Authentic Artifact Collectors Association

Founded 1998

 

FALL Newsletter 2004                                             Volume 2, Issue 3

          Editor:  Grier Brunson                                                                                     Web Publishing:  Jim Fisher

 

                        I.          President's Message

                        II.         Washita – L. Nickel   

                        III.       Let’s Hinge Them Together and Take ‘em to Shows – G. Westfall

                        IV.       AACA / eBay Update – J. Bennett

                        V.        In the Next Edition

 

 

Message from the President

        

 

Dear Members,

 

     I am pleased to have this opportunity to address fellow members of the AACA during the holiday season.  This is a busy time of year for all, but rest assured that the AACA stands committed to providing continued service and assistance to its membership.  You may have noticed that the AACA web site has been experiencing some technical difficulties over the past weeks.  These problems have significantly affected our membership enrollment process.  We are working to get this problem resolved and appreciate your patience.  Our AACA e-mail contacts were recently updated on the main page of the website.  If you have any issues that are in need of immediate attention, please contact me directly at President@theaaca.com . 

 

     During 2005 the AACA hopes to accomplish a few important goals.  The first will be to organize our 3rd Annual AACA National Ancient American Artifact Exposition.  We stand committed to providing a premier authentic artifact event that surpasses the success we realized in the preceding years.  Educational seminars, social events, and of course authentic relic displays will again be offered for your participation and enjoyment.  Dealers and exhibitors can expect a much more comprehensive advertising and publicity campaign for this year's Expo in the interest of increasing public awareness and attendance.  More details about the 2005 Expo will be posted on the website in the coming weeks.  Mark your calendars now and save the weekend of July 22-24 for a visit to Fort Mitchell, Kentucky for the 3rd Annual AACA Expo.

 

     The second goal that I have for 2005 is to increase the AACA's outreach capacity at the regional level.  The AACA Board of Directors has discussed a desire to facilitate an impressive AACA presence at regional shows.  The focus will be on providing state of the art artifact inspection technology and educational displays that help to further awareness of fraudulent artifacts that plague our hobby.  A final goal will be to launch a newly organized Fiscal Year 2005 fundraising platform from which to provide financial support for our association’s ongoing operations and projects.  

 

     The future successes of the AACA are dependent upon the collective efforts of its Board of Directors and general membership.  The AACA Board has often called upon its members for assistance with specific projects and tasks.  You may be aware that in addition to my duties as President that I also serve as the AACA webmaster and Director of the AACA Expo.  So that I may focus my time and energy on leading the association effectively, a skilled volunteer is being sought to assume responsibilities as the AACA webmaster.  If you are interested in serving in this capacity please contact me at the e-mail address listed above.

 

     Thank you all for your ongoing commitment to the ideals of the AACA.  I wish you all a very happy and safe holiday season.


Jim Fisher
President, AACA

 

 

 

 

Washita

by Lyle Nickel

 

     We all experience moments in our lives when the stars align themselves and good luck sticks to the souls of our shoes. At times looking back like a "Monday morning" quarterback we are unable to validate the reason why it happened, we just know it did. Personally, I can live with that.

 

     It was the late 1970's and I had just past my mid twenties in age. The oil boom was in full swing and the slogan of the day seemed to be, "if you don't own an oil well we can get you one". I worked in the oil patch at that time and was lucky enough to travel western Oklahoma on a daily basis. I started collecting artifacts very early in my life and have always been very aware of my surroundings from a hunter's perspective. I spent many years hunting shared campsites in the area with other local collectors. Finding a nice point now and then but always dreaming of "new" ground. Although I had chased more dead end artifact leads than I would care to admit to, my luck was about to change.

 

     In the summer of 1978 a local farmer told me about plowing out a large "corn grinder" in one of his fields the year before. In speaking with him I also discovered that last year was the first year of cultivation for this plot of Washita river bottom. Of particular interest to me was the field location being about three quarters of a mile, as the crow flies, from a heavily hunted Washita site. Within a few weeks the wheat harvest was completed and I went to view the field for the first time. It was a flat field adjacent to the Washita River which bordered it to the west. The Washita River enters west central Oklahoma from the Texas panhandle and arcs across the state east-southeast, intersecting the Red River on the south central Oklahoma border. At first glance I was not encouraged by the overall lay of the ground or the current hunting conditions. The field was freshly disked, with huge amounts of wheat chaff lying everywhere. So much so, that it was hard to even see soil.

 

     Standing in the corner of the field I looked across it panning for any elevated area that could possibly hold a campsite. The only obvious area was a non-cultivated hill to the north. I decided to walk towards that high ground first. About half way there I noticed an area of very slight elevation, less than 2 feet, at the center of the field. I decided to detour across it on my way to the large hill. Even in the freshly worked soil, with wheat straw covering the ground, I immediately knew when I hit the camp area. Broken cord marked pottery, utilized clam shells, bone and Alibates flint was everywhere you could see dirt. It was one of those surreal moments when you haven't done anything wrong but you look around hoping no one has seen you. I diagonally walked the area getting an idea of the camp size.  While doing this I found 7 complete points in the fresh soil and chaff. I think it was the first time I had ever found a point in a freshly worked field, and I was pumped!

 

     About 2 weeks later I followed a heavy thunderstorm to the area and waited at the field for the rain to stop. It was late afternoon when I headed out to get my boots muddy. They were only arrowpoints but there is nothing like bending over to pick up one perfect point and seeing the next lying 4 feet in front of you. That picture played out many times that evening. My family was fortunate enough to hunt this site for 4 or 5 years before others in the area discovered it. Many evenings and weekends were spent on the site with my young daughter Cassie, filling her sand bucket with the treasures of the day.

 

     I have since moved from the area and other hunters now criss-cross the site looking for artifacts to salvage from the plow. Like numbers of other Washita sites in the area it produced Fresno, Washita, Harrell and Huffaker points. Pottery shards were of the cord marked variety and seen in great numbers. Bone awls, shell beads and small hardstone celts are also found on most sites. Primary lithic material for the site was Alibates with lesser numbers of Frisco artifacts. Knives were primarily of the 4 bevel Harahey type. Many elbow pipe performs were also found with 2 completed forms that we picked up on the site. The Washita focus material dates from 1100AD to 1400AD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WANTED:  VOLUNTEER AACA WEBMASTER

Must have skills required to perform routine web page maintenance

Experience with MS Word, MS Publisher helpful

Ability to edit HTML code

Ability to edit basic Java Scripts, Perl and CGI scripts

Contact President@theaaca.com if interested

 

 

 

 

“Let’s Hinge Them Together and Take ‘em to Shows”

By Member Grayson Westfall, M.D.

 

     A frame of arrowheads, which for years I have always despised, hangs on the wall of my father’s artifact den.  In fact, I have argued with my father for the better part of the decade that “we really must get rid of that old frame as it doesn’t really fit into our nice collection of new, hand-crafted, pressure-mounted artifact frames.” 

 

     No, I was really quite sure this frame was sent from the inner circle of Hell.  It consists of some glued-together pieces of second-rate plywood, with a piece of glass that is cracked, and too small for the frame.  This piece of glass, as thick as old coke bottles, distorts the on-lookers point of view giving the numerous artifacts underneath, the appearance of “sharpened pieces of rock.” Moreover, the artifacts are glued onto the backboard of the frame rather than pressure-mounted, precluding me from even really getting to look at these fine specimens. 

 

     In fact, while many of these artifacts are not what one would describe as G10 points, there was even an Alberta point of Alibates in the frame at one time.  Yet, over the years, much to my chagrin, my father never responded with much more than a twinkle in his mirthful eyes; I had always thought this was his way of tormenting me.     Recently, as “I was old enough to hear the story,” my father had me take down this old frame and view it “in all its glory,” or so he chided.  What I found was this: the remnants of two old hinges, now removed, and half-painted over.  When asked to explain, my elder statesman explained that despite my urgings to remove the contents and burn the frame in effigy, this frame was really part of family lore.  He then handed me a yellowed piece of paper from his old “cataloguing notebook,” which read, “let’s hinge them together and take ‘em to shows.”  T.C. Westfall, Sr. 

 

     While it was in my father’s handwriting, the words were that of my grandfather’s.  As it turned out, my dad and grandfather had begun hunting artifacts when my dad was about 12 years old.  It took them several years to put together that first, modest frame of artifacts and they always had a dream of taking some frames of artifacts and showing them at collectors’ fairs.  Hinging two frames together was an idea they had so as to stand the frames up, giving the appearance of a science fair-type poster.  My father recounted the story and added, “Artifacts have a story beyond their original creators.  The story continues through the ages until they are rediscovered, and the collector plays a part in their story…”

 

     It was with the these words in mind that I boarded the plane bound for the second annual Central Plains Stone Age Show, in Enid, Oklahoma, held on October 16 this past year.  While I am generally unable to attend many artifact shows throughout the year due to my busy work schedule, I attended the first ever show in Enid, and after having such a wonderful time, decided to work it into my yearly vacation routine. 

 

     This second show proved to be no different in terms of an enjoyable experience.  The show is organized by AACA member and famous artifact collector, Lyle Nickel, of Enid, Oklahoma.  It generally has hosted well over one-hundred display tables, for those there to buy and sell, as well as a number of collectors that enter in the “display-only” category. 

 

     Scheduled for the first weekend after the famous “Red-River Shootout,” or Texas-Oklahoma college football game, it draws collectors from Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, east into Arkansas, and north into the Midwest.   Many collections from the high plains states display as well including Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Wyoming, and even several of the Great Basin states.  The proceeds from table registration and concessions are donated to the local Habitat for Humanity chapter which greatly appreciates the several thousand dollars they receive from the event.

 

     One of the striking things about the Enid show is the incredible display of true southern hospitality.  For those displaying, Lyle Nickel and his family, including his wonderful wife Cheryl, and daughter Cassie, welcome people with open arms, as well as empty bellies. They put on an amazing spread of brisket, various side dishes of potatoes, plus a host of other delicacies fit for kings, much less hungry artifact enthusiasts. 

 

     The hospitality is a pervasive theme of the show.  I have attended shows where the allure of the “great deal,” tends to interfere with the overall experience, because people tend to downplay or even denigrate others’ finds.  While much of this is simply to get somebody to drop the price of an artifact, it tends to anger or belittle others to the extent they even quit attending artifact shows altogether. 

 

     I am reminded of the story of a friend who recently traveled to an artifact show somewhere in the Midwest.  He had obtained a four-inch Clovis point out of “honey-colored” agate from the South Platte River.  It is one of the five nicest artifacts I have ever seen in my lifetime, and I always congratulate him on the acquisition of this ancient piece of prehistoric art.  At this artifact show, he recounts that not a single person from the entire day of exhibition said a single congratulatory or kind thing towards his collection or this point.  One went so far as to accuse this piece of being a modern knapping reproduction and offered him, “about $500 to take it off your hands.” This is an entirely authentic artifact that is quite literally worth $20,000. 

 

     While instances like this are sadly becoming more and more common, the Central Plains Stone Age Show is a remarkably different experience.  Perhaps it is plain southern hospitality, or the combination of tables both for “buy-sell,” as well as “display-only,” but this show in Enid offers a little of something for everybody.  Two of the more noteworthy collections include Lyle Nickel of Enid, Oklahoma, and Dick Eckles of Lincoln, Nebraska.  Lyle has arguably one of the five best authentic high-plains artifact collections anywhere in the world.  Much of his collection comes from the watersheds of Oklahoma including the famous Arkansas River, and includes the nicest Allen-Dalton display this writer has certainly ever witnessed.  He also has a number of amazing Alibates artifacts largely from the Oklahoma panhandle, including a three-inch Midland point made of Alibates dolomite, a colorful red and white material that comes in many forms and hues. 

 

     Dick and Carol Eckles, from Nebraska, have perhaps as fine a “personally found” collection of material as there is anywhere in the world.  Old-time collectors from the southeastern United States may find more in terms of numbers, but Dick Eckles has amassed a collection of hundreds of complete and nearly complete Paleo-Indian projectile points that he and his family have personally found over the years, and the style of display that he has created for shows is only surpassed by the magnificence of these pieces themselves.  His personally found “Clovis kill and butchering site” is well worth the price of admission, and the kindness and openness he and Carol display is a genuinely amazing experience.

 

     While there are far too many names to mention everybody, several certain individuals and their collections stand out.  For those readers who haven’t spent a great deal of time in the west, there is a type of lithic called Alibates that was widely used from the Paleo era to the present.  It was perhaps the most highly treasured and prized material on the high-plains and its beauty brings fairly exorbitant prices for even the most field-grade artifacts.  It is quarried in west-Texas along the Canadian River near Amarillo, Texas.

 

     Because of its proximity to Enid, numerous collections with a wealth of Alibates were on display.  These included:  Joe Mosier, or “Mosy’n Joe,” of west Texas; Grier Brunson and his amazing collection of Alibates Harahay Knives; and Bill McCormick of Guymon, Oklahoma with his personally found collection of artifacts from a local creek drainage.  In addition, AACA member, Tom Westfall, Dr. Guy Gross, Dr. Jim Cox, Tony Stoddard, and Rick Miller all displayed small portions of their incredible collections.

 

     As stated earlier, the Enid show offers something for everybody from professional archaeologists to first-time amateur enthusiasts.  Many of the collections are displayed by people who literally have spent a lifetime mastering their knowledge of Amerind prehistory and archaeology.  People like Bob Miller, of Texas, Tom Westfall, and Dr. Jim Cox spent a great deal of their time educating others about the nuances of the discipline.  One particular amateur with his first-ever find, a Folsom point, had his question answered about how the point was made, including the physics of fluting technology.   In the spirit of education, the AACA sponsored a table regarding the ethics of collecting, and how to differentiate authentic artifacts from modern-reproductions.

 

     Finally, I would be remiss in not addressing the artifact dealers’ questions regarding the buying and selling of artifacts at the show.  In the spirit of the AACA, the legal purchase and sale of authentic Amerind artifacts is strongly encouraged and helps add to the overall enjoyment of any show.  While the writer does not conduct business in this field, I am told by one of the dealers at the show that the material he sold in the past two years was equivalent to the combined amount of business he conducts at the other shows he attends.

 

     As I reflect upon this most recent experience at the Central Plains Stone Age Show, I find myself thinking back to that old, worn out frame with the now long-removed hinges, and cracked glass.  Perhaps my father is correct.  As responsible collectors, we are part of the story of the artifacts we collect.  We are not sole possessors, but are part of the continuum of time, and in a sense, much like that old frame, are “hinged together,” with history.

 

 

 

AACA & eBay Update

 

     In the spring of 2004 the AACA was contacted by eBay and asked if we would assist them in assessing the various ways that frauds may occur within their Native American artifact categories. We were asked to become involved in a series of meetings they wished to have in order to gather suggestions on how to make the eBay community safer within the NA Artifacts categories.  For the better half of a year, representatives of the AACA Board of Directors met via conference phone calls and via the internet with many of the higher-ups at eBay to discuss this problem, and review potential ideas that eBay could use to make its marketplace safer for buyers. 

 

     So - did the AACA involvement with eBay do any good?  I guess the answer to that depends on how realistic one is when considering the size and scope of the problem of reproduction artifacts in our hobby as a whole.   No, we were not able to create with eBay the utopian artifact auction where every seller is honest and willing to provide a minimum 14 day return.  We were not able to institute a system where every listing is reviewed and analyzed by artifact experts at eBay for authenticity before being listed. However, what we were able to accomplish was a way to promote with bay’s help what the AACA sees as the first line of defense in the war on fakes - educating new collectors that fakes exist, and giving them access to a place to ask questions.  It may not be all that we hoped to accomplish, but it was a foot in the door with the world’s largest online auction company, and it has given the AACA recognition that this association does have the ability to effect positive change in the artifact world. 

   

     Here are a few things that eBay has instituted as a result of the AACA's involvement:

 

1.)  A warning statement is posted on EVERY artifact auction before the sellers hits the submit button.  Below is the exact statement:  

 

 

  Attention Sellers:

 

Items relating to Native American items, such as artifacts, jewelry, and crafts, must meet the established guidelines set forth by the U.S. Government and eBay.

If you are listing such an item, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with our policies on authentic and reproduction Native American items by Clicking here.

To obtain an expert opinion on your item, visit the Authentic Artifact Collectors Association (AACA) About Me page.

 

 

2.) If you click on the policies link in the warning - you will see there is a new policy on Reproduction Artifacts that eBay has instituted that requires sellers to clearly mark reproductions as reproductions - and eBay has agreed to terminate any reproduction listing in the pre-1940 category.

 

  Reproductions

Native American reproductions must be clearly marked as such. You must also state this in the item description. The font size of this reference text must be identical to that of the rest of the listing. In addition, these items must be listed in the "Reproductions" category, which resides under the Native Americana category. Failure to comply with the above text reference or category selection will result in the termination of the listing. This policy applies to all Native American items, including crafts and artifacts.

 

3.) The AACA "About Me" page is now visible in this same warning box which gives sellers who may not know what they are listing the ability to learn more about artifacts before posting that frame of points they just bought at the estate sale.  The About Me page also contains information on fakes, authenticators and how the AACA can help.

 

4.) The sale of reproductions within the pre-1940's category can now be reported to eBay and will be handled differently that in the past by clicking on the policy page link that has been created and reads:  

Report listing violations or problems with another eBay member. 

 

     Let's face it, those wanting to sell fake relics will always find a way to sell their dubious wares.  It is impracticable to believe that we, or any organization, can effect the change necessary to totally rid the artifact hobby for the con men.  But the AACA will always be willing to assist in any way it can to educate collectors about the proliferation of reproduction artifacts and how to avoid them.   

 

The AACA Board of Directors

 

 

 

In the Next Edition

     The AACA Newsletter editor will be sharing an interesting article entitled "Anatomy of an Artifact Con Game".  This alarming account will outline how a convicted artifact con man is back on the streets of the Southwest and is again preying on unknowing collectors. This article will concentrate on the modus operandi of this con man and what to watch for, including pictures of his fakes. It will be a revealing account of the type of scam that the AACA hopes to combat.