Thompson Intermediate School Visit (January 2013)

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In late January, we had an opportunity to visit with a student in Mr. Toby Lavergne’s seventh-grade Texas History class. Jakoby had found two projectile points on the beach and was very interested in learning more about them. His teacher contacted our president who asked that we respond to the query

An after-school meeting was arranged and we were able to pay a visit to the school. Jakoby, his mom LaTanya Miles, and his teacher were involved while we spoke about local hunter-gathers—the Karankawas and the Atakapans, the resources they utilized on their migrations, their pottery, and the difference between arrow and dart points and how they were made, and the use of an atlatl. The student helped search Turner & Hester’s A Field Guide to Stone Artifacts of Texas Indians in hopes of identifying his treasures while comparing the attributes of his points with those shown in the book.

His two points were identified as a Neches River and a Palmillas dart point, but they were unifacial rather than bifacial. Perhaps the flintknapper hadn’t had an opportunity to complete his work; or, the points were complete enough for a specific purpose. In effect, we were sitting around the campfire, rendering accounts of the lives of our ancestors. This involved working with what we knew from the archeological record and historical interpretations, and posing questions about what we didn’t know. It was especially gratifying that the student, at such a relatively young age, was participating in the discussion. That wonderful campfire-like visit ended with picture taking and smiles on all our faces.

--Beth & Pat Aucoin