Spearhead Key to Unlocking History

The Student Life section of Utah State Today highlights work written by the talented student journalists at Utah State University. Each week, the editor selects a story that has been published in The Utah Statesman or the Hard News Café, or both, for inclusion in Utah State Today.

 

 

By by Jessica Sweat in The Utah Statesman, Wednesday, April 21, 2010

 

More than 40 years ago, one young girl unveiled a rare find while working on her grandfather’s potato farm. Today, this find will have USU anthropologist Bonnie Pitblado up to her knees not only in dirt but in excitement, too.

 

At the second annual Prehistoric Artifact Road Show, LeeAnn Hartner from Driggs, Idaho, shared her story and her find with Pitblado. Hartner had lived in Teton Valley and came across a spearhead while digging potatoes in a field. For years it has been in her possession, her children even taking it for show and tell at school. Little did they know, they were holding a spearhead just about 13,000 years old.

 

“It is a highly significant find,” Pitblado said. “It is in pristine condition.”

 

Because of its age, the spearhead gains the title Clovis.

 

“I have never found anything Clovis. That is definitely rare,” Pitblado said. “Some researchers may never even find one.”

 

The spearhead will unlock a little more history for anthropologists and students. It is expected to give more of an idea to what materials and stone technology were utilized and available in that time.

 

“We don’t have that footprint yet,” Pitblado said.

 

There is little known about prehistoric civilizations in the surrounding Utah, Wyoming and Idaho areas. Hartner’s find may become the first documented of its kind.

 

The discovery will send Pitblado and anthropolgy students to Driggs, [and] Cache and Rich counties to see if there is more to be found. The find is expected to add to all kinds of evidence that early inhabitants of the land did in fact live in the area. Pitblado said students who accompany her become part of a team that finds more than just artifacts. They gain a richer and more hands-on experience than that of the classroom, she said. They achieve this by working with others to gain a sense of community, she said.

 

“We are the face,” Pitblado said. “I want to be a good face for science, for archeology and for Utah State.”

 

Holly Andrew, student, said, “Just to find archeology was awesome but to find something this rare was shocking.”

 

Andrew attended the roadshow and was present while the spearhead was being discussed.

 

“We were all very excited,” Andrew said. “I’ve seen a lot of replicas, but to actually touch one was breathtaking.”

 

Andrew also described Hartner as “glowing.”

 

Pitblado said any finder is more than welcome to share in the process, and that includes Hartner if she wants to. Pitblado is one of the professionals who will help any anthropology-enthused citizen become part of the project and learn how to record future finds.

 

While the spearhead is back in Hartner’s possession, Pitblado said she can’t wait for her follow-up of the area.

 

“It is an enormously sexy find,” Pitblado said.

 

Hoping to unravel more finds, Pitblado can’t wait to see what shows up at next year’s road show.

 

– jessie.a.sweat@aggiemail.usu.edu