

Columbus had found shelter and his fleet survived the hurricane.

Columbus sailed southwest from Cuba seeking a “strait” (to the Indian Ocean) that didn‟t exist. He

arrived off the coast of Honduras the end of July and met a large dugout canoe with twenty five Indians aboard

(probably of Mayan descent). These Indians seemed to be of a much more advanced civilization than any he

had previously met, as they had finely dyed and woven cotton garments, copper hatchets and tools.

Sailing along the Central American coast, he reached the area of Panama where he learned from the

natives of another great ocean a few days journey overland. He was also able to trade for a vast number of

gold objects the natives had. Columbus began to build a garrison fort so as to have a headquarters in this gold-

rich area. A battle with a large force of hostile natives ensued, and Columbus lost a number of men and one

ship which was grounded on a sandbar. The three ships, now badly leaking from shipworm damage, headed

back north for a return trip to Spain.

Losing another ship that was no longer seaworthy, and with the remaining two leaking badly, they

sailed on towards Hispaniola, but never made it. The two caravels were beached on the north coast of Jamaica

on June 25, 1503. Columbus and his crew were now marooned on the island. Here they stayed for one year

and with help from the natives there, were able to survive, but not without much hardship and mutinous men

creating new problems.

One of Columbus‟ captains, Diego Mendez, bought a canoe from a local chief and somehow was able

to sail it from Jamaica to Hispaniola to seek help for the marooned crew. Receiving no help and being

detained for seven months, Mendez was finally able to charter a small caravel, which arrived back in Jamaica

on June 29, 1504, to rescue the expedition. Columbus finally made it back to Spain on November 7, 1504, his

final voyage complete.

Columbus never regained his health after returning to Spain. He died in Valladolid, Spain, on May 20,

1506, at the age of 54. Although being the first to discover many new lands, and being hailed as one of the

greatest mariners in history, he also managed to wipe out an entire indigenous population. It is estimated that

there was a population of 300,000 Taino on Hispaniola in 1492. One-third of them were killed off between

1494 and 1496. The native population had dropped to around 60,000 by 1508. By 1550 it is estimated that

there were fewer than 500 Taino remaining.

Bibliography:

Morison, Samuel Eliot: Admiral of the Ocean Sea, A Life of Christopher Columbus

Cummins, John: The Voyage of Christopher Columbus, Columbus’ Own Journal of Discovery

Dugard, Martin: The Last Voyage of Columbus

Deagan, Kathleen and Jose Maria Cruxent: Columbus’ Outpost Among the Tainos

Stanton, Tom: Prehistoric Antiquities Quarterly, May 1998, The Taino: The Indians Discovered by Christopher Columbus

Pickering, Keith A: www.columbusnavigation.com


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The Taino: The Indians Discovered by Christopher Columbus

By Tom Stanton

(Editor‟s note: This article, in its original form, was a bit lengthy for online purposes. The Editor has

shortened it considerably. Nevertheless, it still contains a wealth of information. Pictures have been added to

enhance the article‟s “readability.” We hope you enjoy it!)

The Taino were the Indians that Columbus encountered when he reached what he thought was India.

The Taino civilization was at its peak when the first Europeans arrived. The civilization and the Indians were

destroyed in short order by the Spanish. We know a great deal about the Taino because of the dedicated

efforts of a number of Spanish chroniclers, mostly clergy.

The ancestors of the Taino migrated to the islands from the area of the Orinoco Valley in South

America. Taino were found on Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Cuba and most of the Bahamas. They also

occupied almost all of the Virgin and Leeward Islands.

Columbus observed that the Taino lived in large permanent villages in Hispaniola (present-day

Dominican Republic) and Puerto Rico. Each village was ruled by a Cacique or chief, with villages averaging

one to two thousand people. Their wood-and-thatch houses ranged in size from a single building to twenty to

fifty. Groups of related families would live together in the same house. Houses had dirt floors and people

slept on hammocks. Belongings were stored in baskets hung from the roof and walls. The Cacique and others

of high rank received visitors on carved wooden stools called “duhos.”

Side and front views of a duho


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The Taino had local artisans who were woodworkers, potters, cotton weavers, and those who carved and

sculpted stone, wood, bone and shell. It is documented historically that many of the most elaborate objects were

made by women.

Agriculture was the principal occupation of the Tainos, with principal crops being cassava, squash, and

sweet potatoes. Cassava was the most important and thrived in a wide range of local conditions, from wet to

dry. It could be kept in the ground for up to three years. Many rituals and observances surrounded its planting

and harvest.

The Taino supplemented their diet by hunting birds, manatee, reptiles such as iguana and snakes, and a

small forest rodent called a “hutia.” They also consumed a small domesticated dog and a wide variety of

marine life.

Excellent seamen and navigators, the Taino manufactured canoes from the trunks of large trees. The

trunks were hollowed out by alternately charring and chopping with stone celts. Some canoes were large

enough to carry one hundred Taino. Smaller canoes traveled between the islands to maintain trade routes.

The Indians lived in communities called “yucayeques” located along the coastline and in interior valleys

with river systems. In each yucayeque an upper class of Taino called “Nitainos” ruled over a lower class called

“Naborias.” The latter fished, hunted, and worked in the fields. The dominant Nitainos, comprised of Caciques

(chiefs), warriors, and artists, exercised authority over the Naborias.

Taino society was matrilineal. Status, name and property were inherited from one‟s mother and

grandmother. A Cacique‟s predecessor would have been his mother‟s brother and his successor would be his

sister‟s son. Caciques were responsible for many things, including religious ceremonies, marriage and death

ceremonies of other Caciques, and uniting people after natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods.

The Taino believed in a supreme god called Yucahu Maorocati, a fertility god named Attabeira, and a

number of lesser gods. They made images of these gods from stone, wood, clay, bone and shell. These

religious images were called “Zemis,” a term the Taino also used to refer to the gods themselves. The

renowned authority on the Taino, Ricardo Alegria stated, “Zemis were objects of great power…. and were

perceived as supernatural beings who could help or hurt the person who possessed them. They were kept in

special shrines, set apart from the houses of the Taino, and symbolized a Cacique‟s power. Zemis were the

most important objects in Taino society, representing social status, political power, fertility and productivity.”

Each person had as many as ten Zemis in which they took great pride. Individuals would boast that

theirs was the best or the most powerful. Zemis could change hands as an inheritance, gift, or trade item.

Owners kept Zemis in niches or on tables in their homes, and sometimes in separate structures which served as

temples.

Taino Zemi

The Taino played a ball game that existed in numerous varieties throughout Mesoamerica and South

America. Balls used to play the game were made of rubber. Two teams would play in a plaza with a

rectangular court flanked by pillars incised with petroglyphs. The game was both ceremonial and recreational.

The ball had to be kept in the air and could only be hit with the legs, hips, arms, shoulders and head (no hands!).

There are some documented reports of teams composed only of women. Researcher Ricardo E. Alegria reports

that “In Puerto Rico the Taino seem to have worn stone ball game belts, known as collars; these pieces reflect

the high development of the Taino‟s lithic technology. Belts were also made of elbow-shaped stones attached

to semicircular pieces of carved wood.”


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Stone Ball Game Belt or “Collar”

In addition to the stone Zemis, the Taino used a wide variety of stone artifacts in their everyday life.

These included mortars and pestles, metates and manos, and celts. Highly polished and finely made celts and

adzes have been found which exhibit no evidence of use, indicating possible ceremonial or trade use among

the Taino nobility. The Taino were also superb potters, weavers, and craftsmen with wood, shell and bone.

They mined local nuggets of gold and beat them into small plates.

The researcher Marcio Veloz Maggiolo observed that “In contrast to stone objects, many of which

were plain and clearly intended for everyday use, most shell and bone objects were richly decorated and

appear to have had ritual functions. A few objects carved from human bones have been found. The Taino‟s

detailed and precise bone-carving technique is matched only by that of Inuit carvers in Alaska.”

The Spanish conquest and destruction of the Taino people began in 1494 on Hispaniola and then

proceeded to Puerto Rico in 1508, to Jamaica in 1509, and to Cuba in 1510. The Indian population began a

rapid decline between 1492 and the early 1500‟s. Hundreds of thousands of Indians lived on Hispaniola

before the arrival of Columbus, but by 1509 only sixty thousand remained. The Taino were killed by Spanish

weapons and tactics, epidemic diseases brought from Europe, and the enslavement of the Taino on Spanish

plantations. However, the Taino legacy lives on in the wonderful artifacts they created and left for us to

marvel at. Their legacy is also evidenced in words like barbecue, canoe, hammock, hurricane, and tobacco -

all terms that have become part of our language.

SOURCES utilized by author Tom Stanton:

Tribal Arts, Issue 1, March 1994

The Tainos: Rise and Decline of the People Who Greeted Columbus by Irving Rouse

Pre-Columbian Art and Culture from the Caribbean by Dr. Ricardo Alegria

Pictures from the Wikopedia Encyclopedia


AACA MAGAZINE


The Boat That Opened the New World

Knowing a little history that lies at the base of any collector‟s hobby is a good thing! It makes

the collector a more knowledgeable individual and contributes to a better personal appreciation

of the hobby. Below is a little informational “tidbit” with historical overtones or significance.

Perhaps the most recognized historical vessels that opened the New World to exploration

would have to be Christopher Columbus‟ three ships - LA NINA, LA PINTA and LA SANTA

MARIA. These three ships were not specifically built for exploration; they were very

common, but very durable, trading vessels. The Santa Maria, a cargo vessel, sunk in 1492.

The Pinta made it back to Spain after the first voyage, but her history has been completely lost.

This article focuses on LA NINA. This caravel made several voyages to the New World and

Replica of the LaNina at Sea became Columbus‟ favorite vessel,

logging some 25,000 miles under his

command. He even purchased a half

interest in this vessel.

It has been 517 years since the Nina‟s

first voyage to “America.”

Nevertheless, you can still visit and tour

her today! There exists an exact,

historically correct replica of the ship

that has been touring North America for

the last 17-18 years! An American

engineer and historian by the name of

John Sarsfield conceived of the idea and

discovered some master ship builders in

Brazil who were experts in 15th century

ship building techniques. Beginning work in 1988, Brazilian master craftsmen utilized only

adzes, axes, hand saws and chisels to build an exact replica of La Nina. By December of 1991

the Nina was a completed project and she departed Brazil for Costa Rica, where she took part

in the filming of “1492.” Since the filming of that movie, La Nina has visited over 250 port

cities in the U.S. and over 600 ports in the western hemisphere. At the time of this writing in

early 2009, the vessel was anchored in San Diego Bay, where your editor had the pleasure of

touring her! By the time the reader sees this article, La Nina will probably be making visits

somewhere on the East Coast. Watch your local newspaper. Besides visiting port cities

located right on the ocean or salt-water bays, the Nina has the ability to travel into the interior

of the country by navigating larger rivers. This important little piece of history may be in your

area right now!

PG 14


AACA MAGAZINE


For those of you who may be boat enthusiasts, here are some of La Nina’s “specs.”

Length: 93.6 feet On deck length: 66 feet

Beam: 17.3 feet Draft: 7 feet

Sail area: 1919 sq feet Displacement: 100 tons

PG 15

La Nina berthed in San Diego Bay in February of 2009


AACA MAGAZINE


PG 16

IN SITU SECTION

Teresa Muffoletto is an RN and archaeology student. She says this about the point pictured below: “This is

two thirds of a Folsom point with very finely worked edges. Because the bottom third is missing I was unable

to note any basal grinding. The stone appears to have been heat treated and may be Narbona Pass chert. I

found it on a northeastern downslope in northern New Mexico 30 miles south of the Colorado border near Tres

Piedras while working on a research project involving Paleo Indian habitation. It was in a high desert pinon

forest where there is an abundance of game and 9000 years ago there was water.”

Here is an outstanding hafted Dickson scraper that was found in July of 2009 by Gary Henson. Gary is

originally from Missouri and now lives in Poway, California, a little north and east of San Diego. He goes

back to Missouri each summer and often has the opportunity to hunt points while there. As you can see, he

pulled this little jewel from an eroding bank. Missouri creeks are so pretty that I couldn‟t resist including a

couple shots of the waterway, including the cut bank from which the point was protruding.


AACA MAGAZINE


PG 17

Steve Nagle found this artifact on June 14, 2009 in Johnson County, Kansas while arrowhead hunting with his

son, Tyler. He has typed it as a semi-translucent Hardin.


AACA MAGAZINE


PG 18

Stephen Burks found this 4 1/16 inch Graham Cave nearly buried in the mud on a site near the James River in

Greene Co., Missouri. The material is Burlington. The in situ picture was taken right after the point was

slightly “nudged” to get a better view of it.


AACA MAGAZINE


PG 19

The points below were found this summer by Steve Valentine and his father, Harold, in Green Township,

Franklin Furnace, Ohio. There is a nice, little story that goes with them. Steve Valentine sent in the following

in regard to these finds:

“Here are a few pictures from a hunt with my father on July 2, 2009. My father is the one who got me started

in this hobby around 44 years ago and he hasn't been able to get out and hunt because of bad knees for over 10

years now. He had both knees replaced a while back and I found a field that was relatively flat. I knew he

could walk this field so I took him out with me and he found his first point in a very long time- a little

Hopewell made from nice Flint Ridge material. I found a nice bifurcate and an archaic side notch point, plus a

couple of nice scrapers and a hematite adz.”

A nice little mahogany obsidian Elko point found on private

property in central Utah on August 7, 2009, by Dave Kyte.

A nice little mahogany

obsidian Elko point

found on private

property in central

Utah on August 7,

2009, by Dave Kyte


AACA MAGAZINE


PG 20

Rick Tracy found this anciently salvaged anchor pendant on March 31, 2009 in Shelby County, Indiana. He

was in a recently plowed field and was hunting his last row of the day when this little treasure popped up! It

measures 3 ½ inches in length. Just a few days later, on April 4, 2009, Rick attended the Peru, Indiana Artifact

Show and his little gem won the “Best Personal Find Award.” This show is sponsored by the Indiana

Archaeological Society, a chapter of the Central States Archaeological Society.


AACA MAGAZINE


PG 21

“The Best Axe I Have Ever Found”

By Steve Valentine

What - 3/4 grooved axe made from a greenish-colored porphyry

When - December 17, 2008

Where - Tomato field in Miller, Ohio (Lawrence County)

Found by - Steve Valentine

This is an in situ of a really nice three quarters grooved axe I found on December 17, 2008. My brother had

told me that a field we hunt on occasion had just been turned the week before and I was going to be up that

way anyway, so I decided to try it. I don't hunt that field much because it's about an hour and a half drive and I

have plenty of spots closer to home to hunt, but I had to be up there to get a new ID for work, so I went on

over. I hadn't been in the field for 20 minutes when I spotted something greenish-looking about 25 feet away

and my first thought was a celt. Imagine my surprise when I walked up on this! I was so excited I actually let

out a loud scream. I almost didn't get the picture before I reached down and picked it up, but I gathered my

composure and got a closer look. From what I could see, it was all there, as long as it wasn't damaged

anywhere else. I snapped the picture and rolled it over and all it had was a small amount of damage on the

back side, but it's old usage damage since the patina is the same on the entire piece. Definitely the best Axe I

have ever found!


AACA MAGAZINE


PG 22

On June 4, 2008, Joe Persinger found this beautiful jasper point in a dry river bed in southwest Kansas.

Although some would call this an Allen point, Grayson Westfall (Tom's son) & Mike Wilbur (a North Dakota

collector/dealer) both saw the point at the Stone Age Fair in Loveland last year and agreed that it is a Goshen.

For many, this would be the find of a lifetime! Way to go, Joe!

Joe Ellington of West Portsmouth, Ohio found this excellent blade in the fall of 2008. He found it in a tobacco

field in Adams County, Ohio. It measures 2 5/8 inches and is made of Boyle chert. Joe says that the blade

appears to have Paleo flaking and what looks like a fluting nipple on the bottom (the area from which a flute

would be struck). He does not think that it is an Eva variant, but says that it is probably close to the Eva in

time period. The literature is a little unclear as to the time period for Evas, with different “experts” placing

ranges that vary from 8000 BP to 3000 BP. This would place the point somewhere in the Archaic time period.


AACA MAGAZINE


PG 23

The in situ of this nice Tecovas jasper Marcos was sent in by Seth and Dee Dee Davis. It was actually found

by their hunting buddy, Tody Menix, while they were hunting artifacts on Tody‟s farm in Gaines County,

Texas. As you can see the point was buried with the point in the ground. When Tody tried to retrieve the

point with his pocket knife, “Ol‟ Mother Earth” resisted a bit!


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PG 24

A GALLERY OF ANIMAL IN SITUS

Welcome to our second edition of “animal in situs.” Many of the animals were captured on film right on sites

or nearby. Some were taken on the way to or from hunting sites.

On the left: “This is one of many Horned Lizards that I have seen while hunting for artifacts. Some Native

Americans believe that if you hold one in your hand you will soon find what you are looking for!” Teresa

Muffoletto, RN and archaeology student from New Mexico.

On the right: John Dillon of San Diego County found this little guy while hunting with your Editor on March

15, 2009. John is somewhat of an expert on lizards and says that this animal is probably two years old. The

two “in situs” are being provided to allow the reader to compare the coloration and characteristics of both an

adult and a juvenile. Does anyone think these might be different sub-species?

Spotted by the Editor in the middle of a site I was headed for in February 2009!


AACA MAGAZINE


PG 25

Even though this is a common Gray

Tree Frog, it was caught a long way

from any trees! It was spotted in a

cornfield and photographed by

Chris Peters while he was hunting

artifacts in Osage County, Missouri

on July 4, 2008.

These two little guys are friends of

James White.

James and his friends all live in the

great state of Wyoming


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PG 26

The six pictures above were sent in by Frank Beckwith. Frank says this about the

critters above: “I have seen all these wonderful things while out hunting. They are

all Central Texas - from last year and this year. Thank you for looking at them.”


AACA MAGAZINE


PG 27

A Pair of “Love Bugs and a Great Basin Horned Lizard sent in by Dave Kyte

Here is what Frank Beckwith has to say about this Texas fox:

“There were three foxes playing as I left the midden. This one stopped right in the path. I thought „Man, by

time I get out the cam and set it...he would be long gone!‟ But to my surprise he stayed long enough for me

to get this picture. He was less then 30 feet from me, but when his buddies yipped for him .... Poof! He was

gone..like a grey ghost.”

(By the way, Frank uses this picture as his screensaver. The Editor)


AACA MAGAZINE


PG 28

From the great state of Wyoming, James White has sent in a pair of “mulies” and a pronghorn. The mule deer

were captured on film in early August of 2009.

This a well-camouflaged Blunt Nose Leopard Lizard, sent in by Dave Kyte, sure has a long tail! According to

fellow collector and “lizard expert” John Dillon, this critter is on the endangered species list, is very fleet of

foot, and is very difficult to approach from a short distance. Leopard Lizards are both carnivores and

herbivores, thereby making them “omnivores.” They will even eat other lizards! Mr. Kyte says the following:

“I don't have a zoom, so I got pretty close to it. I have a calming effect on critters, kinda‟ like Croc

Dundee..lol.”


AACA MAGAZINE


PG 29

This beautiful Zebra Swallowtail was sitting next to a Missouri creek when

Gary Henson of Poway, California, captured him with the camera

Nope, not the same butterfly, but also from Missouri and sent in by Chris

Peters. Chris says that he photographed this one on top of a bluff

overlooking the Missouri River in Osage County, Missouri in June of

2008.


AACA MAGAZINE


PG 30

Chris Peters of Osage County, Missouri, checked with the state biologist and determined that this is a Milk

Snake. Here is what Chris said about the snake:

“Here‟s a cool snake I saw recently. It was sunning on a county road near our farm. The Milk Snake is a very

secretive and rarely seen in the open in Missouri, so I thought it was a pretty cool find. It is considered a mimic

of the Coral Snake, but I believe folks who don‟t know might be more likely to mistake it for a Copperhead or

other poisonous snake. Luckily it was me that saw it, photographed it, then watched it slither off the road to

safety before someone else came along and ran it over. Awesome colors !!”


The AACA Magazine- Volume 7 Issue 2

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Transcript of The AACA Magazine- Volume 7 Issue 2