L A R G E
DISCOUNT WAREHOUSE
SAVE 20-60%
M-F 9-5, SAT 9-4
HWY #5 • ABERDEEN
LOOKING FOR LEGACY continued
LOOKING FOR LEGACY continued
Proudly serving the
Sandhills since 1975.
• Installation services
• Installation financing
•Veteran
Discounts
•Breakfast
& Lunch
•Family
Dining
Located in
Aberdeen
beside the
Sandhills Bowling
Center.
$5.00
Daily Special.
Homemade
meal includes
drink.
LOOKING FOR LEGACY con't from FRONT PAGE
LOOKING FOR LEGACY con't. next column
LOOKING FOR LEGACY con't. next column
A BERDEEN CARPET
F LOORING CENTER
CARPET • HARDWOOD
LAMINATE • VINYL PLANK
SINCE 1975
944-6204
ABERDEENCARPET.COM
Where Great Floors Begin!
Shawfloors.com
Tina’s Breakfast & MORE
910-295-9614
1680 NC Hwy 5, Aberdeen
smooth, rounded edge below the ripples of the
creek bed, the flint camouflaged in the sand.
As you uncover the treasure of an arrowhead,
bowl, spear, scraper—the tools and weapons of
peoples past—you begin to discover a glimpse
of the many generations sharing the shade of
the long leaf.
Through the whispering pines, the resources
have been calling generations for centuries.
We are not the first; we are not the last; we are
merely one of many making our footprints in
the sand. Rich in history, Moore County and
surrounding counties tell the stories as the earth
gives testimony of families, of hunters, of tribes,
of civilizations. Earliest records date back to
the Paleo-Indian period wherein archaeologists
recognize two cul tures: Clovis & Hardaway-
Dalton.
Each period from past to present left behind
certain distinguishing design patterns in the
artifacts as skills were taught from elder to
younger. The Paleo-Indian pattern remains the
fluted projectile point. Discovered in plowed
fields, construction digs, and erosion paths in
fields and stream, these surface finds reward the
keen observer. Featuring beautiful fluted spear
points, the Clovis culture records a date of 12,000
to 8,000 BC. All design elements were intentional
such as the dulled edges at the base so as to not
cut through the cords binding the point to the
shaft. Learned through trial and error, through
victory and defeat, the designs emerged and
lasted. The Hardaway-Dalton culture created
another type of spear point featuring shallow
indentations on the thinned base. As collectors
begin to recognize the intricate details in the
projectile points, they recognize trends such as
the Alamance point and Simpson point.
We travel past them every day. The local
reminders such as the marker in Manly at the
beginning of horse county that travels down
Midland and tells of roaming herds. Along
with the herds came the hunters as the hunger
pains of survival refined the tools and weapons
needed. These first hunter/gatherer Carolinians
who followed the traveling resources, historians
refer to them as bands. Their meager possessions
formed from either plant fibers, riverbank clay,
or re-purposed animal parts of the hides, sinews,
or bones were easily transported and replaced as
needed. From the Sandhills to the Piedmont and
predominately the Uhwarrie Mountain area, the
legacy awaits discovery.
One such local collector, whom we’ll call
Julie in order to protect her finds, has examples
dating from the Paleo-Indian period. “This is a
Paleo blade dating 12,000 years old. The Paleo
is the oldest; then you have the Archaic, the
Hardaway or Daltons which are some of the
oldest rocks in the area.” We gather around
Julie’s collections as she highlights the various
points from the past; I stand amazed at these
beautiful, beautiful treasures from thousands,
hundreds of years ago and patiently collected
over many years. What an incredible collection!
Julie begins, “We’ve got everything from
the Paleo, to the Archaic, to the Mississippian
Period—the most modern Indians to live here.”
Thousands of years of history from the first
settlers to the last are represented. Julie tells, “I
can’t say the first settlers because the Indians
lived here first; the English settlers pushed them
out forcing the Indians to intermingle with other
tribes to find safety in numbers. In many ways,
they lost their history, their language, their land
along with the skills, techniques, and traditions
passed down from generation to generation—as
well as being introduced to settlers who traded
for guns and ammo, pipes for tobacco, etc. The
making and use of the bow and arrows and
arrowheads eventually became obsolete.”
Julie shows me the different varieties from
the Big Sandys to the Savannah Rivers. The
newer the rock, the more in depth the detail as
time hasn’t worn away the intricacies. “These
are Lecroy’s; I think they’re adorable. This is a
Hardaway or Dalton. These triangles are called
bird points used to kill small game.” The bigger
the arrowhead, the bigger the intended game.
From birds to buffalo, the weapons changed
with the target. From bowls used to crush corn
into cornmeal to the nutting stones, axes, spears,
marbles, thumb scrapers used to scrape hide,
and drills used to punch holes in the leather, the
artifacts speak. We come to some broken points,
still treasures. Once a whole arrowhead, the now
broken piece becomes a “blunt.” Always reusing
their handicrafts, the Indians practiced the
ultimate recycling of resources.
Just as generations passed down the skills of
the trade, Julie’s love of the hunt began with the
love of her life. When she married her husband
22 years ago, she noticed an artifact in her father
in law’s house. A simple, “What is that?” began
her journey and continues the heritage passed
down from grandfather, to father, to son, to now
Julie and their two children.
Right here in our backyard, locals discover
treasures from centuries past. Julie’s husband
grew up in Vass; Julie in Carthage. She grew
along with the town. Remembering happy
childhood days shared with her sisters, Julie
recalls the changing landmarks, “There was an
A&P grocery store where Mid State Furniture
operates today. Where Fred’s is, there used to
be a Food King then a Best Foods grocery store.
LOOKING FOR LEGACY con't. p. 32
p.28 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. No. 130
/ABERDEENCARPET.COM
/Shawfloors.com