MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO, inspired by knapping demos of Errett Callahan at a West Virginia archeological workshop we had all then attended, members of a group I had founded – NEAR (North East Archeological Researchers) – decided to undertake a limited “living archeology” experiment along broad lines defined previously by Errett. Our home base was Connecticut and when I discussed it further with Errett, he encouraged me to try this – noting that it would be quite interesting to have some data – even if limited – from our more northerly latitude. (We were restricted to a long weekend – insufficient perhaps for any really meaningful activity – but we felt it might serve as introduction to more extensive endeavors). Errett sent me his “Old Rag” report on his project down in Virigina – then in its second or third year, I believe – and general advice and cautions to be observed when leading largely city-raised volunteers into the woods to emulate the lifeways of earlier cultures…

Not far to the west of us across the state line in New York’s Westchester County, lay Ward’s Pound Ridge Reservation – a rather large nature preserve. A check with one of their officials revealed the Preserve was receptive to our project being conducted on its land. This was a large tract of “native” growth – such as is left in those environs - woods, glades, streams and clean springs presumed to bear at least some correspondence to the ancient Eastern sylva. We selected the site of a large rockshelter deep in the Preserve as the base for our activity. (This shelter had actually been occupied in prehistoric times and had been archeologically excavated some time before).

One of the most helpful things I think is to disabuse participants of the notion upfront that such an activity is sort of “Green Beret survival camp.” All understand it is to be a trying and unfamiliar time, but this is not an excuse to just plunge in unprepared and bank on grit alone to get you through! (It is often overlooked that the early Amerinds were not “survival freaks:” they were living on home base, within evolved cultural networks, with hearth and home and friendly help always close at hand!).

The goal of the project is to study and duplicate where possible, aspects of ancient behavior and experience: to those ends it pays even to be sure the right materials (as might be encountered naturally) are actually at hand for the activities. Errett had counseled on this in his write-ups. Accordingly the week before I, and several others, had “primed” the area both with a supply of suitable quartz stream cobbles for stoneworking investigations – and with a deposit of blue clay for ceramics trials. Both were obtained from local but more distant sources, solely to save time in seeking them out later. Much time can be wasted if all effort goes into “finding” materials sources – if this aspect is not really one of the parameters to be determined.

Containers and firemaking skills were also emphasized in the Old Rag report, so our group arrived with individual textile foraging bags at their belts, and in one or two cases - hand baskets. A group co-leader had “promised” he could make fire with bow and drill – but when put to the test, failed. I am proficient with flint and steel, and had pocketed my kit against dire emergency: with it I soon had a fire – though the steel striker was of course an unhappy time warp… Moral: as Old Rag and others had warned: those who “promise” to perform needed skills up front, must be thoroughly checked out beforehand.

Our errant firemaker, however, later proved to be a rather skilled ethnobotanist, and with his assistance various foraging parties located wild berry patches in the preserve and patches of ground nuts, red sumacs (assuaged thirst), and one or two other “edible” or interesting plants (including wild flags or “singer’s root” (Algonkin) growing in a nearby marsh – and all learned firsthand of masticatories and their ancient uses, etc.) For our short-term trials, we had allowed everyone to bring in a supply of jerked beef (made by themselves!) only. No one was really “full” that weekend and the mild hunger pangs were a realistic reminder of probably the number one concern of all life on a preindustrial level.

Errett’s schematics and drawings in Old Rag were quite useful – hafting and “how to flake” being carefully studied beforehand by all members of our group. That all this was in the name of Science was driven home by Errett’s reminders to map, record and photograph our actvities – which we did – including scatter patterns of debitage which accumulated around the chipping stations in the shelter.

I would say all in all the “experiment” was informative even given its severe time constraints. But in the end it fell short of what it might have been. It fell short I feel for an element Old Rag had warned of – but which I think might be emphasized much more. And this is the danger of “social breakdown” under even mild duress among participants who have not all been adequately “brought on board” first. Investigations of primitve lifestyles are just that – and in my book –nothing more. However, many participants will try to use such occasions – even as they will use archeological digs themselves – to invoke disruptive positions about the exploitations of history. Whatever merit these views have, they are NOT appropriate in such activities as these for the simple reason they are very polarizing. Where all must work to the common end, a polarized constituency is fatal.

Miami, FL
April 1, 2001