Even the youngest archeologists could practice their excavation skills during Public Archeology Day at Willamette Heritage Center on Saturday, April 22. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
This Saturday at the Willamette Heritage Center one could imagine being a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde sitting by Mill Creek under an oak tree knapping a Cascade blade- or perhaps a small child holding a treasured toy in their hand in the early 1800’s, or a student teacher at the teaching school.
All of these activities happened before Oregon was a state, and they are being brought back to life by dedicated archeological volunteers from the Oregon Archeological Society. Volunteers were actively measuring and excavating one meter square pits, cataloging artifacts, and screening the soil to reveal any smaller shards of pottery or brick that may reveal clues about earlier traces of life here at the site.
Various stations were set up for visitors to actively try their hand at sifting dig soil, learning about tribal history, watching flint knapping, and observing the actual dig site itself, and also being able to see and touch some of the artifacts. The most exciting finds were partial pieces of a ceramic vase in one pit that probably originated from the teaching school, and a small child’s toy.
“This is a very rich site,” said to Dr. Michelle Punks, an archeologist volunteer. “There are many different types of artifacts to be found within 10 centimeter levels as there was so much activity from different time periods, allowing objects made or worked upon for one purpose to be later reused for another”.
Much archeological work is not glamorous work as illustrated by this Oregon Archeological Society volunteer excavating a “pit” at Public Archeology Day held at the Willamette Heritage Center on Saturday, April 22. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Doug Reynolds from Oregon Archeological Society shows off his find of shards from a ceramic vessel at Public Archeology Day held at the Willamette Heritage Center on Saturday, April 22. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A volunteer from the Oregon Archeological Society shows visitors at Public Archeology Day some of the artifacts being found at the dig held at the Willamette Heritage Center on Saturday, April 22. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)This small toy horse was a child’s beloved toy in the mid-1800’s and was discovered during the dig at Willamette Heritage Center. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A volunteer from Willamette University points out a piece of Bristol brick after sifting the diggings from the excavation pits at Public Archeology Day at Willamette Heritage Center on Saturday, April 22. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Steve Braden carefully examines a piece of obsidian before deciding how to knap it at Public Archeology Day held at Willamette Heritage Center on Saturday, April 22. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Dr. Michelle Punks gives advice while standing in the site during Public Archeology Day at Willamette Heritage Center on Saturday, April 22. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Kylie Pine, left, curator and collections manager for Willamette Heritage Center, gives Public Archeology Day visitors a site overview at Willamette Heritage Center on Saturday, April 22. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Tim Mickelson shows an example of a Cascade blade, which is the type of blade which would have been used by local indigenous peoples and could be discovered in the area at Public Archeology Day at Willamette Heritage Center on Saturday, April 22. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) Christopher Bailey shows his favorite thing on the table at the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde booth during Public Archeology Day at Willamette Heritage Center, which was a jar of acorns. Acorns were an important first food for the tribe. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Milo Ogilvie vigorously works the soil sifter screen tool example during Public Archeology Day held at Willamette Heritage Center Day on Saturday, April 22. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
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Laura Tesler has lived in Salem, Oregon for 20 years and is originally from Flint, MI. Laura has been an underwater photographer for 15 years, and is an avid scuba diver. Topside, she has been taking photographs since age 12, and currently works on assignment for the Salem Reporter, and full time purchasing land for fish and wildlife habitat in the Willamette Valley. Laura attended Oregon State University, and has traveled extensively all over the world and the United States.
