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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday, November 19. 2003 Under the Dome: A Glimpse of Blandings Ancient Past Q: What is that strange, previous documentation. This architectural features that white dome on the north edge of Blanding? appears to have been the main settlement on White Mesa A: A new roof over a very old cannot be removed intact, the excavations have uncovered a wide array of artifacts and archaeological information. These finds include a d paint pot, various pigments, bone awls, arrow during the late 8th century house that was built and ancient by occupied A.D., a full century before the community center shifted to the Edge of the Cedars locality a half mile to the southwest. Blandingites in the late 700s A.D., more than 1,100 years before Albert R. Lyman became the modern communitys first settler. three-chambere- In an effort to save some information about this community before all remaining traces of it This is a pithouse (something like a fancy Navajo Hogan points, stone axe heads, grinding stones, ornaments disappear forever, the Trails of the Ancients Archaeological built half underground). It is exposed for the first time since its inhabitants walked away, but will be backfilled again in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, anyone interested in things ancient or out of the ordinary is invited to drop by and take a look. The remains of the pithouse hid forgotten and undetected for about sixty generations, narrowly escaping destruction by reservoir construction and land clearing, until a previous San Juan Society (TAAS Countys chapter of the Utah Statewide Archaeological Society) undertook volunteer excavation of the surviving features starting in August of 2002. For the past year, various members of the society and other interested people have contributed hundreds of hours to this project, slowly and meticulously exposing and documenting the floor, walls, adobe features, floor pits and artifacts in the first of the three pithouses. The Utah property owner bulldozed away most of the topsoil and much of the archaeological site several years ago. The bulldozing exposed the dark stains of several pit features that were deep enough to State Division of State History has provided small grants in support of some project costs, and helped with the purchase of the dome shelter. As a result of these efforts, one pit structure now lies fully exposed for the first time since its inhabitants dismantled it and turned it into a trash pit more than 1,200 years ago. In addition to some interesting and informative partly escape destruction. These features include three pithouses and several smaller pit features. They are a small remnant of what was once an extensive settlement whose remains have been mostly destroyed without any (including an unusual pendant carved in the shape of deer or bighorn sheep foreleg), a number of broken but restorable ceramic pots, and bags of sediment containing pollen grains, seeds and plant fragments that will provide insights into ancient diet and household organization. Dozens of archaeological sites of various ages are known to have been destroyed within the expanding city limits of Blanding. Except for a small part of a pithouse examined in Bret Hosiers yard a decade ago. this is the first to be The excavations are conducted with the consent of the present property owners, Steve and Donna Jensen. Collections are stored at Edge of the Cedars Museum pending laboratory analysis and report preparation, after which their permanent disposition will be determined by the Jensens. The dome will be temporarily dismantled and the excavated pithouse will be backfilled during the next few weeks. In order to give everyone a chance to view the excavation findings before the pithouse goes forever back - Rage 9 under, TAAS is hosting an open pit house at the excavation site on Saturday, November 22 (weather Selected permitting). artifacts, field notes and photographs will be available at the site on that day for In the public perusal. interested meantime, anyone in observing the excavation in progress is welcome to drop by the site whenever vehicles are present. The site is located at about 200 West S00 North in Blanding, in the vacant field between the Four Corners Regional Care Center and the LDS Stake Center. carefully documented and made part of our communitys recorded memory. The TAAS group plans to excavate the two remaining pithouses at the site during the next twelve months. Anyone interested in helping out is welcome, and no prior knowledge or experience is necessary. Interested parties should TAAS contact President Nancy Kimmerle at 678-218- 8. A Letter From Home 52 Weeks A Year Jeremy Raisor is Hying home on November 20 from the Tampa, Florida Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Saints. Having served the people of Florida for two years, he has come to love them and missionary work. Jeremy is the son of Dan and Heather Raisor of Blanding and the grandson of Kay Jones of Blanding and Jay Raisor of Latter-da- y Magna. He will speak in the Blanding Sixth Ward on November 28 at II a.m. in the Blanding North Chapel. Blanding Duncan Lyman Olsen has accepted a call to serve in the Culiacan Mexico Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints. He enters the Missionary Training Center on December 10, 2003. Duncan is the son of Stephen and Tara Dawn Olsen of Blanding. He is the grandson of Rex and Nancy Olsen ofSalt Lake City and DeReese and Helen Nielson of Blanding. Monticcllo 678-278- 1 587-230- 2 SAN JUAN PHARMACY Makes An Excellent Christmas Gift 3an Juan 'Kecorb HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY SINCE 1915 1 In-Cou- nty Year Subscription $18 Out-of-Coun- ty $26 Subscription for. Fall Decor Address City State. Gift Subscription from Seniors Deduct 50c from cost i. Zip -- -J ; please type or print clearly I). |