Posted 5:05 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, 2012
[caption id="attachment_9897" align="alignright" width="320" caption="Oneota pottery recovered from the Sand Lake Road area near Onalaska will be on display at the artifact show."]
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Dan Maas has discovered thousands of artifacts — some 6,000 to 8,000 years old — while building pole barns in the La Crosse area. Maas, owner of La Crosse Building Systems LLC., says he keeps his eye out after the excavation process.
He is one of many local artifact collectors to display findings at the Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center annual artifact show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at Valley View Mall. MVAC will also display artifacts recovered from local excavations over several years. Archaeologists will be on-hand to identify artifacts and public is welcome to bring arrowheads, pottery, and other items to find out how old they are.
“The most exciting thing is when someone brings something in and you are able to help them identify it,” says Maas. “I’ve seen everything from pipes to pottery to spear points.”
If an artifact is discovered on someone’s property, it technically belongs to him or her. Some of Maas’s finds are on display at his Stoddard home. Others are at the Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center, located in the archaeology building at UW-L.
[caption id="attachment_9906" align="alignright" width="500" caption="Dan Maas, of Stoddard, pictured right, discusses his collection of artifacts at the 2011 artifact show."]
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One of his most notable finds was a two-by-six-inch ceremonial piece, made out of Knife River flint. He uncovered the piece, which looks like a giant arrowhead, while tilling his mother-in-law’s garden. He plans to share this piece at the artifact show.
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Dan Maas has discovered thousands of artifacts — some 6,000 to 8,000 years old — while building pole barns in the La Crosse area. Maas, owner of La Crosse Building Systems LLC., says he keeps his eye out after the excavation process.
He is one of many local artifact collectors to display findings at the Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center annual artifact show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at Valley View Mall. MVAC will also display artifacts recovered from local excavations over several years. Archaeologists will be on-hand to identify artifacts and public is welcome to bring arrowheads, pottery, and other items to find out how old they are.
“The most exciting thing is when someone brings something in and you are able to help them identify it,” says Maas. “I’ve seen everything from pipes to pottery to spear points.”
If an artifact is discovered on someone’s property, it technically belongs to him or her. Some of Maas’s finds are on display at his Stoddard home. Others are at the Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center, located in the archaeology building at UW-L.
[caption id="attachment_9906" align="alignright" width="500" caption="Dan Maas, of Stoddard, pictured right, discusses his collection of artifacts at the 2011 artifact show."][/caption]
One of his most notable finds was a two-by-six-inch ceremonial piece, made out of Knife River flint. He uncovered the piece, which looks like a giant arrowhead, while tilling his mother-in-law’s garden. He plans to share this piece at the artifact show.