Expert: Ralph Salier - 12/9/2011

Question
QUESTION: Plese go to my new website and view the paleo artifacts I have recently discovered in the US. The apes especially. Please view all pics. Pages 3 and 4 have the apes. I still have alot of work to do on my site. I'm new to all of this but the artifacts are incredible.

Mr. Dodd



ANSWER: Mr. Dodd,

what is your web site?

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QUESTION: www.prehistoricrockart.com  It is very important to view all the pages and photos. Some of the best pictures are on the last pages of the site.

ANSWER: Mr. Dodd,

I hate to tell you this but most of what you have are "geo facts" not Artifacts.  There are a few items that do show flaking but most are "fire cracked" or broken rocks.  These are NOT paleo artifacts, these DO NOT depict APES or any other animals.  Modern man's sculptures are very finely carved and depict birds, turtles, bears and occasionally other animals.  But they are very clearly carved for a purpose.  

Do you have any Dalton points, fluted points of any type or fully flaked tools?  Do you have any hearths or materials of a burned nature?

Do you have any archaeological background?  Digging into a site must be done with great care and not just looking for rocks.  A site also has faunal and botanical materials, other organics, small flakes, and other debutage that can tell archaeologists a great deal about a site.

Dinosaurs did not live during the time of man.  They died out more then 65 million years ago.  Modern man is less then 1 million years old (more like 200  thousand years old).  

Would you like a professional archaeologist in your area to take a look at the site?  Or would you like to report the site to the state archaeologist of your state?  I can assist you with this.  Just let me know where you are located and I will provide names and numbers for you to contact.






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QUESTION: Nice Try, I have already had some of my artifacts professionally certified and authenticated. If you indeed did view my website and read the introductory paragraph you would understand. Unless you see them in person you can't automatically assume what you have so quickly determined. I'm very aware of the pathetic war going on. I'm not a looter or a grave robber. The pieces have flaking all over them. I thought you might have a broader perspective. I don't think you truly understand what I've found or know how to explain it. You seem to be in the group that only understands a narrow range of artifacts. If it's not a perfect arrowhwead it's not an artifact. Well I'm way beyond that way of thinking. I have hammers, anvils, scrapers, certificates, an awesome site that is privately owned. You probably think I should wait 20 yrs for a man with a trowel and a brush. And also I should give my treasure away to any archaeologists so he can have all the artifacts. I do understand the importance of proper excavation techniques, obviously you didn't view the entire site. It's people exactly like yourself that has assured you would never be a part of this awesome discovery. I'm going to the newspaper and TV channels. I have some archaeologists very interested and have already verified numerous pieces. I guess they are wrong too. HAHA
One Question ---- How can you talk about ethics without honesty !! The conversation would be unethical from the start... Nice Try !!
I'm also writing about all the so-called professionals that do not speak the truth. Hidden agendas are easy to spot. A true EXPERT would not have an agenda but always tell the truth.

Answer
Mr. Dodd

I spoke to Mr. Mattingly of the IAFA and he did verify that one of the items did appear to be a bifacially flaked biface or preform.  He did not identify the age of the item and he also did not certify any of the other materials from the collection.  There are only two of the items in the photographs on the site that appear to have consistent flaking and the one he certified is one of them.  The others do not have flaking of the type intentionally made by man.  

While you may question my motivation it is to ensure that the information available to amateurs and professionals alike is accurate and correct. That is my only agenda. As for awesome discoveries, I have been on several.  Ones that push back human habitation in NA by thousands of years and several Paleo and pre-Paleo sites.  I know these sites very well along with the material patterns and artifactual materials from these sites. Your materials do not fit any of these patterns.   

As a Professional Archaeologist I recognize many types of artifacts, not just "perfect pieces".  In fact on many sites, the only artifacts are debutage, the small intentionally made flakes produced  during napping or other production methods.  I am also the author of the comprehensive ground stone tool catalogue used by many professionals.  And having extensive experience in the midwest and else where with sites dating back  to 12,000 years ago and older, I do feel  that my expertise is not in question by my professional colleagues.

I know that it is sometimes a painful event to hear the reality of facts based on the photos presented.  But the reality is the reality and, with out agenda.

In your write up about the site, you indicated that this is all surface found materials in an area of approx 100 x 100.  Was this ever a plowed field? If so, do you know how deep the harrow or spade plow went down? You also indicated that you have other materials not yet on the website, are any of these partial points? You also mention scrapers, drills and other types.  These can be very useful in identifying the cultural aspect of  the site.  A paleo site would generally not be a surface find in the midwest.  To many years of flooding and erosional covering of something that old.  Would you be willing to tell me what county this is in? And why did you go all the way to Ohio for a professional when there are so many excellent professionals in your home state, in Illinois, Arkansas and the states around you?  

My email address is rsalier@hotmail.com  if you would like to send me photos of flaked artifacts I would be more then happy to try and  be of further assistance.