Authentic
Artifact Collectors Association
Founded
1998
SPRING
Newsletter 2004 Volume 2, Issue 1
Editor:
Grier Brunson Web
Publishing: Jim Fisher
I. Flint
“Digimacs” – D. Crain
II. Expo 2004 Update
III. Of Rattlesnakes, Rivers, & Relationships (Cont.) – T. Westfall
IV. Central Plains Stone Age Show
V. Editorial
Flint
By member David Crain
Leon River Williams point from Coryell County,
I've been asked to make some recommendations on taking digital photos of points. I call them "digimacs" simply because they are digital macro photos. Don't be intimidated by the high tech terminology, because with today’s technology, "digimacs" are very easy to master!
First, get a digital camera with a macro function. It doesn't have to be a real expensive model, just one that has good macro capabilities and will attach to a tripod. I strongly advise against taking macros without a tripod, as the slightest movement of the camera will reduce resolution and defeat the purpose.
Next, look at websites that have photos of flint artifacts or other small objects. Look at the better photos; the work of Peter Bostrom is some of the best I know. His excellent photography inspired me to experiment until I had great results, even though I am not in his professional class. The triple exposure format he pioneered allows for a three dimensional view of an artifact, although it requires some minor post processing of the photos with an inexpensive editing program such as Photoshop Elements. Of course, saving three photos can serve the same purpose.
The Archaic Drill (left) is a David Olmstead find from
the Gault site in
Study these and other photos and you can see how they are taken. Look at light diffusion, backlighting, reflections. Look at background choice, color, and texture. And look at how close they are taken, don't be afraid to fill up your pictures with the subject!
There are many available articles about close-up studio photography. One such article describes how to use a couple of bricks with a piece of glass resting on it. The background is easily changed by putting colored paper or felt underneath the glass. They will show a tripod and how to use some cheap fixed lights for highlighting the object. You don't need expensive lighting to take quality photos; you can craft your own lighting arrangement. Just get the camera and try different techniques. The instant feedback of a digital camera makes it so very easy to experiment with.
There are great photography resources on the web. For example, do a search for "macro photography" on dpReview.com: http://search.dpreview.com/forums/search.asp?query=macro+photograpy&forum=all&fields=all
You can just skim the postings for things relating to your interest, or you can get totally involved and sign up and post your own questions and comments! Most of the photos currently on my website were taken with an outdated camera that doesn't even have a macro function. After researching these postings I have ordered a "new" discontinued Nikon camera that is said to the best when it comes to macro photography. Looking at their example photos it should be just short of a microscope disguised as a camera!
One important note, when you are taking photos of flint you are actually taking a picture of the light reflecting off the flint. You might want to read that last sentence again; it is the best tip I can give you. You always need to keep light reflection in mind; it dictates color, detail and everything about your photos.
These Archaic Trade Blanks (left) are a Bill Arnold
cache find from
Have you have ever wondered why archaeological literature uses mostly sketches instead of actual photos? It's simply because, until now, there was no way to consistently capture fine detail, like flake scars, on a photo. With today’s macro photography this photographic detail is now possible.
Finally, digital photos are the high tech way to document our collections. We can save the images on our computers, copy back-up files on CD, send them to friends or post them on the web for discussion. It gives us a way to share and document our collections that we've never had before. Digital photography adds another dimension of fun to this fine hobby of ours.
We are just a few weeks away from the Second Annual AACA National Ancient American Artifact Exposition. I am very pleased to report that table reservations have been brisk over the past couple of months and we are very close to filling the show floor to capacity. If you have not initiated the table reservation process yet and intend to do so, now is the time before all 127 tables have been reserved! Visit the show website at http://www.theaaca.com/show for complete details.
My gratitude goes out to the AACA membership, and especially our newest members, for their support of this tremendous event. In addition to numerous returning dealers, vendors and exhibitors who were in attendance last year there will be many newcomers who will be setting up for Expo 2004. For those who have reserved table space, you can expect to receive your admission badges in late May. You will need to wear your badge at all times to gain admission to the show floor. I would also like to thank all of the members who donated items for the fundraiser raffles that help to support the Expo. Donations are still being accepted for the fundraiser raffles; if you wish to contribute please contact me at donations@theaaca.com and indicate what it is you wish to donate.
In addition to a great line-up of educational seminar speakers, this year’s Expo will be enhanced by more amenities for vendors and exhibitors. An increase in artifact inspection technology will also be available as a courtesy for all participants.
If you have not
yet solidified your plans to attend the AACA Expo 2004 I recommend that you do
so! It is going to be another great
opportunity to review awesome artifacts and to visit with collectors from
Jim Fisher
Show Director
Of Rattlesnakes, Rivers, and
Relationships (Continued)
By member Tom Westfall
Around the first of October, my son called from Portales to see if I could get free for a few days to come visit. He knows that his Mom, as the Principal of a Middle School, really can't take time off in the fall, but he had found some new hunting ground in the desert which he had obtained permission to hunt upon and he was anxious for me to join him.
It is one thing for young people to come home for a visit and spend time with their folks. It is however, somewhat unusual, for college age youth to invite their parents into their worlds. Grayson is an Assistant Housing Director on campus and as such, has his own apartment rather than a dorm room. He offered to give up his bed and sleep on the couch for a few nights if I was interested in a trek among the mesquite bushes.
I was quite
honored that he would make this offer and needing to use some vacations days
before year's end, I headed south the 500 miles to
I arrived at the
dorm about
Although I have
occasionally hunted blowouts near my home in eastern
Apparently, the area we were headed for at one time had been quite wet. Upon getting the "feel" of the land, old lakebeds and long since dried up streams became evident. When we finally reached the ridge, there lay before me literally thousands of acres of small little blowouts, surrounded by scrub oak and mesquite. Grayson gave m e his advice for how to hunt these areas, and reminded me to "watch out for Rattlers."
From the time Grayson was small, he has been cognizant of snakes, not necessarily unduly alarmed, but aware. We live in the country near some bluffs and over the years we had killed three large rattlesnakes on the sidewalk and front porch of our home. (Their rattles are in a small plastic bag on the refrigerator-just a mental reminder to be careful!)
We began walking
the series of blows and soon began finding flint and camp rock. I was hopeful of finding some nice Alibates
artifacts since this lithic material is fairly prevalent in the area. Over the next few hours we managed to find
five or six pretty much complete points, mostly
The weather on this particular day had been quite variable. A front had passed through dropping rain, only to back up again and repeat the process one more time. When the sun finally had come out, the day began to heat up a little and temperatures went from the 50's to nearly 70 degrees. I add this weather report because with the weather being cool and rainy I hadn't really been thinking about the possibility of snakes.
We had decided
to walk two or three more blows before heading home and were walking pretty
close together, laughing together about how good it felt to be out and away
from everything that wasn't nature, when all of a sudden, I felt Grayson push
me to the side and holler, "Look out Dad." When I looked at the
ground, right where my next step would have been there was a rattlesnake, coiled
and ready to strike. Fortunately, I was
able to back away and as I did Grayson hurled a chunk of grindstone at the
angry rattler, sending it scurrying into the brush. You've got to admire a kid whose next comment was, "Geez
Dad, you've got to watch where you're going. Do you realize that could have
been a
The next morning
we decided that we'd had enough of snakes and desert for a while and that the
I'm a pretty big guy and my guess is that as I floundered around in the water, I looked a little like a wounded walrus. (I was extremely glad that no one with a harpoon was near!) I thought to glance at my son and I fully expected him to be laughing his head off. Instead he had a look of genuine concern and he quickly scrambled down into the river to help me to my feet and retrieve the articles from my satchel, which were floating/sinking down the river.
I hope I inflicted as much damage on the riverbed as it did on my elbows and knees. Bruises and scrapes do heal and bruised egos are massaged with good humor. Time passed without comment and we made the decision to continue the hunt. (After all, if nearly stepping on a rattlesnake wasn't going to dissuade me, certainly a little hypothermia wasn't either.) We walked several miles finding only a few blades and scrapers. Grayson was quite solicitous, asking about how I was doing and if I was sure I wanted to continue. I knew that he had finally figured out that I was fine when he sidled up to me and grinned, "Dad," he said, "I've never seen anyone plunge headlong into their hobby like you do." I looked at him for several seconds watching the merriment dancing in his eyes. I remembered the many times when he was small when we had made similar treks to the wild places as he always called them. I heard a symphony of trumpeting swans and a hundred thousand half-answered questions. I saw the progression of time from a little child riding atop his Father's shoulder, to a young adult, helping his water-logged Father from a watery repose.
I am occasionally accused in my writing of excessive sentimentality. To that charge, I plead guilty, but in a non-repentant way. If sharing a lifetime of experiences with the ones you love doesn't produce strong feelings, nothing will. I consider myself quite blessed that at this stage in my life, I have the opportunities for creating new memories with those closest to me, joining in a bond of common values and shared interests!
Central Plains Stone Age Show
2004 -
An Officially Sanctioned AACA Regional Event - October
15-16
The Central
Plains Stone Age Show 2004 will be held October 16th with set up the
afternoon/evening of October 15th. We had a great show last year and looking
for an even bigger event this year. The show will again take place at the
The Central
Plains Show will once again be a total charity event with all table fees
and gate admission charges going to Habitat For Humanity. Fees collected
at the 2003 show were enough to pay for 10% of the total construction
cost of a Habitat Home. We look forward to building on that total
this year. October is beautiful in
Y'all come now, ya here!
Lyle & Cheryl Nickel
Editorial
I have been deeply
troubled in these days of trial of our national will. It seems that Americans
are way behind the curve on these hard lessons: Do not send the military on an
errand of nation-building, as it is ill-equipped for the task and will fail; and
secondly, do not rely on the civilian bureaucracy to set policy or to enforce
it. We are self-governed, and our laws are codified by elected representatives,
who are in turn accountable to the governed.
Americans are self-righteously
proud of “the land of the free, home of the brave.” We clutch our freedom to
our bosom and challenge any man to steal it away...don’t we? I say to you now,
the freedom thieves are in the kitchen, and they have not been elected to any
office of authority, nor do they brandish any laws. To the contrary, they are
the shadow government, the Great Federal Bureaucracy, and they write their own
“regulations” and attempt to impose their will upon American citizens by
force...on a daily basis. Now, you will not find the National Park Service or
the Corps of Engineers provided for in the Constitution of the United States.
There is no provision in the Constitution for a “National Archaeological
Watchdog” organization. In truth, there is no such provision for abridgement of
ANY civil liberties by officers of the Federal Government. And yet, we are
under attack by the very civil servants appointed by Congress to husband our
national resources.
It is undeniably true that
vandalism and destruction of historic sites cannot be tolerated in any form or
fashion. The destructive digging of such sites ON PUBLIC LAND is deplorable and
criminal, and must be dealt with harshly by the criminal justice department.
However, the harassment, prosecution, and seizure of property of citizens
collecting “arrowheads” on the surface of public ground must stop. I will cite
the U.S. Code, Title 16, Chapter 1B, Section 470ff: “No penalty shall be
assessed under this section for the removal of arrowheads located on the
surface of the ground.”
This grievance of ours against the
government was illustrated to me yet again yesterday, as I watched the morning
TV program, “Imus in the Morning.” Don Imus founded and operates a “cattle
ranch” in Rivera, N.M. as a camp for children with cancer, and he was
reminiscing about a young boy with a malignant brain tumor who had written him
about the joy of “...going out looking for arrowheads and potsherds” in the New
Mexico brushland. The boy passed away six months after writing about his
adventurous experience, about the great fun and education in this simple
liberty that we all love and take for granted. I did not have the heart to
write Imus that federal bureaucrats and the State of New Mexico have
criminalized this innocent experience, and prosecute this behavior with a
vengeance. It appears that our only salvation from this tinhorn tyranny is a
test case, with punitive damages, one that sets a clear precedent and puts the
bar back where it belongs.
In the words of Mr. Jefferson, “The
price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” We don’t have to look all the way to
the Middle East for ugly violations of civil liberty...we need only look in our
own backyard. I urge amateur surface collectors everywhere to oppose this
oppression, speak out against it, and urge lawmakers to rein in the unelected,
bureaucratic regulators who currently abridge our freedom on public lands.
-The Editor
The AACA is pleased to
announce the following new books–
American Indian Arrowheads, Genuine or Reproduction
By Col. John F. Berner
184 pages, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" hundreds of color pages
and articles
Projected
release date: August 1st, 2004
Identifying Altered
Ancient
Relics & Reproductions
Series – Book II
By James R. Bennett
206 pages, 6 x 9 1/2", over 550 full color high-resolution pictures
Release date:
