Authentic Artifact Collectors Association

Founded 1998

Fall Newsletter 2003 Volume 1, Issue 3

SCAMS

by Peter Allen

A bad month of August for the internet.

The past few weeks have been a learning experience on the internet for me. The story is of a few of the pitfalls that have opened my eyes to the words "secure web site” on the internet. On the 1st week of August, I received an email from Ebay, asking me to verify my account for security reasons. All I had to do was enter my user name and password, and click OK. I did, and the email then routed me to Ebay. I did not question anything at that point. Seemed simple enough.

Two days later, I can't get into my Ebay account. I try to call Ebay, and finally found a number after an hour of looking all over the site. The Ebay representative said my account had been "compromised", basically meaning hijacked. The thief was now selling something not allowed on Ebay, and they had closed my account. The rep said she would forward me a new password. A little later that day I checked my email and got no mail at all, which is extremely unusual, as I typically get 30 to 60 emails a day. Most of my mail is Spam, but mail nonetheless. I called my dialup server, and find my email has also been hijacked. My e-mail address was transferred to some guy in Spain, who has taken my account name, and added "@yahoo.es" to the end of it. I quickly close my bank accounts that allowed Ebay to do automatic withdrawals when I incur charges. I also closed my PayPal account.

Luckily, I did not loose anything but my time. It could have been a lot worse. My mistakes: Sending the crook my password. What to do to protect myself, besides not giving out my password:

1) Change my passwords often

2) Don't use the same passwords for Ebay, PayPal and email. With one password, they are in your wallet but fast.

The next week, I get another email, same subject, but this time asking for just about any information you would ever give to a bank, plus some. They wanted mother’s maiden name, social security number, bank routing numbers off my checks, pins, credit cards numbers, etc. Every thing someone would need to clean out all my accounts and max out my charge cards was asked for, all on an official looking Ebay page.

Well, I am not too dumb, so I didn’t send them anything. Instead, I forwarded the email to Spoof@ebay.com, which is an Ebay address that Ebay wants you to forward the scam mail to. Mistakes made: None by me thank you! If you get a letter like this, forward it to spoof@ebay.com. Do not attach it or modify it in any way. That will help them to close the guy down.

The next week, I get an email from a man wanting to buy $2000 worth of artifacts from my web site. He is acting as an agent for a man in England I am told. A few emails later, I learn that as the buyer’s agent, he will be charging the buyer $4,000 dollars for purchasing and getting the artifacts to the buyer. He has a poor command of English, and due to my past experiences, I get suspicious real fast and call the local FBI office. They keep in contact as the story unfolds. Next, the buyer is going to send me a cashier’s check for a sum that will exceed the purchase price. That extra amount I am supposed to then send via Western Union to an office in London or Amsterdam, he can't give me the same answer twice. The buyer calls me daily to make sure I understand what I am to do.

According to the FBI, the man is from Algeria, and this is a classic scam that has until lately been played on the wealthy and retired for some big dollars. Now it appears they are looking for more numbers and settling for a few thousand at a time.

I received a cashiers check for $6000, of which I am supposed to keep $2000, and send the rest to the man in London who is the shipping agent, who will in turn FLY TO MY HOUSE and pick up the rocks. This guy must think we Americans are morons.

Needless to say, the check is bad. If I deposited it in my bank, it may take the bank a week to figure it out. By that time, I am supposed to have already written a check for $4000 and sent it to the man in London. By the way, I did a search for the bank that issued the check. It and many like it were stolen from a bank in Everett WA.

If I played the game, I would be out $4,000, and would never hear from them again. The FBI has his name, phone numbers and emails, but I am told there is little they can do. The USA has no agreements with Algiers to prosecute, and rumor has it the local government in Algiers may be profiting from the scams.

So I made it a point to string the "buyer" along for a few more days, letting him spend a little more on phone calls and time emailing me, thinking he has a good mark. I am not sure how I’ll tell him I am on to him. Maybe I’ll just keep stringing him along until he gives up.

How many people out there, you, your sister or neighbor may get hit by one of these crooks?

Ebay does not send out warnings, as it would be bad promotion in my opinion. We are supposed to think all our information is very safe on Ebay and the local papers will only print the bad news of a scam when more than a few people get taken? Don’t be a victim, and don’t yet your friends be one either. Pass the word around.

The Ethical Responsibilities of Modern Flintknappers

by Jim Fisher

True or false: All who engage in modern flintknapping are evil-minded con artists who intend to commit fraud, compromise the archaeological record, and complicate the market for authentic relics. If you answered true then read no further. If you answered “false” then perhaps you are counted amongst the many collectors with a simple desire to try your own hand at making the types of stone tools you have been finding in fields and creek beds since childhood. You may also have answered “false” if you are one amongst many collectors of authentic relics who has developed an appreciation for the knowledge that can be gained through participation in modern lithic studies involving stone tool reproduction.

I believe that at one time or another most collectors of authentic relics have puzzled in admiration over the methods and techniques that our prehistoric American inhabitants employed to create such lithic treasures. A natural curiosity about the means by which projectile points were made often leads collectors to experimentation and involvement, at variant levels, with flintknapping. The purpose of this article is to offer some advice to collector/knappers within the ranks of the AACA membership that will help to ensure that your endeavors do not lead to further complications in the market for authentic relics, a compromise of the archaeological record, or indirect and unknowing involvement in a third-party transaction where a fellow collector has been subject to outright fraud.

The AACA currently maintains a rule that serves as the foundation for the suggestions offered in this article. The current language of the rule applies to those members who are in possession of reproductions and who may wish to trade/sell them and also those members who choose to participate in modern flintknapping. The exact language of the rule follows: No selling of reproduction artifacts unless clearly marked "For study only – Reproduction". If the artifact is questionable - Then do not sell it as authentic.

Generally, flintknappers can be divided into three categories, commercial knappers, academic knappers, and hobby enthusiasts. For members who engage in flintknapping as either a hobby, academic, or commercial endeavor it should be understood that an ethical responsibility of the highest regard is warranted. I propose an enhanced maxim by which all member collector/knappers should abide: No member shall engage in the production, sale, or trade of reproduction artifacts unless measures are taken to clearly identify and permanently mark them as modern reproductions.

It is in the interest of setting apart modern reproductions from ancient authentic relics, that the phrase “clearly identify and permanently mark” comes to bear. Modern flintknappers must assume the ethical responsibility of taking reasonable measures and precautions that will ensure that the products of their activities are never co-mingled with, or presented as, authentic prehistoric artifacts. That task is far easier said than done. What follows are some suggestions for clearly identifying and permanently marking reproduction artifacts, whether you produced them or acquired them. I needn't spend a lot of time “preaching to the choir”- chances are that 99.9% of our knapping members are honest people who appreciate the need to keep modern reproductions separate from the archaeological record and market for authentic relics. If you are new to knapping or have not yet committed to marking your work on a regular basis, you might benefit from some additional, friendly advice on how to accomplish this effectively.

As an association of collectors, we have no means by which to mandate or enforce specific methods for marking reproductions as such and certainly make no pretense of having any jurisdiction over unscrupulous non-members.  Just as serial numbers on guns can be eradicated, so can most attempts to "permanently" mark reproduction points on their surface.  With that said, a very effective, yet perhaps less widely accepted, suggestion is for a hole to be drilled completely through a modern point with a diamond tipped drill. There is no argument that this would, in conjunction with additional measures, clearly identify and permanently mark the reproduction as such. Even the most ethical and well-intended knappers (myself included) are not going to be thrilled about drilling a hole completely through their work.  Many modern flintknappers and collectors of modern reproductions regard lithic creations and replica points as art and are hesitant to employ a method of clear identification and permanent marking that substantially detracts from the finished point.

What can and should we reasonably expect from our knapping members? I personally like the idea of using a diamond tipped scribe or high-speed diamond drill bit to mark reproduction pieces.  It is as responsible and permanent an effort as can be reasonably expected. Signing (or initialing) and dating reproductions with a diamond scribe is best done nearer the center of a point where it would be more difficult to remove the mark via additional flaking. I also recommend placing additional markings on the point with permanent black pigment or India ink that has been subsequently coated with clear nail polish. It is not always easy to readily see signatures or markings made with diamond tipped scribes on certain lithic materials. The use of pigment ink will offer a second, more prominent marking that can make the overall effort of clear identification more effective. The AACA rule requires members selling modern points to mark them with the phrase “Reproduction-For Study Only”. While this may not always be practical, particularly on smaller points, a simple “R” would likely suffice when accompanied by a diamond scribed signature (or initials) and the year of manufacture.

The next suggestions for ethical responsibility have more to do with what becomes of a modern reproduction after it has been clearly identified and permanently marked as such. It is imperative that if you choose to sell your modern work that you do so to individuals who can be trusted to continue the responsible custodianship that you have shown. In short, sell nothing to individuals whose motives for buying reproductions may be suspect. I have unfortunately known flintknappers who sold their reproductions to an unknown buyer only to find them listed in the “authentic artifacts” category on a popular online auction site. The modern points were quickly aged and presented as authentic by an unscrupulous dealer only days after they were obtained.

Modern knappers must also be concerned about those reproductions that will never leave their possession – during their lifetime. Non-commercial hobbyist knappers must also take reasonable steps to clearly identify and permanently mark their creations as modern. Keeping a meticulous record of reproductions in your collection complete with unique catalog numbers can help future heirs to easily distinguish modern reproductions from authentic ancient relics. All knappers must assume an ethical responsibility for clearly identifying and permanently marking creations that are sure to remain intact for countless generations to come.

Again, its not primarily our own membership that is of greatest concern- its the unethical knappers and fraudulent dealers who will continue to flaunt any rule or suggestions we make concerning the management and identification of reproduction artifacts.  To that extent, you may feel that efforts, rules, and expectations pertinent to this matter are meaningless.  Our AACA standards do, however, have meaning for the membership of the association.  The ethical treatment of this matter is no less beneficial than the AACA’s efforts in setting standards governing the sale of authentic relics between members. Our members feel more secure knowing they have others in their midst who adhere to the same rules and ethics of buying and selling.  Given the number of collector/knappers in the association, we do have a responsibility to promote expectations of them that put the general membership more at ease with their knapping activity. I trust that all members who are involved with modern flintknapping will do their part to ensure the long-term viability of the authentic artifact collecting hobby.

*Interested in purchasing a diamond tipped scribe or other permanent marking device? Check out the following commercial links:

http://www.bernieslapidary.com/selprod.asp?CAT=ECT&OTHER=YES

http://www.truevalue.com/index.cfm?order_origin=br&action=shoppingproductdetail&intproductid=14568

http://www.mpja.com/productview.asp?product=5908%20TL

http://www.waleapparatus.com/catalog/105-112.pdf

*The AACA will be holding its inaugural National Ancient American Artifact Exposition on November 1^st and 2^nd, 2003. It is the hope of the Board of Directors that all members will do their best to present a clean show with reproductions clearly identified and permanently marked as such. Questionable items are best left off the display tables entirely. Remember, if the artifact is questionable then do not sell it as authentic.

Join Us for the 2003 Expo Preview Party

Preview Party: $10.00 Friday, Oct. 31st. 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Live Music & Cash Bar

Directors Announce AACA EXPO 2003 Award Categories

Best Flint Display- one or more frames of flint items, personal finds and acquired items qualify
Best Bannerstone & Slate Display-combination of Bannerstones & slate items or Bannerstones or Slate items
Best Bone & Shell Display-animal bone, antler and shell artifacts (no human remains allowed)
Best Ft. Ancient/Mississippian Display-any combination of items identified with the cultures
Best of Show-special award, requires unanimous decision of judges and AACA directors. Any category of artifacts

Reflections of Seven Western Collectors

by A.G. Brunson

For some time now, it's been perched in the back of my mind, a nagging curiosity about fellow collectors in the West, and how they began.  Were they thinking about obvious issues of this artifact collecting passion in a similar way?   I suppose I wanted to know if I were becoming strange; if I was alone in the way I looked at artifact collection and the related questions that I grapple with in my own way.
I was thinking that a series of interviews would not only help me "struggle through some briar patches," but it might make interesting reading for those of a like mind.   I set about to create a stimulating set of 15 questions to ask of specific respected friends scattered throughout the West:  Mark Berreth of Pasco, Washington; Ike Postell of Camp Wood, Texas; Lyle Nickel of Enid, Oklahoma; Mike Hough of San Jose, California; Dave Waite of Albuquerque, N.M.; Ken Schmidt of Anaconda, Montana; and Guy Gross from Sherman, Texas.
All these gentlemen I knew to be articulate and very knowledgeable in prehistoric artifacts of their specific region.  I expected similarities, and strong opinions, and I wasn't disappointed.  The task became one of binding their answers in a readable fashion, without misquoting any of them, editorializing, or generalizing in excess.  I sincerely hope that I've succeeded in this effort, as I think I can out-run most of them individually, but 3 or 4 could surely stunt my writing career if they organized.
Join me then, in listening to the reflections on our hobby of seven of our most intriguing fellow collectors, as they provide a "snapshot" of the condition of our hobby.
Almost to a man, these collectors became aware of their interest in artifacts about the age of 6-7, usually at the introduction of family or friends. Dave Waite made his first find at age 13, while quail hunting in the blowing sands around Clovis, New Mexico; Michael Hough recalls first hunting with his Grandfather; Lyle Nickel still has the "little pink and white Alibates scallorn" that he found as a 6-year old boy in Oklahoma.  Ken Schmidt grew up in Asia, where "...the only artifacts were war mementos”, about the same time that Ike Postell was finding a little perdiz in central Texas and taking it to his father in wonder.
This fascination with prehistoric tools and projectiles would seem to be no passing fancy...but often begins in the excitement of youth. Dr. Guy Gross describes his experience this way:  " ...like many others, I found arrowheads while growing up in West Texas (San Angelo), found arrowheads during 30 years of deer and turkey hunting in West and Central Texas. Some 7 years ago, I decided to learn all I could about these artifacts I had collected for 50 years- that opened up a whole new world that has led to a very enjoyable hobby. At that time, I also started upgrading my collection by buying, selling, and trading."  He is the only one of the seven who maintains an artifact website, but is hardly alone in his interest in investment collecting.

In fact, only Schmidt and Waite expressed no interest in the commercial value of artifacts. Mark Berreth began seriously collecting 8 years ago, primarily Great Basin, Columbia River, and Knife River Flint, soon becoming a self-described "point and blade addict."  He credits Jeb Taylor with a great deal of his education in the collection of outstanding artifacts.  Berreth now sells points from old collections to select clientele via scans sent to an email list.
Lyle Nickel relates his first experiences nostalgically:  "I grew up in a small country store that my father and mother opened not too long after Dad was discharged from the Army. In 1958 he purchased my Grandfathers farm on the Cimarron River. Shortly after moving to the farm my older brother Dwayne Nickel found an arrowhead in our orchard just a few short yards from our front door.  Later that year or the next I found my first point behind our barn in a field that we would hunt for many years. I would have been about 6 or 7 years old at the time. From that day forward I have always collected arrowheads. Something about picking up that point, shaking hands with the ancient past.... it has always been a part of me, always will.  I add artifacts to my collecting because they appeal to me. I consider monetary value but do not normally purchase artifacts solely for a speculative gain. I am more collector than dealer."
This theme runs through all seven interviews, but I particularly like the way Ken Schmidt puts it, "...we're just caretakers."   While all seven respect this concept to some degree, several enjoy the benefits of trade and commerce by meeting new friends and advancing their education in the field.

Only Berreth no longer hunts for artifacts, citing the fact that most in the northwest are "under water or on Federal lands."   Ike Postell may be the most active hunter of the group, living in such an artifact-rich environment.  He regularly walks Texas rivers and digs the middens of private ranches.

Dave Waite says,  "I regularly hunt artifacts, almost exclusively surface hunting arid environments.  I have excavated ruins and middens (only on private land with permission) and am always open to new techniques for new areas I am fortunate enough to hunt."   Ken Schmidt admits only to "Flatland walking, high mountain lakeshores, creekside recon. Never dig. Just ain't in my nature."   The others can only hunt infrequently now, owing to the pace of their lives and lack of proximity to good sites.
When asked to cite important experts whose work they rely upon, the seven answered this way:

Postell: the late Dan Davis, Perino, and Rogers;

Nickel: Perino;

Schmidt: H.L. Wormington;

Gross: Rogers, Larry Merriam, Tom Westfall, Tom Hester;

Berreth: Jackson, Taylor, Steve Wallman;

Hough:  Leonard "Val" Valdivia, Wallmann, Dewey Dietz, and Keith Glasscock;

Waite:  Justice, Hester, Ben Stermer and Bill Jackson.

The most popular lithic material among this group of seven was clearly Knife River Flint, with Alibates and Georgetown Rootbeer running a close second and third.  Hough favors Flattop Chalcedony, Hartville Uplift, and Monterey Chert, with Berreth and Schmidt favoring agates, jasper, and obsidian.  Berreth and Postell appreciate the Florida corals as well.
There were concerns voiced about modern knapping, with a little animosity for those knappers who do not mark with a diamond scribe to identify a modern piece.  Schmidt prefers to see a "hole drilled halfway through with a diamond bit," and Hough suggests "knap it, take it home, and keep it there."  Overall, they conceded there is an educational value to modern knapping, when practiced for that purpose.
Certainly, all these men are very hostile towards fakes and frauds and don't take kindly to excessive government regulation or interference with legal hunting.  This interference ranges from very aggressive regulation in the Pacific Northwest to very little in Texas.  It was unanimous in opposition to the excavation of burial sites or common graves.
Curiously, only Guy Gross and Michael Hough systematically catalog the artifacts in their collections, with Gross being the most thorough, including photographs and a computer index.  The others rely almost exclusively on memory.  All are unanimous in saving provenience at every opportunity....both for historical merit, and commercial value.
Waite responds that he only buys infrequently, from respected collectors, and that he only buys what he wants to study.  "Provenience from the seller is a large factor in my purchase,” he states.  Nickel buys "...75% of his artifacts from the finder, and artifacts that I do purchase are normally intended for my own collection. I try to buy quality where ever it presents itself."
When soliciting these responses, I asked that each attach a photo of their favorite artifact, and these photos are included, with brief provenience.
I sincerely hope that the reader has found some wisdom in the remarks of these unusual men, and that in some small way this essay will inspire the advancement of our avocation.

Michael Hough’s Favorite (click on thumbnails for larger images)

Atlatl weight, 6 1/4" long, found by Leonard L. "Val" Valdivia in Dixie Valley, NV, in the early 1950's at one of his favorite hunting spots. He could not describe the elation he felt when he found it. Val presented this to me about 2 years before he died in anticipation of his death. He said it was one of his most prized finds. I was overwhelmed. The gift he gave to me was not the artifact itself, but the desire and ability to be a better man.

Mark Barreth’s pipe

This is a Steatite Elbow pipe with the Bowl intricately carved like a Salmon head. The stem also has a salmon head style carving and more intricate carving. I have never seen an elbow pipe from the Columbia River carved as fine as this one although I am sure there may be some. I got this from the original finder. This was found in the mid 50's on the middle Columbia River.

One of Ken Schmidt’s Favorites

Wandering around a lakeshore, we stopped to relax, and my wife found this. What a rush. Have found many since, but this was the first in our home zone, and it deserves a special place for us. Silver Lake, Deer Lodge County MT, July 1973, surface find. We have found many more in this same locale, with a fair representation of Altithermal (AKA Archaic) habitation.

Dr. Guy Gross - Alibates

Harahey is 4 1/8" from Glasscock Co- Marcos is 2 5/8" from Dalham Co.- obviously both are Alibates

Ike Postell’s Favorites

The Clovis (a personal find) is one of my favorites mainly because not just anyone can say they have found one...the abalone shell and the drilled   pendant (personal finds) are a couple more of my favorites, not necessarily because of the value but because they are so hard to find intact in my area.

Lyle Nickel’s Favorite

5 1/2” Jasper Allen

HAZARDS While Arrowheading

By Ken Schmidt

I was tired of fighting hobo spiders, or, if you’re particular with nomenclature, the “aggressive house spider”. This feller has a penchant for haunting our habitations up here in the northwest. So, to avoid further interactions with these irritants, I decided to hit the high country and do some rockhunting. Lest I get ahead of this discourse, allow me to elaborate on the arachnids that drove me from my castle. Imagine a spider whose sole aim in life is to inflict damage with one simple nibble, cause massive necrosis of the bitten area, and then has the audacity to skulk off without a fair fight. Annoying little critters. Besides that, the bites hurt somewhat fierce.

So – off to the fair hills, dells and glens, where the folks from long ago made their camps. Walking those old sites, free from spiders, I felt it entirely appropriate to shed my shirt and soak up some rays.

Within a few minutes I recalled why people invented clothes. Thousands of small black flies quickly swarmed me and with each mini bite I was prompted to run headlong into the nearest brush cover. Thus concealed, I thought my safety guaranteed. The flies abated, and I enjoyed 2 minutes of respite before I felt the slightest tickle on my back. Reaching back, I found an unassuming tick had tried to find a warm spot to settle in for a hot drink. Now I can face a cougar, an angry bear or an irate husband, but I can’t abide ticks. Off and running again.

My last recourse was the creek. Smooth water, gentle ripples, a haven of safety from my tormentors. Crawling with vermin real or imagined, I made the plunge. Take a minute to visualize a mountain stream at 7,000 ft elevation. Now take a minute to consider the effect on a body with a mean temperature of 98.6 F submerging in an ice cold stream that had only hours before been snow.

The ticks bailed. Smart move on their part, since the northern cold-water leeches had laid claim to my carcass, and they outweigh ticks by a long shot.

I won’t make a short story long. I only lost a pint of blood or so, but at least the leeches kissed me first.

Message from the President

Greetings,
The fall newsletter is the last before the Ancient American Artifact Exposition in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. The excitement grows daily, and I look forward to meeting many of you there. It will be a great time for all.

The show is an important milestone for the AACA, but in our excitement for the EXPO, we must be careful not to lose sight of what the AACA is really all about. The AACA was founded to bring integrity to our cherished hobby, and has had measurable success, especially in the area of internet sales. But in so doing, the notion developed that the AACA is strictly an internet based association, and of interest only to those collectors buying and selling on the internet.---Nothing could be farther from the truth. And so the EXPO idea grew, and it is right around the bend to reach out to the average, non-internet collector. The AACA is a service organization for the entire artifact world. The EXPO is a part of that service, and rest assured, more collector oriented service programs will follow.

See you at the EXPO.

Cliff Clements
President--AACA