It's a perfectly accurate word if you're not inclined to sit down and count
them all. I found four in a ten second search and went no further. But mea
culpa for the hyperbole. The point is that there's a lot more than zero on
even the narrow subject of battlefield archaeology, which of course is not
limited to the American Civil War (and from his comment I didn't think he
was talking only about battlefield archaeology specifically, but
archaeology in general).
Dane Magoon
<[log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask]
OM> cc: (bcc: Vergil Noble/MWAC/NPS)
Sent by: Subject: Re: Relic Hunting Dialogue Anyone?
HISTORICAL
ARCHAEOLOGY
<[log in to unmask]
>
09/10/04 11:13 AM
MST
Please respond to
HISTORICAL
ARCHAEOLOGY
Hey All:
The actual amount of published, non-grey literature on
Civil War battlefield site archaeology is somewhat
slim compared to the volume produced on other other
subjects of study within our field. I don't think
that "countless" is quite the right word to describe
what is readily available on the subject...
Dane Magoon
--- "Vergil E. Noble" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I am rather mystified by his remark:
>
> "Relic Hunters are responsible for hundreds of books
> and articles on the
> minutia of camplife, battlefield troop positions,
> equipment, etc. I have
> yet to see one book emanating from professional
> archaeological field digs.
> Not one book. Not even an article."
>
> Obviously he hasn't looked very hard. Granted most
> of the published works
> would not be found in one's local library, but a
> quick search of the
> Internet or a trip down to a full-service bookstore
> would locate countless
> references readily available to the public on
> subjects to which he is
> devoted. He alludes to collaboration between the NPS
> and relic collectors,
> and indeed metal-detecting groups have worked
> closely with archeologists as
> volunteers on many a battlefield project. You might
> tell your correspondent
> that there's at least four books available at
> Amazon.com by Doug Scott on
> projects he accomplished with such collaboration at
> the Little Bighorn
> Battlefield in Montana.
>
>
>
>
>
> Randy
> Lichtenberger To:
> [log in to unmask]
> <Randy@POPLARFORE cc:
> (bcc: Vergil Noble/MWAC/NPS)
> ST.ORG>
> Subject: Relic Hunting Dialogue Anyone?
> Sent by:
> HISTORICAL
> ARCHAEOLOGY
> <[log in to unmask]
> >
>
>
> 09/10/04 08:27 AM
> AST
> Please respond to
> HISTORICAL
> ARCHAEOLOGY
>
>
>
>
>
>
> All,
> I received the following rant last night from one of
> the "authors" who
> participated in "Diggin' in Virginia I." The full
> text of his email along
> with my response follows. Comments?
> Randy
>
> >From: "Steve Sylvia" <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Diggin In Virginia
> >Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 15:24:42 -0400
> >
> >Mr. Lichtenberger,
> >
> >I read a posting you made recently regarding
> Diggin' in Virginia. It
> >seemed evident to me that you are unaware of the
> circumstances
> >surrounding the event. I am keenly aware of the
> depredations made by a
> >selfish and criminal element within the ranks of
> relic hunters. Such an
> >element should not define the whole. I am sure
> there is an unsavory
> >element within the ranks of professional
> archaeologists also. The dark
> >side of human nature will rear its ugly head
> regardless of profession.
> >However, to condemn all relic hunters, as most of
> your profession are
> >wont to do, is quite vexing to those of us in the
> majority. (I don't
> >believe today's archaeologists would care to be
> defined by the illegal
> >and immoral undertakings of those who have pillaged
> Egypt's tombs for
> >over a century.)
> >
> >Your recent post is a case in point. It seems
> that, in your zeal to
> >disparage all relic hunting activities, you are
> willing to forsake the
> >very tenets which rule your own
> profession-research, investigation,
> >examination, evaluation, etc. Had you performed
> those you would have
> >discovered that this particular event was a salvage
> operation. The
> >three acres involved were on the cusp of
> development. The dig was
> >conducted several weeks prior to total destruction
> by developers. The
> >entire site is now gone-bulldozed, landscaped, and
> built upon.
> >
> >Our efforts resulted in identifying the occupants
> (4th Michigan Inf.),
> >identifying the time and duration of occupancy
> (fall 1862-spring 1863),
> >mapping the camp layout and hut positions via GPS,
> and the recovery and
> >recording of hundreds of artifacts. Furthermore,
> several professional
> >archaeologists were involved in the effort. They
> offered advice and
> >assistance with several aspects of the dig. The
> results of the dig were
> >written and published in North South Trader's Civil
> War magazine.
> >
> >Your threat to alert the Virginia archaeological
> community of this
> >"depredation" would prove embarrassing to you once
> the facts were
> >known--facts that you should have availed yourself
> of before ringing an
> >alarm bell.
> >
> >Your concern with "high dollar" relic hunting is
> also not pertinent to
> >this particular event. The organization sponsoring
> this event is a
> >non-profit outfit. The amateurs actually paid to
> dig in the rain for
> >three days in order to "buy" permission from the
> landowner to descend on
> >his property.
> >
> >Archaeology is a paid profession. Our only pay is
> the pleasure derived
> >from recovery itself. Granted, the relics have
> monetary value, but the
> >value of the relics against the time involved for
> recovery would equate
> >to about a dollar an hour. I'm sure you make more
> than that!
> >
> >I realize that your methodology is archaic, pardon
> the pun, for the
> >purposes of salvage archaeology-you can't excavate
> three acres of hut
> >sites in three days with garden trowels and
> toothbrushes-but you might
> >consider the enormous benefit derived in such
> situations by us amateurs
> >with our demonic metal detectors. We, as a group,
> have contributed
> >greatly to the pool of knowledge about the Civil
> War. Relic hunters are
> >responsible for hundreds of books and articles on
> the minutia of camp
> >life, battlefield troop positions, equipment, etc.
> I have yet to see
> >one book emanating from professional archaeological
> field digs. Not one
> >book. Not even an article.
> >
> >I, for one, would certainly be interested in a
> dialogue with someone
> >such as you for the purpose of clarifying motives
> and, most important,
> >results. Perhaps, one day, a collaborative effort
> such as those with
> >the National Park Service could be effected between
> us amateurs and you
> >professionals here in Virginia.
> >
> >Stephen W. Sylvia
> >
> >Publisher
> >
> >North South Trader's Civil War magazine
>
> My response 9/10/04
>
> Mr. Sylvia,
>
> I am glad that my recent posting on the
> subject of "Diggin' in
> Virginia" has come to your attention. I would hope
> that
=== message truncated ===
=====
Dane Magoon
Project Manager/Principal Investigator
Cultural Resources, Inc.
710 Littlepage Street, Suite C
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Phone: (540) 370-1973
Fax: (540) 370-0904
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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