Archaeology Magazine - September 1958 - 66

Robert E. Bell then spoke on relationships between the Caddoan area
and the Plains, advancing the provocative hypothesis that the ancestral
Wichita and Pawnee may have moved
into the Plains about the time of the
change from early to late Caddoan.
David A. Baerreis, Robert L. Stephenson and Marvin F. Kivett pointed out
a series of problems which must be
solved before Bell's hypothesis can be
properly tested. Here again the question of Caddoan chronology was a
crucial point.
Finally, Edward B. Jelks discussed
relationships between the cultures of
the Caddoan area and the hunting and
gathering cultures of Central Texas
and the Texas Gulf Coast. He pointed
out that influences seemed to flow
mainly toward the Caddoan area
rather than in the other direction. The
nature of the contacts is obscure because the zone of contact is almost
unknown archaeologically. T. N.
Campbell and J. Charles Kelley, elaborating on the same problem from the
standpoint of Gulf Coast and Central
Texas cultures respectively, were in
essential agreement.
The symposium on salvage archaeology was under the chairmanship of
James B. Shaeffer, who has kindly
provided a summary. A survey of
current problems and programs in the
American field was followed by surveys of comparable problems in Canada and Mexico.The chairman pointed
out that most of the field work now being conducted in the United States,
especially in the West, is salvage ar-

chaeology, and that there is likely to
be an increase in this type of work.
Highway archaeologywas evaluated
from the standpoint of state highway
departments by Gomer H. Bittle, who
concluded that such programs should
be supported as historical investigations. He advocated enough supervisory personnel to assure prompt
and uninterrupted excavation. Elaine
Bluhm discussed her experiences in
organizing archaeological data for
salvage work by the Illinois Archaeological Survey. Of particular interest
was the positive responseof the people
of Illinois to requests for information
on sites and local collections.The follow-up steps of interviews, recording
and photography were discussed as
methods of augmenting data which
should be incorporated in state archaeologicalfiles.
Charlie R. Steen described the tremendous scope of river and dam projects proposed by the Army Corps of
Engineers and the supplemental soil
erosion control dams urged by the Department of Agriculture. He suggested
that since the matter of salvage was so
urgent, all institutions should give
serious consideration to eliminating
other field work. He predicted that the
great bulk of Americanprehistoricsites
would soon be destroyed or disturbed
beyond scientific usefulness. Concluding the American section, Jesse D.
Jennings presented a spectacular film
of the archaeological survey of the
Glen Canyon Dam site in the wastes
of southeastern Utah.
Richard G. Forbis and Boyd N.

Wettlaufer reported on salvage archaeologyin Canada, while the Mexican picture was presented by Ignacio
Bernal. The basic problem in both
countries is obtaining funds. Although
public interest exists, there is more
concern for immediateeconomicneeds.
This makes it difficult for government
administrators to justify historical research. Thus while there has been some
archaeological salvage in both countries, it has been minimal in terms of
what could and should be done.
For several years we have been reporting the meetingsof the Societyfor
American Archaeology, whose objectives are to promote interest and research in the archaeologyof the American continents, to direct the efforts of
those interested in this field into scientific channels, and to publish and encourage publication of their efforts.
The Societyalso fosters the welfare of
local archaeologicalsocieties and aids
in the conservation of archaeological
data, much of which is nòw threatened
with obliteration by new dams, highways and other signs of progress.Both
professionalsand non-professionalsare
welcometo join the Society; members
receive the quarterly, American Antiquity, as well as memoirs published
by the Society. Annual membership
dues are $8.00. Applicationsfor membership should be sent to Dr. David
A. Baerreis, Secretary, Society for
American Archaeology, Sterling Hall,
University of Wisconsin, Madison 6,
Wisconsin.

NEW DISCOVERIES
AT PELLA
Photios
Petsas
by
Highlights

of the

WINTER
issue of
ARCH

the adventures
of two
H'
Rowe
hy 1ohn
bronzes

from gordion

pucara

s royal

AEOLOGY
THE STONECIRCLESOF OYU .
by J. EdwardKidder,Jr.

214

statues

tomb

Archaeology Magazine - September 1958

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Archaeology Magazine - September 1958