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Spilyay Tymoo
October 5,1979
Artifacts tell story of life at Dry Creek century ago
WITH A FINE-TOOTHED COMB— Archaelogists from Oregon State University systematically
sifted through dirt at Dry Creek, the intake site for the new Deschutes domestic water system. The
patient researchers combed the earth layer by layer, block by block in a grid that was carefully
measured and laid out. They were looking for evidence of turn-of-the-century habitation before
IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT— Andrew David, longtime Dry Creek resident, assisted
O.S.U. archaelogist Rick Minor by recalling local history and the location of dwellings. Minor and
his crew found nothing outstanding—just common household items such as nails and glass. But
anything the Tribes want, they are welcome to, he said.
Spilyay Tymoo Photos by Rangila
Spilyay Tymoo
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FOUNDED IN MARCH OF 1976
Published bi-weekly by the Confederated Tribes of the
Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon. Warm Springs,
Oregon 97761. Located in the Old Administration Building.
Any written material to Spilyay Tymoo should be addressed
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Spilyay Tymoo
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Warm Springs, Oregon 97761
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We may soon’have a better
picture of what life was like for
Indians a hundred years ago on
the Warm Springs reservation.
University of Oregon
archaeologist Rick Minor is in
the process of researching and
analyzing artifacts retrieved
this September from Dry
Creek, intake site of the Tribes’
Deschutes domestic water
system.
Minor said that this area of
Dry Creek by the Deschutes
was probably occupied
around 1880. “It represents a
period when the Warm Springs
Indians were becoming more
and more acculturated,” using
more whiteman’s things. Minor
explained.
“You can read about this
period of time in history books,
but they don’t deal with
artifacts. History books tend to
talk about famous people while
artifacts tell how the common
people lived.” said Minor. He
noted that the way of life at Dry
Creek was perhaps typical of
Indian life on the reservation at
the turn of the century.
Although the archaelogist
and his team didn’t find
anything terribly exciting, they
did uncover more than they
had excepted to. Minor said the
articles are only valuable in
terms of information—not
money, but he plans to return
them to the Tribes if they want
them. Otherwise, he will turn
the items over to the Mid
Oregon Indian Historical
Society.
But Minor doesn’t just rely
upon artifacts to learn about
the past. Part of his research
will involve interviews with
some of the- older people and
relatives of those who once
lived in the area. He has already
spoken with Andrew David
who lives nearby, and he has a
list of others he plans to contact
when he returns to the
reservation.
The archaelogist said the
1880 census shows that three
families lived at the Dry Creek
site and that Willy Leonard was
the last resident.
Minor was particularly
interested in analyzing items
excavated from the remains of
a frame house there, an
outhouse and a cellar. It’s
around where homes used to be
that we get most of our
information about how people
lived and what they did. Minor
said.
Following three days of
excavation and systematic
surface collection, the team
came up with eight boxes of
items, most of which were in
fragments. Among the finds
were miscellaneous metal
parts, lots of glass, and square
and round nails. Minor said the
round nails were probably
from about 1890.
They also unearthed some
stone tools and stone flakes
which were probably from an
earlier period, before the house
was built, according to Minor.
Eating utensils, a variety of
crockery, dishes, chimney glass
and a variety of beads were
collected as well as animal
bones and river mussel shell.
“We also found quite a few tin
cans and all kinds of metal
objects.” Minor reported. He
said that they don’t pick up
obviously recent things such as
shot shells and bottle caps.
Despite the fact that nothing
extraordinary was discovered.
Minor feels that what was
found tells part of the story of
life at the time. Once cultural
objects have been destroyed,
they are lost forever. “Cultural
resources are non-renewable—
they’re not like a tree,” Minor
said. “We’re here to preserve
what we can of evidence of
older ways. When a planned
project is going to impact an
archaeological site, we try to
get them to move it (the
location). When they can’t, we
try to remove the objects.”
Minor is familiar with the
reputation attributed by some
to archaeologists coming onto
the reservation in the past and
carting off artifacts which were
never returned to the Tribes.
“If someone claims to be an
archaeologist, check their
credentials,” warns Minor.
“They should be carrying a
letter of authorization and a
card saying who they are and
who they represent." He said
there is more awareness among
Indians now than there used to
be, so perhaps there won’t be as
many problems with so-called
archaeologists or imposters
carrying things off.
In a letter to the Tribes this
week, Minor indicated that he
was satisfied with the
exploration and that construc
tion of the treatment facility
could be allowed to proceed.
He advised, however, that an
archaeologist should be on
hand during the intitial
construction phase.
Police Report
Gun Shots reported around
community
and the burglary is under
investigation.
In the past two weeks, at
least nine gun shots have been
heard around Warm Springs.
Gunshots have been
reported in several locations at
West Hills. Tribal Garage, and
the new trailer court. Tribal
Police don’t know who it is or if
the people who were shooting
the guns are on foot or driving
If you should see the car or
people who are shooting the
guns, contact the police
department.
Three accidents reported
Ray Holiday, 30, Warm
Springs totalled his 1978 Z28 in
a one-car accident after
attempting to pass some cars.
On October 1, Holiday with
one passenger was thirteen
miles north of Warm Springs
on U.S. Highway 26 when his
car left the highway after
hitting his brakes to miss an
oncoming car. The car skidded
off the highway and was going
backwards when it hit a big
Rifles, knives stolen
rock and went back on the
Over the weekend of highway.
September 22-23, Alvis Smith
The car was a total loss and
Sr.'s house was broken into.
Holiday was cited for Driving
Eight rifles of various While Under the Influence ot
calibers were reported missing Liquor or Drugs.
along with two hunting knives.
In a September 29 accident, a
Burglars apparently entered
1977 Ford 4x4 rolled after
the home through a window.
The police have no suspects dodging from a deer on Tenino
Road, approximately 16 miles
west of Warm Springs.
Lawrence Squiemphen Jr.,
19. was driving the pick-up
when a doe crossed the road in
front of them. While trying to
miss the deer. Squiemphen
couldn't make the turn and left
the highway, rolling once.
Neither Squiemphen or his
passenger. Rod Wesley. 22,
were injured.
Squiemphen was cited for
having no driver’s license.
A 1978 Dodge van received
extensive damage after being in
a one-car accident on Highway
26 approximately 14 miles
north of Warm Springs.
Daniel Cunningham. 30.
said lack of sleep was the
cause of the accident. He was
cited into Jefferson County
Court for Driving Under the
Influence of Intoxicants and
Driving while suspended.