As part of her studies, Kimberli is interning with the archaeology staff at SHPO. In that capacity she was able to participate in a recent dig that was undertaken in an area south of Salem. A property owner discovered some potential artifacts while constructing a water feature on his property. He contacted SHPO staff who reviewed his finds and determined them to be early biface tools, the raw obsidian material from which spearheads and other cutting tools were made by early Native Americans. 

Because this material is only found in the volcanic areas of Eastern Oregon, the working theory is that this was a private cache of a regular traveler to this known meeting/trading area, and for some reason it was never recovered to be used in future trade activities. The property owner, a teacher, has asked that the site location remain anonymous, but he allowed SHPO staff to conduct a "dig" on this site. Additionally, he brought some of his students out to observe the archaeologists at work.

You can learn more about this record-setting discovery, too. The Statesman Journal recently published an article about this find. To check it out, click here.  Kimberli also provided us with two other links that offer more information and photographs:  (1)  from Western Digs , and (2) from Oregon Public Broadcasting.  

We look forward to having Kimberli join us again in the future to tell us about other treasures she has uncovered here in Oregon!