Trying to make sense of a land area and it's usage

[StephanieWho]

I live in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains, and spend about 6 days a week up there with my husband. (He trains squirrel dogs) Through the years we have found a major assortment of ground finds that show up after a good rain. I know we are live in Caddo territory, and have done some research, but none answers my questions.

1. There is a spring, I understand the need for an abundance of good fresh water, and the area after a good rain shows obvious usage. Would there possible been a village close or within proximity?

2. I know of a navaculite pit in the mountains, it's an amazing place. You can not take a step on that mountain that you are not stepping on chips that have been taken out of the hole. The pit would fit 2 full size pickups in it. At the top of the mountain there is a water cistren built out of rocks with a walk way through the middle. No, I do not share it's location. I want it left alone. From what I gather on this site through research is it's about 15 miles south of Hot Springs, names after its natural resources. There was a trail from Hot Springs, to this Navaculite pit...and then southward more to Arkadelphia to the salt mines there where this Navaculite was traded. I also know that Navaculite is only found in Washington state and Arkansas. Arkansas's Navaculite snakes through the state from north to south for about 131 miles. (if my mileage is correct)

3. But this is where the question comes in....about a mile from the spring there is a 40 acre plot that was clear cut. There is not a step you can take in that area that you do no step on navaculite chips. There is some Navaculite at the top of the mountain, but no pit. Would the encampments or villages be that large? I have found some points in that 40 acres. I don't see them being left behind, so can someone explain what I'm finding....

I can see camps being at the pit, and at the springs, I get the trails..but the 40 acres which I'm sure is much larger than that with the combined wooded areas surrounding it. Why was so much left behind?

Years of toting it through the trails to use or trade?

In our mountains, I know of eleven different sites. Some make sense, some don't....

[OLChemist]

Welcome to powwows.com.

I think this is a little outside the expertise of our group. But, if you want to learn to make some fine moccs, [MENTION=527]wardancer[/MENTION] is the man to talk to.

[Red Heathen]

You say chips, but I'm not sure of the size. Are we to assume that they aren't chips that were chipped away, thus leftover?

A lot of land in that area has been and still is being logged. You can find remnants all over the Ouachitas and the Ozarks. People moved on a scheduled basis, but if you don't see sign that there were inhabitants other than the chips, then you may not really have come across an encampment. Geological or meteorological events could account for the chips being there. It is hard to understand without seeing what you're talking about. Could you add a photo? You can do so without anyone knowing where the location is.

[StephanieWho]

You say chips, but I'm not sure of the size. Are we to assume that they aren't chips that were chipped away, thus leftover?

A lot of land in that area has been and still is being logged. You can find remnants all over the Ouachitas and the Ozarks. People moved on a scheduled basis, but if you don't see sign that there were inhabitants other than the chips, then you may not really have come across an encampment. Geological or meteorological events could account for the chips being there. It is hard to understand without seeing what you're talking about. Could you add a photo? You can do so without anyone knowing where the location is.

I'll have to get some pics.
Yes, they are flakes that have been napped off. Some are as small as a fingernail and others are large chunks. We've found plenty of actual napped stone.

And that's how we come to figure out that one plot was covered with left over navaculite was it had been logged and they went back and made rows within the area which just turned up more pieces.

The whole area in the mountains that we roam and hunt in, has a very interesting history to it. I'm not far from Hot Springs, Arkansas. Hot Springs was a mystical area, full of hot water streams and all tribes were welcomed there...they had to lay their weapons and animosities aside while soaking in the streams for the healing qualities they received.

The story goes that they may come and stay for weeks on end, and would work in the navaculite pits close by, and take rock for trade. There is also old trails they walked that crossed over these mountains by the pits that also led to the salt mines in Arkadelphia, which was a highly traded commodity. So, as far as what tribe....or which tribes made camps around here, It's really unknown to me. I know which tribes were native to Arkansas. But to even guess as what I'm looking at, I can't.

I know a point or blade when I see it, I know the Navaculite by heart and pick it out like a needle in a haystack on the ground. We've found all types of "arrowheads", but will not, have not and won't dig. I say if it's meant to be found it will be lying there on the top.

But I'm just curious about such a large areas usage, unless I've already answered my own question.