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Indian Spearhead Discovered at the Watervliet Arsenal!
I spent 17 years working there & here is my favorite exhibit at the museum, my crowning glory as a history buff- a 2,500 to 3,000 year old spearhead that my daughter & I found while planting shrubs I donated to the golf course at the Arsenal. Here is the story in my daughter's own words.
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My Big Day at the Arsenal
By Gabrielle Gniewek
Let me tell you about my exciting Saturday with my Dad at the Arsenal. I like to golf there like my Dad, so when he asked me to help him plant some shrubs for the golf course, I said "Sure!"
Over at the Arsenal, I met some nice men, Jim (McDermott of BD), Dave (Lockart of ODR), George (Bielkiewicz of PWL). We were all working on planting shrubs near the first green, and My Dad found a nail and pretended it was an ancient artifact. I knew it wasn’t because he takes us to a lot of places and shows us real old stuff.
I was learning how much water a shrub would need when it is planted. Dad showed me how to dig the hole, to make a dam so the water could soak in. Suddenly, while he was showing me that, Dad picked up a rock and threw it aside. Then he picked up the rock again and took another look at it. "Gabe" Dad called- "Do you know what this is?" I said "no". Dad told me he thought it was a spear! Dave thought so too.
Dave’s neighbor is an archeologist. He looked at it and said it was a rare and wonderful find. I always wanted to find something old or ancient, and my dream came true. My Dad and the others thought that it could be the oldest weapon ever made where the arsenal now is!
That exciting day with my Dad will always be kept in my memories.
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An archeological study needed to be done as this was found on Federal property. Hartgen Archeological Associates, Inc conducted one & stated that the "chert" blade shows evidence of being used & was similar to other artifacts associated with the Woodland Period & the Meadowwood Phase & dates from 2,500 and 3000 years ago. As the land has been virtually undisturbed, the potential for a larger deposit of pre-contact cultural resources is high.
Info from: Archeological Assessment of Aboriginal Chert Blade Found Near Building Nineteen, Watervliet Arsenal, Watervliet, NY., May 2000, Hartgen Archeological Associates, Inc .