“There has probably never before been a time during which so many Decatur County residents with archaeological training have been able to help with such an exhibit,” said Dr. Calvin D. Davis. He is enthused about the Native American exhibit that will be completed at the Historical Society Museum on North Franklin Street in Greensburg beginning August 1. He said, “ Ben Morris, a professional archaeologist, was the archaeologist at the great Mound City site a short distance north of Chillicothe, Ohio. His help with the exhibit has been of great importance. Then there is Greg Myer who has taken part in a field school organized by Indiana State. Greg is skilled at flint knapping and there is a terrific display of his work at the museum.” Flint knapping is the making of stone tools such as arrowheads, projectile points, hand axes and other tools. The skill has been around for about four million years evolving as humans have evolved. Only a few small groups of people in remote parts of the world still knap as part of their daily lives.

Bryan Robbins, the subject of a few columns when he returned from archaeological digs in Honduras, said he has not helped with this exhibit because his experience has been in South America, not North America. Even so, he said, “I think this is one of the most fascinating displays the museum has planned.”

Davis said Mike Lindermen, Angel Mounds site director, sent him some splendid recent photographs which will be on display. “We'll also exhibit pictures of the excavation of 1948 when I was in field school at the Mounds.” Between his junior and senior year at Franklin College, Davis took part in an I.U. field school at Angel Mounds. He knew he wanted to do his graduate work in history but needed to decide if it would be ancient history and archeology or American diplomatic history. He chose the later and taught history at Duke University until retirement a few years ago.

He well remembers the field school at Angel Mounds (so named for the man who owned the land on which the mounds were found ). “There were 11 of us in 1948,” he said. “Two were from the University of Pennsylvania and eight were from from Indiana University. Five were veterans of the U.S. Navy.”

When Angel Mounds celebrated 70 years of on-site archaeological work in May this year Davis, and all field students since 1945, were invited to return to the Angel Mounds site. About 20 former students who participated in field schools as far back as 1945 attended but only Davis and one other participant of 1948 class attended. The site is recognized as one of the best-preserved Native American sites in the country. It was once a town occupied by Middle Mississippian people who lived there from 1100 to 1450 A.D.

In 1938, Eli Lilly purchased the property from private hands on behalf of the Indiana Historical Society, and archaeological work began the next year. Since 1945, Indiana University has hosted field schools at the site. Davis said that while they were at the site last May, fellow former students took a tour that included the old WPA camp site, where from 1939-1942 about 250 workers excavated the site under the direction of Glenn Black.

Included in this exhibit at the museum is a picture of the Kneeling Man, a figurine made of yellow fluorite, discovered in 1940 in the temple mound. It's the most important archaeological item ever found in Indiana. Davis said that although they called it an idol no one knows for sure if that was its purpose. In 1948 Davis found a lower jaw, with the teeth intact for the most part, and a picture of that is in the Angel Mounds display. He said his fellow students called him “jaws” after he found it.

With the exception of Davis' exhibit from Angel Mounds, the exhibit at the Decatur County Museum beginning August 1 is made up only of items found locally. When it was started those involved with the exhibit didn't know how much interest there would be. It has been overwhelming even before it is officially opened. While Davis and I were talking a resident brought in some items to see if someone could help identify them. Davis identified drills, scrapers, a ceremonial harvest blade and other fascinating tools used by Native Americans in Indiana. Ben Morris has also identified several items for residents. The museum is still buzzing with activity but the exhibit is nearly finished. Cory Parker, Carrie Shumaker, Charity Mitchell, Lois Carol McCormack, residents with Native American artifacts and numerous other volunteers have taken advantage of the experts to make it memorable.