The Fenner Collection of prehistoric Native American artifacts, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE
Collection
Identifier: 01-17-001
Scope and Content:
The Fenner Collection contains prehistoric Native American cultural artifacts, projectile points and knives, and tools. All of these artifacts are aged between the Late Archaic Period (1000 BCE) to the Late Woodland (450 BCE). The items were collected by George Fenner Jr. a former Wilkes Board of Trustees member. Mr. George Fenner most likely took many years to accumulate such a large and extensive artifact collection. Sadly, there seems to be no evidence that Mr. Fenner kept documentation on where he collected the specimens, ultimately decreasing the value of the artifacts. All that we know about where he collected the artifacts is they were collected along the Susquehanna river.
The cultural artifacts are items such as rim shard incised, body shard incised, prehistoric ceramic shards, gorget fragments, neckwear accessories, a portion of a white tail deer antler, non-cultural rocks as well as other unidentified stones. These cultural artifacts such as the pottery shards were a part of a larger pottery piece that was used as cooking vessels, storage vessels, urns, sculptures, ceremonial items as well as other artforms.
The Archaic time period ranged from 11,700 BCE to 4,850 BCE. During this time period, the world was a warm and wet place. Forests were gradually growing deciduous trees and broad-leafed nut bearing trees. During the archaic period, Native American populations increased in a steady manner. The hunters and gatherers of this time period traveled anywhere between 50 to 100 miles to gather up resources such as food to eat, wood for fires, clay for pottery and so on. These hunters and gatherers used tools such as spears and spear throwers, axes for woodworking, net sinkers for fishing and collecting fish, and mortar and pestles for grinding up seeds. The spear heads, axe heads, net sinkers, mortar and pestle, pottery and more from this time period can all be found within this collection donated by George Fenner.
The other period of time this collection covers is the Woodland period, this ranges from 1,000 BCE to 1,550 CE. Early to Middle Woodland saw a warm and wet climate, but as time moved on to the Late Woodland period the ice age started to begin. It was here, the late woodland, that the population of the Native Americans reached an all time high. After this time period, the Native American population started to decrease. During the early to middle Woodland period hunting and fishing continued to be the predominant source of food, but using mortars and pestles in this time period provides evidence that the production of flour began during the Woodland period. In the late Woodland period, Native Americans continued to hunt and fish, however they increasingly depended on domesticated plants, such as corn, beans and squash as additional food sources. It was at this time that Native Americans began to garden and grow their own food. Indigenous tribes established a trade network between Ohio and Pennsylvania. This trade network, which is now referred to by archeologists as the Hopewell Interaction Sphere, spanned from the Gulf of Mexico to Yellowstone National Park and towards the Delaware Bay. Archaeologists believe that a variety of Native American tribes belonged to the Hopewell tradition, and collected artifacts from thousands of kilometers away. The implication is that many prehistoric Native American cultures traveled great distances and interacted with each other. The artifacts provide us a glimpse into this interaction sphere. The Late Woodland tools can be seen in this collection as well.
The projectiles points in this collection include Otter Creek Points, Normanskill Points, Lecroy Skill Points, Port Marthland Points, Jack's Reef Pentagonal Points, Jack’s Reef Corner-Notched Points, Side Notched Projectile Points, Corner Notched Projectile Points, Broken Corner Notched Projectile Points, Non-Diagnostic Points and Rhyolite Points. These projectile points were used for a handful of different uses such as the points on the end of a spear for hunting or lances. These projectile points were also used as knives as well as dart spears, throwing spears, and a small hand held throwing stick called an atlatl. The tools in this collection include Side Notched Net Sinkers, Flaked Stone, Debitage, Scrapers, Hammerstone (Untyped), and Drilled Rocks. The artifacts within box 4 are Flint, Drills (Whole and Broken), Scrapers and Bifaces (Untyped), Knives (Untyped), Flat Piece of Sandstone (Net Sinker?), Flaked Stone, Black Chert, a small mortar and pestle and a large mortar and pestle, and a bunch of broken and intact axe heads.
All of these items in the collection were crucial to the survival of prehistoric Native Americans in the Pennsylvania and mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Tools such as the net sinkers were attached to fishing nets so that the net would sink to the bottom along with the fish that it would trap. This systematic tool allowed Native Americans to catch more fish. Hammerstones were used to produce other tools such as the flaked stones that were then used for producing projectile points and knives. Although the provenience for these prehistoric Native American artifacts is lost because Mr. Fenner did not document the exact locations for where he removed these artifacts, we are still able to determine the general time periods in which these artifacts were used and their possible functions. Many items were used for hunting and fishing, collecting wood, and making shelter, while the cultural artifacts were used for pottery/aesthetic purposes.
The cultural artifacts are items such as rim shard incised, body shard incised, prehistoric ceramic shards, gorget fragments, neckwear accessories, a portion of a white tail deer antler, non-cultural rocks as well as other unidentified stones. These cultural artifacts such as the pottery shards were a part of a larger pottery piece that was used as cooking vessels, storage vessels, urns, sculptures, ceremonial items as well as other artforms.
The Archaic time period ranged from 11,700 BCE to 4,850 BCE. During this time period, the world was a warm and wet place. Forests were gradually growing deciduous trees and broad-leafed nut bearing trees. During the archaic period, Native American populations increased in a steady manner. The hunters and gatherers of this time period traveled anywhere between 50 to 100 miles to gather up resources such as food to eat, wood for fires, clay for pottery and so on. These hunters and gatherers used tools such as spears and spear throwers, axes for woodworking, net sinkers for fishing and collecting fish, and mortar and pestles for grinding up seeds. The spear heads, axe heads, net sinkers, mortar and pestle, pottery and more from this time period can all be found within this collection donated by George Fenner.
The other period of time this collection covers is the Woodland period, this ranges from 1,000 BCE to 1,550 CE. Early to Middle Woodland saw a warm and wet climate, but as time moved on to the Late Woodland period the ice age started to begin. It was here, the late woodland, that the population of the Native Americans reached an all time high. After this time period, the Native American population started to decrease. During the early to middle Woodland period hunting and fishing continued to be the predominant source of food, but using mortars and pestles in this time period provides evidence that the production of flour began during the Woodland period. In the late Woodland period, Native Americans continued to hunt and fish, however they increasingly depended on domesticated plants, such as corn, beans and squash as additional food sources. It was at this time that Native Americans began to garden and grow their own food. Indigenous tribes established a trade network between Ohio and Pennsylvania. This trade network, which is now referred to by archeologists as the Hopewell Interaction Sphere, spanned from the Gulf of Mexico to Yellowstone National Park and towards the Delaware Bay. Archaeologists believe that a variety of Native American tribes belonged to the Hopewell tradition, and collected artifacts from thousands of kilometers away. The implication is that many prehistoric Native American cultures traveled great distances and interacted with each other. The artifacts provide us a glimpse into this interaction sphere. The Late Woodland tools can be seen in this collection as well.
The projectiles points in this collection include Otter Creek Points, Normanskill Points, Lecroy Skill Points, Port Marthland Points, Jack's Reef Pentagonal Points, Jack’s Reef Corner-Notched Points, Side Notched Projectile Points, Corner Notched Projectile Points, Broken Corner Notched Projectile Points, Non-Diagnostic Points and Rhyolite Points. These projectile points were used for a handful of different uses such as the points on the end of a spear for hunting or lances. These projectile points were also used as knives as well as dart spears, throwing spears, and a small hand held throwing stick called an atlatl. The tools in this collection include Side Notched Net Sinkers, Flaked Stone, Debitage, Scrapers, Hammerstone (Untyped), and Drilled Rocks. The artifacts within box 4 are Flint, Drills (Whole and Broken), Scrapers and Bifaces (Untyped), Knives (Untyped), Flat Piece of Sandstone (Net Sinker?), Flaked Stone, Black Chert, a small mortar and pestle and a large mortar and pestle, and a bunch of broken and intact axe heads.
All of these items in the collection were crucial to the survival of prehistoric Native Americans in the Pennsylvania and mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Tools such as the net sinkers were attached to fishing nets so that the net would sink to the bottom along with the fish that it would trap. This systematic tool allowed Native Americans to catch more fish. Hammerstones were used to produce other tools such as the flaked stones that were then used for producing projectile points and knives. Although the provenience for these prehistoric Native American artifacts is lost because Mr. Fenner did not document the exact locations for where he removed these artifacts, we are still able to determine the general time periods in which these artifacts were used and their possible functions. Many items were used for hunting and fishing, collecting wood, and making shelter, while the cultural artifacts were used for pottery/aesthetic purposes.
References:
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/intriguing-interactions/
http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/archaeology/native-american/time-periods.html
http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/archaeology/native-american/archaic-period.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/intriguing-interactions/
http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/archaeology/native-american/time-periods.html
http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/archaeology/native-american/archaic-period.html
Dates
- 1000 BCE - 450 BCE
Access:
Open for Research.
Biographical Sketch of George Fenner, Jr.:
George Fenner Jr. was born on August 8, 1913, son of the attorney George L. Fenner and Jessie Beers Fenner. He was a graduate of Wyoming Seminary in 1931 and furthered his education at Princeton University where he would graduate in 1935. He decided to follow in his fathers footsteps and enroll into Dickinson School of Law where he graduated in 1938. In 1939 he was admitted to practice law before the Pennsylvania Bar. He specialized in real estate law and became a resident in the Wyoming Valley where became a well known figure in the Wilkes-Barre legal and business communities for his entire professional career. He passed away at the age of 88 on November 16, 2001.
George Fenner’s relationship with Wilkes University, who received both his archaeological and mineral donations, was a long-standing one. In 1997 he received an Honorary Doctors Degree from Wilkes University and he became the schools first Honorary Trustee. Over the years Mr. Fenner gave gifts of financial assistance to a handful of students as well as donations of properties including the donation of both his home and office on South Franklin Street. These are now known around Wilkes campus as Fenner Hall and the greenway is now known as the Fenner Quadrangle. Former president of Wilkes University, Dr. Christopher Breiseth, who was a close and personal friend of George Fenner, delivered a eulogy at the funeral of George Fenner where he offered his thoughts and recalled the many donations to the school and his support of the local community.
Both Dr. Breiseth and Mr. Fenner were members of the Torch Club which is an intellectual organization of leading citizens who met regularly to discuss current local issues and events. Mr. Fenner was always interested in the local history and preserving the local environment. He donated several acres of woodlands to the Pennsylvania Game Commission so that they could be preserved as wildlife areas. His philanthropy also benefited the First Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre, where he was an elder as well as a lifelong member. He was regarded by his colleagues as the most knowledgeable land lawyer of his time, his success in buying and selling local real estate that helped him share his profits with the community. He also had other interests that were not related to law, which included fishing, photography, gardening, and geology. After his passing his collection of geologic specimens was donated to Wilkes University along with this collection as well.
George Fenner’s relationship with Wilkes University, who received both his archaeological and mineral donations, was a long-standing one. In 1997 he received an Honorary Doctors Degree from Wilkes University and he became the schools first Honorary Trustee. Over the years Mr. Fenner gave gifts of financial assistance to a handful of students as well as donations of properties including the donation of both his home and office on South Franklin Street. These are now known around Wilkes campus as Fenner Hall and the greenway is now known as the Fenner Quadrangle. Former president of Wilkes University, Dr. Christopher Breiseth, who was a close and personal friend of George Fenner, delivered a eulogy at the funeral of George Fenner where he offered his thoughts and recalled the many donations to the school and his support of the local community.
Both Dr. Breiseth and Mr. Fenner were members of the Torch Club which is an intellectual organization of leading citizens who met regularly to discuss current local issues and events. Mr. Fenner was always interested in the local history and preserving the local environment. He donated several acres of woodlands to the Pennsylvania Game Commission so that they could be preserved as wildlife areas. His philanthropy also benefited the First Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre, where he was an elder as well as a lifelong member. He was regarded by his colleagues as the most knowledgeable land lawyer of his time, his success in buying and selling local real estate that helped him share his profits with the community. He also had other interests that were not related to law, which included fishing, photography, gardening, and geology. After his passing his collection of geologic specimens was donated to Wilkes University along with this collection as well.
Historical Sketch of the Fenner Collection:
Mr. George Fenner most likely took many years to accumulate such a large and extensive artifact collection. Sadly, there seems to be no evidence that Mr. Fenner kept documentation on where he collected the specimens, ultimately destroying the archaeological sites. Once an artifact has been removed from the site it is removed from the original context. Although Mr. Fenner thought it was just a harmless hobby such as gardening, his collection actually has led to many headscratchers and deadends. If Mr. Fenner decided to join the local Society for Pennsylvania Archaeologist, he would have learned the dangers of collecting samples without taking notes of the location and proveniencing artifacts. All that we know about where he collected the artifacts is they were collected along the Susquehanna river. Many of the sites along the Susquehanna river are not protected and continue to be destroyed to this day by development. If Mr. Fenner had not collected these artifacts; the probability that no one would have seen them is high due to this destruction and development. However, if he did keep records on the exact locations that he collected from the collection itself would be a much more valuable contribution to understanding the prehistoric history of Pennsylvania.
According to Fenner’s executor, Mr. Jim Harris, Mr. Fenner acquired the majority of the prehistoric Native American artifacts that make up this collection during his many fishing trips around Pennsylvania. As an avid fisherman, he would notice oddly shaped rocks that turned out to be stone tools lying on an exposed surface in the areas he would spend time fishing. This is how his personal artifact collection began. Unfortunately, no journals or records of any sort were ever found that would have accompanied his collection. It is believed that Mr. Fenner grew his collection by more than just chance while fishing. It is possible that he would have gone to plowed fields to collect as well. There are many locations in the Wyoming Valley on the Susquehanna floodplain known to local artifact hunters to be rich in prehistoric Native American artifacts. It is also possible that Mr. Fenner purchased some items or had been gifted the artifacts. Mr. Harris believes that the majority of his collection was in fact collected here in Pennsylvania or more generally in the Mid-Atlantic region. This information fits with the artifacts types and styles that are represented in the Fenner Collection. At this point there is no further information about Mr. Fenners collecting habits or any of the specific locations that he would frequently fish or collect artifacts.
According to Fenner’s executor, Mr. Jim Harris, Mr. Fenner acquired the majority of the prehistoric Native American artifacts that make up this collection during his many fishing trips around Pennsylvania. As an avid fisherman, he would notice oddly shaped rocks that turned out to be stone tools lying on an exposed surface in the areas he would spend time fishing. This is how his personal artifact collection began. Unfortunately, no journals or records of any sort were ever found that would have accompanied his collection. It is believed that Mr. Fenner grew his collection by more than just chance while fishing. It is possible that he would have gone to plowed fields to collect as well. There are many locations in the Wyoming Valley on the Susquehanna floodplain known to local artifact hunters to be rich in prehistoric Native American artifacts. It is also possible that Mr. Fenner purchased some items or had been gifted the artifacts. Mr. Harris believes that the majority of his collection was in fact collected here in Pennsylvania or more generally in the Mid-Atlantic region. This information fits with the artifacts types and styles that are represented in the Fenner Collection. At this point there is no further information about Mr. Fenners collecting habits or any of the specific locations that he would frequently fish or collect artifacts.
References: Theresa Kintz Archaeological Report.
Extent
6 boxes (6 cubic feet boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Provenance:
According to Mr. Jim Harris, The Fenner estate attorney at law, it was during Mr. Fenner’s many fishing trips around Pennsylvania that he acquired the majority of the prehistoric Native American artifacts that comprise the Fenner collection. An avid fly fisherman, Mr. Fenner would notice the stone tools lying on exposed surfaces in the areas he visited while fishing and that is how he began amassing his private collection, according to Harris. Unfortunately, no journals or records were found accompanying the collection and any loose provenience documentation the artifacts once had were lost by the time Theresa Kintz, Archaeology professor at Wilkes at the time this collection was donated, gained access to the collection.
In Ms. Kintz’s opinion, the collection is so extensive and consists of so many perfect specimens of diagnostic tools suggests that Mr. Fenner probably had some means of acquiring artifacts other than chance encounters while fishing. Perhaps specifically doing walkovers in plowed fields collected some. There are many places in the Wyoming Valley on the Susquehanna floodplain known to local artifact ‘hunters’ to be rich repositories of Native American artifacts, or perhaps some of the pieces may have been purchased or traded or received as gifts by Mr. Fenner from other artifact collectors.
Mr. Harris believed that the majority of artifacts were most likely collected in the state of Pennsylvania, or generally in the Mid-Atlantic region. This information fits with the type styles and materials represented in the Fenner collection. There are no further details known about Mr. Fenner’s collecting habits or the specific locations Mr. Fenner frequented to fish and/or collect artifacts. The collection was donated to Wilkes University’s Department of Anthropology in 2001 where Dr. Brian Redmond, Geology professor, was in contact with the Fenner estate executor, Jim Harris, and contacted Dr. Merryman, an anthropology professor in the Social Sciences Department, about the donation. Once Redmond turned over the artifacts, Dr. Merryman contacted a local archaeological firm, Archaeological Research Inc. in Wilkes Barre to see if they could provide an expert to conduct an evaluation and appraisal of the collection.
Dr. Theresa Kintz was working as a consultant for the firm and was contacted. Dr. Merryman and Dr. Kintz met to look over the artifacts. Dr. Kintz agreed to do the report for $250.00. She took the artifacts, researched them, and produced an Archaeological Report in August 2002. At some point between 2001 and 2002, the collection of artifacts was transferred to the Wilkes University Archives.
In Ms. Kintz’s opinion, the collection is so extensive and consists of so many perfect specimens of diagnostic tools suggests that Mr. Fenner probably had some means of acquiring artifacts other than chance encounters while fishing. Perhaps specifically doing walkovers in plowed fields collected some. There are many places in the Wyoming Valley on the Susquehanna floodplain known to local artifact ‘hunters’ to be rich repositories of Native American artifacts, or perhaps some of the pieces may have been purchased or traded or received as gifts by Mr. Fenner from other artifact collectors.
Mr. Harris believed that the majority of artifacts were most likely collected in the state of Pennsylvania, or generally in the Mid-Atlantic region. This information fits with the type styles and materials represented in the Fenner collection. There are no further details known about Mr. Fenner’s collecting habits or the specific locations Mr. Fenner frequented to fish and/or collect artifacts. The collection was donated to Wilkes University’s Department of Anthropology in 2001 where Dr. Brian Redmond, Geology professor, was in contact with the Fenner estate executor, Jim Harris, and contacted Dr. Merryman, an anthropology professor in the Social Sciences Department, about the donation. Once Redmond turned over the artifacts, Dr. Merryman contacted a local archaeological firm, Archaeological Research Inc. in Wilkes Barre to see if they could provide an expert to conduct an evaluation and appraisal of the collection.
Dr. Theresa Kintz was working as a consultant for the firm and was contacted. Dr. Merryman and Dr. Kintz met to look over the artifacts. Dr. Kintz agreed to do the report for $250.00. She took the artifacts, researched them, and produced an Archaeological Report in August 2002. At some point between 2001 and 2002, the collection of artifacts was transferred to the Wilkes University Archives.
Acquisition:
The Fenner collection was donated to the Wilkes University Department of Anthropology by the Fenner estate in 2001 prior to George L. Fenner Jr.’s death on November 16, 2001. The collection was donated to the Wilkes University’s Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences (now Environmental Engineering, Earth Science, and Geology) Department and was most likely transferred to the Wilkes University Archives ca. 2001-2002. Fenner also donated a collection of minerals which were displayed in a dedicated glass case on the fourth floor of Stark Hall. The department later moved to Cohen Hall but it’s unclear what happened to the mineral collection.
Condition Note:
The artifacts in this collection are in good condition with exception to the artifacts that broke during use such as prehistoric native american tools. All artifacts are in decent condition unless specifically specified that the artifact was broken.
Copyright Status:
Wilkes University retains copyright.
Series Descriptions
The Fenner Collection is arranged into three series: Series I: Prehistoric Native American Cultural Artifacts, 1000 BCE -450BCE, Series II: Prehistoric Native American Projectile Points and Knives, 1000 BCE-450 BCE, and Series III: Prehistoric Native American Tools from Archaic and Woodland Periods, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE. Each series is organized into subseries to reflect the various types of Native American artifacts and their functions.
Series I is arranged alphabetically and contains cultural artifacts such as pottery, accessories, and possibly jewelry. The rim shards and body shards in this series were pieces of larger pottery bodies that were used for the storage of water, food, and ingredients for teas and other herbal treatments. The other cultural artifacts were used for appearance, these pieces allowed other members of the tribes to know their rank, historical background and it allowed them to showcase their individuality. The rest of the artifacts in this series include broken stones, early Archaic artifacts, some non-cultural rocks as well as other unidentified stones and the use is not known since the artifacts are untyped.
Series II is categorized chronologically over the Archaic and Woodland time periods (1000BCE-450BCE) and contains projectile points and knives. These projectile points and knives were used in the hunting and gathering processes as they were vital for hunting game and collecting other resources such as leather and fibers.
Series III is arranged alphabetically and includes a wide variety of different types of tools. These tools range from 1000 BCE to 450 BCE also known as the Woodland to the Archaic period. This series includes a wide variety of different prehistoric tools, tools such as mortars and pestles, net sinkers, scrapers, drills, flint, flaked stones, hammer stones, and grooved axe heads. The tools such as the net sinkers were attached to fishing nets so that the net would sink to the bottom along with the fish that it would trap. This systematic tool allowed Native Americans to catch more fish. Hammerstones were used to produce other tools such as the flaked stones that were then used for producing projectile points and knives. Although the provenience for these prehistoric Native American artifacts is lost because Mr. Fenner did not document the exact locations for where he removed these artifacts, we are still able to determine the general time periods in which these artifacts were used and their possible functions. Many items were used for hunting and fishing, collecting wood, and making shelter, while the cultural artifacts were used for pottery/aesthetic purposes. So each of the series in this collection were crucial to the survival of their culture as well as the survival of them as a group.
Series I is arranged alphabetically and contains cultural artifacts such as pottery, accessories, and possibly jewelry. The rim shards and body shards in this series were pieces of larger pottery bodies that were used for the storage of water, food, and ingredients for teas and other herbal treatments. The other cultural artifacts were used for appearance, these pieces allowed other members of the tribes to know their rank, historical background and it allowed them to showcase their individuality. The rest of the artifacts in this series include broken stones, early Archaic artifacts, some non-cultural rocks as well as other unidentified stones and the use is not known since the artifacts are untyped.
Series II is categorized chronologically over the Archaic and Woodland time periods (1000BCE-450BCE) and contains projectile points and knives. These projectile points and knives were used in the hunting and gathering processes as they were vital for hunting game and collecting other resources such as leather and fibers.
Series III is arranged alphabetically and includes a wide variety of different types of tools. These tools range from 1000 BCE to 450 BCE also known as the Woodland to the Archaic period. This series includes a wide variety of different prehistoric tools, tools such as mortars and pestles, net sinkers, scrapers, drills, flint, flaked stones, hammer stones, and grooved axe heads. The tools such as the net sinkers were attached to fishing nets so that the net would sink to the bottom along with the fish that it would trap. This systematic tool allowed Native Americans to catch more fish. Hammerstones were used to produce other tools such as the flaked stones that were then used for producing projectile points and knives. Although the provenience for these prehistoric Native American artifacts is lost because Mr. Fenner did not document the exact locations for where he removed these artifacts, we are still able to determine the general time periods in which these artifacts were used and their possible functions. Many items were used for hunting and fishing, collecting wood, and making shelter, while the cultural artifacts were used for pottery/aesthetic purposes. So each of the series in this collection were crucial to the survival of their culture as well as the survival of them as a group.
Series I: Prehistoric Native American Cultural Artifacts, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE
Series I: Prehistoric Native American Artifacts, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE is arranged alphabetically and contains three subseries: Subseries I: Pottery and Aesthetic Artifacts, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE, Subseries II: Cultural Accessories, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE, and Subseries III: Cultural Stones, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE. The rim shards and body shards in this series were pieces of larger pottery bodies that were used for the storage of water, food, and ingredients for teas and other herbal treatments. The other cultural artifacts were used for appearance, these pieces allowed other members of the tribes to know their rank, historical background and it allowed them to showcase their individuality. The rest of the artifacts in this series include broken stones, early Archaic artifacts, some non-cultural rocks as well as other unidentified stones and the use is not known since the artifacts are untyped.
Subseries I: Pottery and Aesthetic Artifacts, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE
Subseries I: Pottery and Aesthetic Artifacts, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE (Box 1), is arranged alphabetically, and is contained within box number one, in this box includes a bunch of prehistoric native american miscellaneous rocks and artifacts. These artifacts range in date from the early Archaic (650 BCE - 450 BCE) to the late Woodlands (Around 1000 BC). Artifacts such as rim shard incised, body shard incised and prehistoric ceramic shards. The rim shards and body shards were pieces of larger pottery pieces that were used for the storage of water, food, and ingredients.
Subseries II: Cultural Accessories, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE
Subseries II: Cultural Accessories, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE (Box 1), is arranged alphabetically and contains accessories that would’ve been worn as a necklace . The age range for this series is early Archaic (650 BCE - 450 BCE) to the late Woodlands (1000 BC) as well. The artifacts include gorget fragments, neckwear accessories and a portion of a white tail deer antler. These cultural artifacts were used for appearance, these pieces allowed other members of the tribes to know their rank, historical background and it allowed them to showcase their individuality.
Subseries III: Cultural Stones, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE
Subseries III: Cultural Stones, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE (Box 1), is arranged alphabetically and contains items that could have been decorative and stones that we are uncertain of their use. The artifacts range from early Archaic (650 BCE - 450 BCE) to the late Woodlands (1000 BCE) as well. The artifacts in this subseries include broken stones, early Archaic artifacts, some non-cultural rocks as well as other unidentified stones.
Series II:Prehistoric Native American Projectile Points and Knives, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE
Series II:Prehistoric Native American Projectile Points and Knives, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE (Box 2), is arranged into three subseries. The subseries are arranged chronologically. Subseries I: Archaic Projectile Points, 650 BCE - 450 BCE, Subseries II: Woodland Projectile Points, 1000 BCE - 650 BCE, and Subseries III: Untyped Projectile Points and Knives, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE. Series II contains Otter Creek Points, Normanskill Points, Lecroy Skill Points, Port Marthland Points, Jack's Reef Pentagonal Points, Jack’s Reef Corner-Notched Points, Side Notched Projectile Points, Corner Notched Projectile Points, Broken Corner Notched Projectile Points, Non-Diagnostic Points, Rhyolite Points, and covers date ranges 450 BCE to 1000 BCE. These projectile points were key to the survival of the Native Americans as they were used as spears for hunting as well as knives for cutting possibly their game that they were hunting.
Subseries I: Archaic Projectile Points, 650 BCE - 450 BCE
Subseries I: Archaic Projectile Points, 650 BCE - 450 BCE (Box 2), is arranged chronologically and contains projectile points. These projectile points in this subseries are from the Archaic time period, ranging from 650 BCE - 450 BCE. Within this subseries includes Otter Creek Point (Archaic) and Norman Skill (Mid Archaic).
Subseries II: Woodland Projectile Points, 1000 BCE - 650 BCE
Subseries II: Woodland Projectile Points, 1000 BCE - 650 BCE (Box 2), is arranged chronologically and contains projectile points from the Woodland time period. The Woodland time period ranged from 1000 BCE to 650 BCE. The artifacts in this subseries include Lecroy Point (Late Archaic to Late Woodland), Port Marthland Point (Mid Woodland), Jack's Reef Pentagonal Point (Mid Woodland), and Jack’s Reef Corner-Notched Point (Mid to Late Woodland).
Subseries III: Untyped Projectile Points and Knives, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE
Subseries III: Untyped Projectile Points and Knives, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE (Box 2), is arranged alphabetically and contains prehistoric projectile points as well as some knives. This subseries' age ranges from the early Archaic to the late Woodland period (1000 BCE - 450 BCE). The artifacts in this subseries includes Side Notched Projectile Points, Corner Notched Projectile Points, Broken Corner Notched Projectile Points, Non-Diagnostic, and Rhyolite.
Series III: Prehistoric Native American Tools from Archaic and Woodland Periods, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE
Series III: Prehistoric Native American Tools from Archaic and Woodland Periods, (1000 BC - 450 BCE), is arranged alphabetically into three subseries. Subseries I (Boxes 3-4) includes tools, subseries II (Box 5) is large mortar and pestle and subseries III (Box 6) is axe heads. This series includes a wide variety of different prehistoric tools, tools such as mortars and pestles, net sinkers, scrapers, drills, flint, flaked stones, hammer stones, and grooved axe heads. All of these artifacts can be dated back to the Archaic and Woodland periods as well.
Subseries I: Prehistoric Native American Tools and Hardware, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE
Subseries I: Prehistoric Native American Tools and Hardware, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE, is arranged alphabetically and is contained within box 3 and 4. The boxes contain items that were used for holding down the fishing net to rocks that were used as a hammer. The age range for this subseries is early Archaic (1000 BCE) to late Woodland (450 BCE). The artifacts in box 3 include Side Notched Net Sinkers, Flaked Stone, Debitage, Scrapers, Hammerstone (Untyped), and Drilled Rocks. The artifacts within box 4 are Flint, Drills (Whole and Broken), Scrapers and Bifaces (Untyped), Knives (Untyped), Flat Piece of Sandstone (Net Sinker?), Flaked Stone, and Black Chert. Alongside the other tools, all of these tools were just as crucial to the survival of the Native Americans. Net sinkers were used to collect fish to then eat. Hammer stones were used to produce flaked stones that would then be used like a knife to cut stuff, such as thread, leather and so on.
Subseries II: Mortar and Pestle, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE
Subseries II: Mortar and Pestle, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE, is arranged alphabetically and is contained within box 3 and box 5. The artifacts within this subseries range in age from early Archaic (1000 BCE) to late Woodland (450 BCE). Box 3 contains Mortar and Pestle and box 5 contains a large mortar and pestle from the Woodland period. These were used for grinding up spices and ingredients for cooking and herbal health such as teas.
Subseries III: Axe Heads, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE
Subseries III: Axe Heads, 1000 BCE - 450 BCE, is arranged alphabetically and contains axe heads from the early Archaic (1000 BCE) to late Woodland (450 BCE). The artifacts in this subseries are contained in box 3 and box 6. Axe Heads were typically used to hunt animals, dig, chop wood and remove bark from a tree. The artifacts in box 3 are Broken Axe, and in box 6 the artifacts are Grooved Axes. The axe heads were used primarily for woodworking, like cutting and gathering wood from trees. The axes were also used for wood carving as well.
Processed By:
Dawson Sensenig, Archives Work-Study, supervised and edited by Suzanna Calev, Archivist, Fall 2021.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu