State archaeological society forming local chapter

OSAGE CITY, Mo. - Those interested in preserving and learning about the prehistory of Mid-Missouri and beyond now have a local chapter of the Missouri Archaeological Society (MAS) to join.

The Ozarks Highland Chapter will help host the Missouri Archaeological Society's annual meeting April 7-9 in Camdenton.

President Dave Tyree said many archaeological studies have been done of this area, and he hopes the chapter will help to share that history with the community.

In the near future, they hope to host a program on the Osage Indians. And the chapter's monthly meetings welcome those interested in the subjects.

The local chapter, in particular, would like to encourage people who have collected artifacts in the area to record their findings to add to the greater area archaeological record.

One does not need to be a professional to join.

"Membership is open to anyone interested in the goals of preserving the record and learning more about it," Tyree said.

Tyree's interest began a few years ago when he began discovering pottery shards, stone points and other artifacts on his Osage City land near the Missouri River.

Through the chapter, he said he has enjoyed getting to know others with similar interests, as well as learning from local active and retired archaeologists.

"We had a high population of Native Americans in this area (dating) from the late paleolithic, nearly 12,000 years ago," Tyree said. "This is a good area for (sites dating to) different periods of time."

The largest prehistoric population in the Ozark Highlands would have been approximately 10,000 in the late Woodland Period, about 450-900 A.D.

The average person might not know the Dalton stone point style was named for a local hobbyist, Missouri Supreme Court Judge Sam Dalton, who discovered the first of its kind along the Maries River.

"There are so many different aspects to learning about the archaeology of our area that you might not have the benefit of knowing without MAS," Tyree said.

He said he has been impressed with the willingness of local professionals to share their findings and knowledge.

Membership to the society is $25 a year, including four quarterly publications.

The Ozark Highlands Chapter will meet at 2 p.m. March 26 in Osage City.

Call 573-338-1710 or email [email protected] for more information.

Link:

associations.missouristate.edu/mas/