I'd orginially planned on checking out what I think could be a possible Monongahela Mound in Indiana County - but we got chased out. So instead - Native American Expert - Butch Laney who came with us - took us arrowhead hunting in Homer City. We all found flaking debris - but no whole points. But that didn't matter to me - I had the best time!
I finally got to enjoy a tour of his 1750's - Native American Village and Trading Post set during the period of the French and Indian War. Butch's family came over in one of the first waves - in the late 1600's before settling in the Black Lick Area. Butch built and runs Naeskahoni Town - Blairsville - CLICK HERE to see the website or to visit in person.
His village represents five different Native American Cultures. The tarps on the roofs are of course - not Native - they are getting ready for the winter snows.
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These stone axes are a work of art.
Native American Dugout Canoe - this is one solid chunk of log - Butch hollowed out.
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The Trader's Shack - all of the assorted pelts are the real deal.
As are the assorted antlers.
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Believe it or not - that chunk of wood in the center is natural - even though it looks like a skull.
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This fossilized piece of red standstone is tree bark - frozen in time.
Coming up next - an assortment of traps for birds and small game.
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Butch made everything you have been seeing - including this bark basket.
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The start of construction for a typical log cabin.
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Different types of grinding stones - acorns, walnuts and chestnuts would have been ground on stones such as these.
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Butch built this wooden t-pee - it's so interconnected that all you have to do - is walk inside and lift the branches up - they would then have also been covered with either bark or brush.
Some of the items I spend a great deal of time searching for this time of year.
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Food storage pit - the sides packed with clay and the top covered by a blanket of moss - this will keep food sources fresh for quite awhile.
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And for the final picture - my favorite point - that center piece - Butch found along the Clarion River - I think I'd fall over if I found something this graceful.
