Research on natural processes that cause erosion and, in particular, studies of wave action, sediment transport, and ice movement offers guidance for understanding and predicting what can happen to archaeological remains exposed in the shoreline fluctuation zones of impounded water bodies. A field experiment to examine the effects of wave action and ice movement on stone artifacts placed in a fluctuation zone demonstrates that archaeological materials can be moved considerable distances over a single season. The experiment suggests that caution is necessary for accurately interpreting the meaning of archaeological specimens found on the shores of artificially impounded water bodies.

The Angus Mammoth site in south-central Nebraska has been controversial since its discovery in 1931 when a fluted artifact was reported to be associated with the mammoth. For nearly 80 years it has not been known if Angus was a paleontological site predating the human occupation of North America as has been asserted by some geologists and paleontologists, or an archaeological site dating to the late Pleistocene as has been advocated by some archaeologists. Geomorphic study and luminescence dating have finally solved the problem after nearly eight decades. Although microwear and technological analyses have determined that the Angus biface is an authentic artifact, TL and IRSL dates have shown that the matrix above the mammoth is much too old for a mammoth/fluted point association to be valid.

The Natchez Trace Parkway is an area, still in a construction stage, controlled by the National Park Service. The Park Service's three general policies of presentation, protection, and interpretation are familiar to most Americans through either reading or travel, or both. Recently an innovation in Park Service areas—on a grand scale—has been introduced by congressional action, so that the Service has begun the development of a series of parkways. These parkways—sired by the East's super-highways with restricted traffic—are in effect elongated parks consisting of a high-standard roadway insulated from unsightly commercial encroachment and despoliation by the usual Park Service regulations regarding protection of natural beauty. Of the three parkways, the George Washington in Virginia is both scenic and utilitarian, the Blue Ridge is essentially a scenic recreational effort, while the Natchez Trace Parkway is commemorative of an ancient road of considerable importance in the early history of the nation.

Prosecutions of looters under the U.S. Government's Archeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) have heretofore come in cases involving federal or Indian land, thus limiting applications of the law and questions about both the law and the legal rights of artifact collectors. In this essay we examine the GE Mound case, the first prosecution and conviction of a group of looters under ARPA for interstate transport of artifacts illegally removed from private property. The GE Mound case serves as a textbook on issues that currently confront archaeology. The conflicting interests of archaeologists, looters, other artifact collectors, and Native Americans are illustrated in the legal proceedings and the controversies surrounding the prosecution. We review the proceedings and controversies to establish a factual record for this precedent-setting and politically sensitive case.

In a recent article Thomas W. Stafford, Jr., outlined results of geological investigations (1974–1978) at the Lubbock Lake site (41LU1). Geological, pedological, and archaeological investigations conducted by the authors since 1972 govern these clarification comments offered. Numerical or stratigraphic corrections are included for several radiocarbon ages presented by Stafford. Five stratigraphic units at Lubbock Lake span the past 11,000 + years, grading from alluvial to lacustrine to marsh and finally eolian sediments. Assessing the archaeological potential of the Southern High Plains on the basis of Lubbock Lake is inadvisable due to limited and possibly biased data.

Upon examination of a series of artifacts found at the Poverty Point site, West Carroll Parish, Louisiana, in the collection of James Durham of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, I noted one plummet made of native copper (Fig. 1). As copper objects are unreported for the Poverty Point site (Haag and Webb 1953), it is worthwhile to note the existence of this specimen.

The plummet is made of native copper, probably hammered into shape from a copper nugget. It measures 48 mm. in length, 20 mm. in diameter and is perforated for suspension. The plummet was picked up on the surface at the Poverty Point site by James Durham's brother, F. M. Durham, in 1944. According to F. M. Durham the specimen was found south of the large mound, in the area between the mound and the river.

During September of 1958 M. B. McKusick and C. N. Warren conducted archaeological excavations on San Clemente Island, California. In 1959 the result of their work was published. They delineate three cultural complexes for the island which are named “Milling Stone,” “Mortar and Pestle,” and “Big Dog.” The data presented by McKusick and Warren are examined and their three cultural complexes are rejected because these complexes are not adequately supported by the data.

A radiocarbon date of A.D. 1015 for the Macon Earthlodge, Ocmulgee National Monument, has recently been determined. The material dated was part of a charred roof beam. This date, and another from the Brown's Mount component, agrees with generally accepted dates for the Macon Plateau period in central Georgia.

In 1946 and 1947 Dr. C.L. Glenn of Vanderbilt University gathered a collection of sherds from nine sites in the vicinity of Myrtle Beach, Horry County, South Carolina. These sherds were presented to the Smithsonian Institution. Some of the sherds were obtained to the north of Myrtle Beach, others in the immediate vicinity, and still others to the south of the city. The sites consist of small sandy ridges, 20 to 30 feet above mean sea level and overlooking Long Bay.

Dr. Glenn reports that the sites contained ashes, sherds, and a few scattered oyster shells of the “racoon” type, which is the common type found in this vicinity. No bone, antler, or stone material was found in the debris deposit. He states that no local stones are present from which to fashion implements and that the very few which are found are crude and made from imported stones. In the entire collection, only two stone artifacts are included—one projectile point and one scraper.

Up to the present no fluted points have been discovered in Ontario. A small number having some affinities to the type have been found in various parts of the Province, but none has come to light under conditions of controlled excavation. It is with a view to making available what information there is concerning those we have that this note is submitted and the illustrations published. The originals of all those shown, in addition to three not illustrated, are in the collections of the Royal Ontario Museum of Archaeology at Toronto.

It is pointed out and stressed that, when dealing with botanical material, the investigator should be wary of listing the plant's name only in the local language or by the English common name. It is also stressed that one should not attempt to "translate" plants listed only by their common name into their appropriate scientific name without being aware of the dire consequences which may be produced.

As is well known, one of the most serious handicaps to archaeology along the Atlantic Seaboard is the scarcity of deep stratified sites. Shallow sites are numerous, but if these ever contained superimposed cultures, the evidence in most cases seems to have been destroyed by the plow. Furthermore, as the result of an intense population, the most likely Indian sites are now covered by cities, towns and farms. These factors coupled with a humid climate, so destructive to all but non-perishable artifacts, have combined to present us with most difficult problems.

It must not be supposed that the case is hopeless, but it is obvious that unless some unforeseen good fortune should bring to light exceptional sites, progress toward the eventual understanding of the chronological aspects of the archaeology of the region will be made only through a most laborious process.

In this autobiographical sketch, George Irving Quimby recounts his long and happy career based on recollections of personal and academic experiences and the insights they have provided. In addition, Quimby’s career can be situated within the development of American archaeology, thus providing a contribution to the historical record of the discipline.

Our editor has asked me to prepare a personal account of the most important processes and events that affected the archaeology of the northeastern United States during the last 50 years. This is no small undertaking, considering that the larger part of our knowledge of the prehistory of this area has accumulated during that time. Moreover, because the inception of my service in unraveling the prehistoric events in the Northeast precedes the period by a decade, it may be difficult to confine my summary to post-1935. As a further complication, my recollections, especially of the precise ordering of the theoretical deliberations, may not be wholly consonant with those of some of my colleagues. Nevertheless, I offer the following necessarily very concise summation.