Owlville Pine South (OPS) Archaeological Site Owners Donate Paleoindian Artifacts to NYSM

Examples of Paleoindian artifacts from the OPS site. A: fluted point with impact fracture; B: Endscraper, hafted tool likely used for hide working for skin clothing manufacture; C: Hafted perforator for working bone or wood; D: Graver, delicate hand-held
Examples of Paleoindian artifacts from the OPS site. A: fluted point with impact fracture; B: Endscraper, hafted tool likely used for hide working for skin clothing manufacture; C: Hafted perforator for working bone or wood; D: Graver, delicate hand-held

Examples of Paleoindian artifacts from the OPS site. A: fluted point with impact fracture; B: Endscraper, hafted tool likely used for hide working for skin clothing manufacture; C: Hafted perforator for working bone or wood; D: Graver, delicate hand-held tool for piercing or incising; E: Sidescraper, large hand-held tool for cutting or scraping.

In June 2015, avocational archaeologists Mike Beardsley and Mark Clymer were surveying for Native American archaeological sites on farm property owned by Tom and Joyce Bush in central New York. Walking across their fields, Mike spied a large scraping tool of chert. Days later, he discovered a fluted point in the same area, confirming the presence of a Paleoindian site, later named Owlville Pine South or OPS. Since then, NYSM archaeologists have annually directed volunteer excavations at OPS, uncovering stone tools left at this Ice Age Native American encampment. Recognizing the importance of the OPS site as a window into the earliest human presence in central New York, Tom and Joyce Bush have unconditionally supported this ongoing field research. In 2019, they generously donated to the NYSM all artifacts collected and excavated to date at OPS, making them available for research, public education and exhibition.

NYSM archaeological excavations at the OPS Site, September 2018
NYSM archaeological excavations at the OPS Site, September 2018
Examples of Paleoindian artifacts from the OPS site. A: fluted point with impact fracture; B: Endscraper, hafted tool likely used for hide working for skin clothing manufacture; C: Hafted perforator for working bone or wood; D: Graver, delicate hand-held
Examples of Paleoindian artifacts from the OPS site. A: fluted point with impact fracture; B: Endscraper, hafted tool likely used for hide working for skin clothing manufacture; C: Hafted perforator for working bone or wood; D: Graver, delicate hand-held
Shown, left to right: Joyce and Tom Bush at donation of OPS site collection to NYSM, with Mike Beardsley and Mark Clymer.
Shown, left to right: Joyce and Tom Bush at donation of OPS site collection to NYSM, with Mike Beardsley and Mark Clymer.