One of my friends (Hollywood) was over here a couple of days ago and I'd never shown him around this property before so I did. With in about a minute he had found the stuff below.
He is pretty much a historian for this area and mighty good at finding artefacts. I'd been by where he found the goodies quiet a few times and had never found them before. Now that I know what to look for I hope to find a bunch.
He also pointed out the plants in the picture above and said they are not from this area and were more than likely planted by the indians since they used them for a number of different things. I'd seen them many times and thought they were small Yuccas, but that isn't the case. They are all located in a small plot and he said they were planted there. He showed me a few other cactus and other plants that are not supposed to be here and were probably planted here by the indians. I'd always though with the view of the valley below most of the way around that the indians may have camped up here. Looks like I was right.
He also pointed out the way this land it terraced and said there was probably some farming going on here back when. No telling what the desert grass is hiding since it could have grown up over other artefacts.
I cranked up the Falcon yesterday for the first time in months. I took it for a drive down to the Legion since some of the newer people here have never seen it running. For that matter some have never seen it period. I was surprised that it even started, but the old gal fired right up. Of course I have had a small solar panel connected to the battery to keep it hot, but the gas has to be going south because of age. Its been in there every since I got the Jeep. I put another can of stop leak in the rear tire that keeps going down, but that wasn't enough to air it completely up. The generator wouldn't start, but the big inverter running off of solar and batteries ran the compressor fine. I guess I need to clean the sparkplug on the generator though.
That is really interesting about the Indians farming that area. It is nice to know some one who knows the history of the area.
ReplyDeleteDD, hopefully I can start finding more stuff, but I didn't have any luck this morning. He says the best time to hunt for flint objects is on a full moon night because it makes them shine. Trouble I have with that is needing snake boots.
ReplyDeleteI've got those plants all over my place too, throw some in your next fire, they smell like garlic and onions when they burn.
ReplyDeleteI'm coming down during our spring break, so if any body has any of my stuff tell them to take it back before I get there. See ya soon.
Bkid, looking over at your place going out White Gate Road it looks like everything that was there when I got the cart is still there, but of course I can't see the back side. So when are you'll heading this way?
ReplyDeleteLate March.
ReplyDeleteBkid, looks like the L L Jam for that month will be on the 31st (Easter Sunday)
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky to have someone so familiar with the area. I thought those plants were mini yucca's myself.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to get to know the history of where you are living.
Glad you got to take your Falcon for a ride.
Thanks for the update, I had missed your posts.
MsB, just haven't had much to post about for a while. Been slacking on top of that.
ReplyDeleteWell, come on, tffnguy, don't keep us guessing out here. What did he say the plant was?
ReplyDeleteI can't tell from the picture on my worthless little screen here if the leaves are serrated or not, but those plants look to me like what I always thought was lechuguilla. Except they can't be because, contrary to what Hollywood said about your plants, lechuguilla is supposed to be there - it's native & pretty abundantly distributed in TX all the way from El Paso across at least (that I know of) to the western edges of the Hill Country, so these must be something else. Some variety of sotol maybe? Enquiring minds want to know, if you can remember what he called them.
But even if you can't, that's just amazing he was able to find all those points right there in a short time and even found evidence of terracing. And now that you know to keep your eyes open, if you ever come across any pottery...just wow!
It must really be kind of cool for you to realize that, of all the wide expanse of empty land out there, the exact place you chose to site your home is smack dab on the very spot where centuries ago the natives roaming that vast desert chose to site theirs.
I should think that your shared choice in real estate gives you an unusual honorary kinship with your ancient predecessors out there, the original tffnguys.
very interesting dude...during spring break on a tigth schedule i migth go to Alpine,Terlingua areas for 1-2 day. I would like to stop by briefly, how can i contact you if decide to go ?
ReplyDeleteyou can email me in private please at : tilaredondo@yahoo.com
leilani, he didn't say and I didn't ask. However if you'd ever been up here you would know why I chose this property. Its because of the beautiful view of the valley most of the way around and ease of getting to 118 365 days a year no matter what the weather conditions. Now feel free to take your snooty assed attitude elsewhere.
ReplyDeletePablo you are welcome to stop by.
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ReplyDeleteI don't give out my phone number.
ReplyDeleteUNDERSTAND, then driving directions from Alpine and if me once there @ Alpine email yu throuth this Blog feature yu could call me or confirm me yu ll be there early a.m next day dude, THANKS
ReplyDeletePablo, Just tell me what date and a ball park time in the AM and I'll try to make sure I'm here. 58 miles south of Alpine on 118 you should see the American Legion. I live a quarter mile south of the legion on the hill and on the same side of 118.
ReplyDeleteOK that will work, I see yu enter frequently this Blog site during the day . I do not have an exact day yet. It will be in School System Spring break (9-17 of march). I live in Houston Tx go there almost twice a year to visit my mother s ashes and resting place , further south pass Lajitas, but I allays return to Alpine same day. I used to stay in Terlingua but now i m not doing it any more. I love and know the area very well over 12 years from Presidio back to Alpine, Sanderson etc. So I will contact you through this feature when that time comes. I ve been reading yur Blog and have learned to apreciate it and admire . I know where the Legion is. That would be a good place/Landmark. THANKS
ReplyDeleteI believe the lechuguilla is a native plant and found all over the area.
ReplyDeletePerhaps so, but Hollywood said it was usually found in higher elevations. I can't say. But if anyone wants to get technical Mesquites are not native to Texas and creosote is not supposed to be here either. At one time this was all prairie grass. Ironwood isn't supposed to be here either, but it is.
ReplyDeleteOn another note it was pretty nice out earlier and got out and explored more. Found several more pieces of napped flint and a few shards of what MIGHT? be pottery. That will be on another post though.
I found this entry fascinating. It must be exciting to know ancients walked where you tred today. Time may obscure the past. But, the traces of it are all around us - if you know what to look for.
ReplyDeleteMatt, I already have a lot I need to get done around here and hunting for artifacts will slow me down on other stuff I need to do. Oh well... I plan to do a lot of hunting anyway.
ReplyDelete