Post by lanceslambos on Dec 5, 2014 21:55:37 GMT -6
Four years ago I discovered that I had a semi famous great,great grandpa who was a circuit rider across 6 states immediately after the Civil War. He was especially known throughout the Ozarks and baptized over 2,000 people at Bluff Church on the river in a place called Hogscald Holler in NW Arkansas. I was immediately fascinated about this place once I seen it: a vast Indian ceremonial campground with seven waterfalls, a cave, a dozen rock shelters, and an old grist mill all crammed into 12 of the most scenic acres you could imagine.
aurorah.proboards.com/thread/25708
aurorah.proboards.com/thread/25835/hogscald-holler-10-4-12
As hard as it is to believe how unique this place is, it's even harder to believe that no one has EVER so much as even compiled any research on this valley, yet dozens of prolific artists and authors had taken an interest in Hogscald from at least 1892. Here I was armed with my gr, gr grandfather's own journals and numerous valueable leads still untapped since he had recorded them over a hundred years ago.
It consumed me and I published his biography, then before I knew it I was the official site steward of Hogscald for O.R.L.T., the land entity which owns it today. I joined the Arkansas Archaeological Society and through several field schools worked my way into the Arkansas Archaeological Survey. A year later I was accepted as their site steward of Hogscald too. I felt compelled to protect this wonderful place and preserve it for future generations, after all it was the Confederate Kitchen during the Civil War. I conceived a plan to go back and finish college after a twenty year absence and eventually would become an archaeologist. That was in 2011/2012, and know I only have about 4 or 5 semesters left. Three days of finals next week and another semester is finished yay.
I rarely toot my own horn this loud but everything has fell into place so well that I really must proclaim! Despite being reserved for undergrad seniors and grad students, despite being neither; the anthropology department has taken special consideration and granted me the maximum student independent study opportunity! That is to say 160 hours of research study devoted to this site for mapping, survey, interviews, report writing, etc. and shall be worth 4 credit hours towards my major in archaeology.
Most of my proffesors know my story (coming back to school because of this site) but when I found out that I was going to get to spread out a minimum of ten hours a week from Jan 12- May 12 exploring prehistoric cave occupations or mapping Confederate training grounds at my own leisure and pace for course credit in beautiful pristine Ozark mountain forests I jumped through the roof. I will be working not only for Missouri State but in conjunction with the University of Arkansas and report monthly with my findings to the Arkansas Archaeological Survey. All that's required of MSU is a measely four page report of my experience and a copy of my log book showing completion of 160 hours. My instructor told me I could even count my driving time but that will never happen because I am going to over achieve so bad just like I have been for the past few years. I'm the only site steward for the Survey that doesn't live in Arkansas, I've already completed seven field schools in archaeology with a few more planned. That's more than most professors!
One of my buddies so happens to be who I'll be reporting to with the Survey (As of last year I'm a level 3 field crew member of the Survey) He's also on the board and has a big say in who gets into the archaeology program at U of A when it comes to grad school there. I fully intend to be published in the Arkansas Archaeologist next year after my independent study is over. I can also count the 160 hours towards my certification with the Survey. Oh ya, over and above school I'm going for certified state archaeologist with the Survey, something attainable without a masters degree because it's its own intensive program.
So now everyone knows why I'm hardly on here anymore. A consistently broken down Aurora was NOT the reason. I got a Jeep this Spring specifically for: bad weather, hunting, fishing, camping, and archaeology vehicle and she's been so nice. Here I am last month at Hogscald up on the highest point of the property- 1,750 ft. which isn't exactly high but the old logging road sure is tight and windy and straight up around 30 degrees the whole way. I could never have climbed it in a car.
Some surface finds from that day included salt glazed stoneware fragment (1820-1870), a tested chert core and several preforms,depression milk glass and late 19th cent. creamware, the penny is only for scale.
My first order of business is a full 106 Review and getting Hogscald on the National Register of Historic Places. It's an unusual situation too because the property is actually protected as a nature preserve but not an archaeology site.
Here's part of a story from 1910
aurorah.proboards.com/thread/25708
aurorah.proboards.com/thread/25835/hogscald-holler-10-4-12
As hard as it is to believe how unique this place is, it's even harder to believe that no one has EVER so much as even compiled any research on this valley, yet dozens of prolific artists and authors had taken an interest in Hogscald from at least 1892. Here I was armed with my gr, gr grandfather's own journals and numerous valueable leads still untapped since he had recorded them over a hundred years ago.
It consumed me and I published his biography, then before I knew it I was the official site steward of Hogscald for O.R.L.T., the land entity which owns it today. I joined the Arkansas Archaeological Society and through several field schools worked my way into the Arkansas Archaeological Survey. A year later I was accepted as their site steward of Hogscald too. I felt compelled to protect this wonderful place and preserve it for future generations, after all it was the Confederate Kitchen during the Civil War. I conceived a plan to go back and finish college after a twenty year absence and eventually would become an archaeologist. That was in 2011/2012, and know I only have about 4 or 5 semesters left. Three days of finals next week and another semester is finished yay.
I rarely toot my own horn this loud but everything has fell into place so well that I really must proclaim! Despite being reserved for undergrad seniors and grad students, despite being neither; the anthropology department has taken special consideration and granted me the maximum student independent study opportunity! That is to say 160 hours of research study devoted to this site for mapping, survey, interviews, report writing, etc. and shall be worth 4 credit hours towards my major in archaeology.
Most of my proffesors know my story (coming back to school because of this site) but when I found out that I was going to get to spread out a minimum of ten hours a week from Jan 12- May 12 exploring prehistoric cave occupations or mapping Confederate training grounds at my own leisure and pace for course credit in beautiful pristine Ozark mountain forests I jumped through the roof. I will be working not only for Missouri State but in conjunction with the University of Arkansas and report monthly with my findings to the Arkansas Archaeological Survey. All that's required of MSU is a measely four page report of my experience and a copy of my log book showing completion of 160 hours. My instructor told me I could even count my driving time but that will never happen because I am going to over achieve so bad just like I have been for the past few years. I'm the only site steward for the Survey that doesn't live in Arkansas, I've already completed seven field schools in archaeology with a few more planned. That's more than most professors!
One of my buddies so happens to be who I'll be reporting to with the Survey (As of last year I'm a level 3 field crew member of the Survey) He's also on the board and has a big say in who gets into the archaeology program at U of A when it comes to grad school there. I fully intend to be published in the Arkansas Archaeologist next year after my independent study is over. I can also count the 160 hours towards my certification with the Survey. Oh ya, over and above school I'm going for certified state archaeologist with the Survey, something attainable without a masters degree because it's its own intensive program.
So now everyone knows why I'm hardly on here anymore. A consistently broken down Aurora was NOT the reason. I got a Jeep this Spring specifically for: bad weather, hunting, fishing, camping, and archaeology vehicle and she's been so nice. Here I am last month at Hogscald up on the highest point of the property- 1,750 ft. which isn't exactly high but the old logging road sure is tight and windy and straight up around 30 degrees the whole way. I could never have climbed it in a car.
Some surface finds from that day included salt glazed stoneware fragment (1820-1870), a tested chert core and several preforms,depression milk glass and late 19th cent. creamware, the penny is only for scale.
My first order of business is a full 106 Review and getting Hogscald on the National Register of Historic Places. It's an unusual situation too because the property is actually protected as a nature preserve but not an archaeology site.
Here's part of a story from 1910
