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Minnesota archaeological dig reveals 2,000-year-old artifacts, campsites

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« on: November 21, 2014, 04:10:20 am »

Minnesota archaeological dig reveals 2,000-year-old artifacts, campsites
By Jessie Perrine
Forum News Service
Posted:   11/20/2014 12:01:00 AM CST
Updated:   11/20/2014 09:07:07 AM CST

LAKE SHORE, Minn. -- Campsites and artifacts from 2,000 years ago are being unearthed in Lake Shore, a Gull Lake resort town near Brainerd.

Several rare stone net weights have been found, along with ceramic pottery pieces, arrowheads, spear points, fire-cracked rocks and animal bones.

It's part of an archaeological study, which is a required first step before the state Highway 77 reconstruction project through the town starts in 2017.

About 3.5 miles of roadway will be redone, as well as the addition of pedestrian and bicycle trails.

Since a majority of the funding is coming from the state and federal government, the archaeological study is a needed step in order to evaluate the historical significance, said Frank Florin, owner and principal investigator of Florin Cultural Resource Services.

"We're gaining some good information that will enhance the understanding of the history of the area," said Florin, who is leading the investigation, about the site along the west side of Gull Lake.

Florin and his team of 10 people started the project in September and will finish up this week.

Using hand shovels and a mesh screen to sift, the group digs several test holes before evaluating which ones to explore deeper.

In those cases, they'll go down a couple of feet and sift through the dirt with hand-held screens, pulling out each new find.

The recently unearthed treasures are evidence of a series of campsites along the road from the Native Americans, Florin said.
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The most exciting find for Florin so far is about 25 rare stone net weights, which were used to weigh down fishing nets several hundred years ago.

"I've been doing this for 25 years and this is the first time I've found them. They're just not that common," he said.

Tiny ceramic pieces have been sifted from the cold soil, which are leftover parts of pottery vessels dating back about 2,000 years.

The team also dug up several arrowheads, spear points, fire-cracked rocks (rocks split open from heat of cooking in fire pits), and stone chipping debris, all dating back about 500 to 800 years.

A few moose and elk bones dating back 1,000 years were found at the campsites as well.

Most of the artifacts are typical of the prehistoric people and area, Florin said.

"They are fundamental basic things people used to live," he said.

The state tracks known burial mounds, so human bones have not been found on this dig, and Florin doesn't expect to find any.

All of the artifacts the group finds along the Lake Shore road will be curated at the Minnesota Historical Society.

Meanwhile, Florin and his team will draft a report of their findings, which will be done this winter.

It's vital work, Florin said, because history is the key in moving forward in the world.

"It's about respecting and honoring traditions and the people that were here," he said. "It enriches our lives when we learn about other ways people have lived.


http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_26976638/minnesota-archaeological-dig-reveals-2-000-year-old
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