tainted. This so-called “professional” had gone The man was shamed and for good rea out of his way to slam me and I had to react. My Perhaps in the future, this reckless professio redemption, however, was to come from an unwill take a few moments to acknowledge usual and completely unexpected place. contributions of serious amateurs. Hone though, I wouldn’t take any bets on it. Weeks passed as I allowed my anger to I summarize this weird and somewhat co diminish and develop a viable plan C. One day, cal (but lately all too common) tale by ask at an auction, a rather distinguished looking what should we, the nonprofessional collec elderly gentleman strolled over to my table. He take away from it? Political correctness and seemed very interested in my coprolites, which emotionally overcharged sense of what is are 75 million years old fish feces (you read that torically right have infected our society like right) retrieved from the local creeks. out-of-control virus. The gentleman, Don Dorfman, Ph.D was It is now three times as hard to collect, head of the Marine Biology Department at the serve and report finds at a local level. All the University of Monmouth (West Long Branch, erage citizen is supposed to do is visit museu New Jersey). Don had both serious academic and watch the History Channel. We, as Am credentials and an open minded attitude. Most can citizens, still have the right to collect importantly, he gladly acknowledged the contridig, as long as we do it with permission and butions of amateurs to science and was fascinatwithin the bounds of the law. It is neither a r ed by my finds. After the Dalton point debacle, nor an obligation to follow in lock step beh Don became my ace in the hole. Professors pubthose who hold degrees. The margins, howe lish like a rabbit making bunnies and soon we are narrowing and the eyes (and voices) of th teamed up to publish a series of scientific articles who would condemn us are everywhere. The Dalton Point which based on my finds. The first was you guessed An expedition map of it on coprolites, then others followed. I evenwas rejected for publiPostscript tually asked if he could help me with the long shows cation by the newspa-the Hamilton estate In 2010, I discovered an on amazing 5.5 i neglected Dalton piece. per’s archaeologist. typical structures found stemmed Paleo point in Marlboro, New Jer Don knew the antagonistic archaeologist and __________ a colonial era West Indies It was perfect Paleo point number two and confided that he had a reputation for arrogance sugar plantation. course, it had to be recorded. Unfortunatel even among his peers. As for my Dalton point, went through many of the same problems I’d experienced alm he suggested we submit an article to the annual New Jersey shoreline was strewn with broken prehistoric Amerindian history of hidden treasure suddenly appearing. He told me half a decade earlier. It was a bit depressing; it felt like I’d ne Archaeology Bulletin. This periodical annually highlights the pottery, dating back to 700 A.D. The next Thankfully, day I was walkthat five years ago a field hand had found a crock of gold gone through the vetting process. a local commer Garden State’s most significant finds and is highly prestigious in ing where some of Nevis’ earliest inhabitants once had job on coins long hidden in a cistern. I asked him about all the bees monthly picked it up and did a better than expected scientific circles. One of Don’s closest friends was the managing a village. Most of the shards were quite thick and came flying around and he brought me to a small meadow filled article. chief editor and, ironically enough, the newspaper’s archaeologist from large cooking with hives, also where he was collecting honey. The buzzing For my the discovery rest of myofstay, I returned Morepots. recently, a partial mastodon skele sat on the board of the magazine. The web that was being brought quite a bit more recognition. Finally! It only t was incredibly loud and the old caretaker laughed, “Don’t to Bath House and further wandered around Nevis, searchwoven around this single spear point was getting thick indeed! numerous phone calls, several interviews and the backing of th ing old forts and the “haunted” Eden Brown estate without worry, man!InThey my friends.” He also said that he needed the spring of 2006 (almost a year after my find), the bulletin people with Ph.D’s. But I had evolved. I now at least existe seeing some moneyarrived to fill with a cardiac prescription. Sowrite-up, I helpedand himphotos an accurate, objective of theany ghostly brides floating around. eyes and thus, old the find could be properly If you’retheir looking to hunt plantations, Nevis isdocumented. the out and he and his dog pharmacy, after Dalton point.left It for wasthe latehospital in coming, but there it was: a literal media giveth and the media taketh away. But itwas should neve place. My expedition to the “Queen of the Caribbees” showing meexercise around.in persistence and luck. able to rob a afind of rate its provenance. The Hamilton had first adventure. I only wish I The gravyestate on top of my ‘taters was the verbal dressing down
many of the structures found on a West Indies sugar plantation, and was fascinating to explore (see the expedition map above). One curiosity was a stone wall attached to a natural rock outcropping, probably for water management purposes after the rain forest was cleared for planting cane. Further down the slope, I saw another stone structure that may have been a latrine. There was also a circular cattle mill. On my way back to Charlestown, I hitched a ride from another Peace Corps volunteer who told me about the Red Cliffs on Indian Castle estate. Here the upper
was there now!
For more on this subject, Aboutsuggests The Author the author the book Glenn Harbour has been digging and collecting sin Caribbean by James Michener. his teenage years and has traveled both the west an the east coast extensively in his pursuits of the pa Although his degree is not archaeology, he tak About TheinAuthor his hobby veryDetectorist seriously and considers and adventurerhimself to an amateur scientist. Hailing from central New Jerse Michael Chaplan is author Glenn is also of a prolific author and a local folk artist The Urban Treasure
Prehistoric Amerindian pottery Hunter. He is currently 2012 American Digger® Magazine shards (circa 700 A.D.) fromNovember-December large searching for a publisher cooking pots were strewn along for his new book, The the upper shoreline of the Red Caribbean Adventurer. Cliffs on Indian Castle estate. March-April 2012 American Digger Magazine
www.americandigger.com
45
87