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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 1981)
\ Page 8 THE BATTALION FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1981 State St Archaeologists race time to protect Texas history United Press International DALLAS — Archaeologists are working with time — and against it — in a 50,000-acre area south of Dallas, which they believe holds historic evidence from a time period between 8,000 B.C. and 1930 A.D. An archaeological team from Southern Methodist University is busy investigating prehistoric and historic remains in the area that will be overflown with water in eight years, due to construction of the Richland Chambers dam and reservoir in Navarro and Frees tone counties southeast of Dallas. “Archaeological resources are fragile and non-renewable, said Dr. Mark Raab, who heads the Archaeology Research Program of the SMU Anthropology Depart ment. “There is danger in destroying evidence of the past in the process of new developments,” he said. “As conservation archaeologists, we are concerned with preserving our archaeological heritage for fu ture generations. “In the Richland Creek area we are attempting to record remnants of prehistory and early history, along with evidence of a recent ru ral culture that is in danger of disappearing without documenta tion. During the recently com pleted survey phase of the project, Raab and his 42-member team ex amined the area and put together an inventory of more than 500 pre historic and historic sites spanning nearly 10,000 years. He said some of the major pre historic discoveries include two Wvlie focus pits dating between 900 and 1500 A.D. The pits, named for the North DIETING? Texas town near which they were first found in the 1950s, were dug by prehistoric Indians with simple hand tools and contain remains of human bones and such domestic refuse as seeds and nuts. Archaeologists think the pits, 12 to 14 feet deep at the center and up to 100 feet in diameter, may have been first used as burial sites and later for domestic purposes. “Wylie focus pits have long fas cinated archaeologists in Texas but their use has remained a mys tery,” he said. “We hope to un ravel that mystery in our study.” Raab said his team also plans to focus on the area s changing cli mate during the past 10,000 years. He said preliminary data indicates the area was much more cool, moist and heavily forested about 4,000 years ago. There is also evi dence, he said, in the form of reco vered pollen and other data, that there were great changes in cli mate —- including a tremendous drought between 1000 and 1300 A.D. The conservation archaeologist said the researchers will also focus on historic sites showing how life in the area changed during the past 500 years, with particular emphasis on the agriculture-based culture of the past 100 years. “The area developed a very dis tinctive rural culture, based on tenant farming, Raab said. “De spite changes in the country as a whole, that culture remained rela tively unchanged from 1860 to World War II. We can paint an interesting picture of the lives of the people who lived there as re flected in their material remains. “Formal historical records tend to reflect the lives of the wealthy and well-known rather than the common people. Unit BOS1 vitamin babies c ary cant ness, Te said Tin Res College Univers min E gi to 50 pi 24 hom- least ei prevent flints so fibropla the Ne Medici i RF i ygen gi' to prev death c the eye than no l opa< Texas State Artist .Staff photo by DavtEii James Harvey Johnson displays his painting, “Waitin’ for Willard," in the Memorial Student Center. Johnson, a graduate of the Texas A&M Veternary School, was named Texas State Artist of the Year painting to the Permanent ceremony last night. for 1982-S3. He donated MSC Collection duruij King faces trial for murders United Press International RUSK — Alvin Lee King III, charged with killing five people during a Sunday morning shooting rampage at a Daingerfield church, has been found competent to stand trial. Even though we do not prescribe diets, we make it possible for many to enjoy a nutritious meal while they follow their doctor's orders. You will be delighted with the wide selection of low calorie, sugar free and fat free foods in the Souper Salad Area, Sbisa Dining Center Basement. OPEN Monday through Friday 10:45 AM-1:45 PM QUALITY FIRST COME GROW WITH US ALDERSGATE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH "The Church With A Heart-Warming Touch" TEMPORARILY MEETING AT A&M CONSOLIDATED MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM JERSEY ST. AT HOLIK ST., COLLEGE STATION SUNDAY SERVICES: CHURCH OFFICE 2114 SOUTHWOOD 696-1376 SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:45 A.M. MORNING WORSHIP 8:30 A.M., 11:00 A.M. EVENING WORSHIP 6:30 P.M. PASTOR: TERRY TEYKL A psychiatric evaluation team at Rusk State Hospital for the Cri minally Insane, where King has been held since shortly after the June 1980 shootings, has judged King competent to stand trial. Morris County Sheriffjoe Skip per said King, who shot himself in the head minutes after the church shootings, would be transferred to the Northeast Texas county jail within a few days. King, a former high school math teacher, has been at Rusk undergoing psychiatric testing for 17 months. Although he physical ly recovered from his head wound, he had repeatedly been judged incompetent to stand trial until this latest ruling. The ruling, which found King mentally competent to stand trial, does not prohibit using a defense of temporary insanity at the time of the shcxjting. Kings defense lawyer, Percy Foreman, has two weeks to object to the psychiatric evaluation, State District Judge B.D. Move said. An objection by Foreman would lead to a competency hear ing. If no objection is made, a trial date could be set. “We’ve got 15 days toil our mind, and we will first the reports with ourownpt rists and will be governedli decision as to whetherwei further congest,” Foremt Thursday. Foreman said if Rusli stick by their decism, would he nothing to dp cm ahead with the hearings murder case. Foreman said if there is conflicting evidence, lie appeal later. 26-year-old disease victi is example to youngster SUTTER’S MILL CONDOMINIUMS OPEN HOUSE Furnished Model OPEN Saturday & Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM Located on Olympia Way in College Station Behind Woodstone Shopping Center Features: 2 Bedroom IVz baths ♦ Wood burning fireplaces ♦ Sloped ceilings ♦ Built-in microwave ovens ♦ Frost free refrigerators with ice makers ♦ Private 2 car garage ♦ Ceramic tile shower enclosure For sales information contact Green <Sl Browne S46'5701 Located between Dominik Drive and University Oaks Blvd. on Olympia Way. A Project of Stanford Associates Inc. United Press International MILFORD, Conn. — Meg Casey says her family and their attitude helped her combat a rare genetic disease, and now she’d like to provide some encourage ment to three young victims of the same illness. Casey, who has reached the unusual age of 26 for a victim of progeria, said she hoped she could be a positive example to the chil dren who also suffer from the ill ness characterized by premature aging. The Milford artist said she hoped to meet with Fransie Geringer, 8, of South Africa, and Mickey Hayes, 9, of Hallsville, Texas, who are visiting Disney land in California and getting to know one another. The Disneyland trip was arranged to allow the two boys to meet someone in the same situa tion. Alicia Gowans, an 11-year- old from San Jos6, Calif., who is also a victim, joined the boys after reading about their meeting. Casey said .she could identify with the children because, like them, she had never met j else with the disease. She! wanted them to know she years old and still living. “We are of a family," ill “We all h ave the same chan| tics. I can’t promise tiling, hut I think,by g and seeing them in the lies give them hope.” Casey, one of two girls ly of 10, said it was herfanii 1 helped her combat the col that includes balding anil characteristics of aging. T|i me be a child,” she said ba Un HOUS housewii blood tes cyanide I says she science happenii City poisomn people i Heights downtm poison Wednes Lind; tests ec being ti week r< cyanide. “It’s How of cyanide, have it i The t CO TECHNICAL INSTRUCTORS < EARN OVER $900 A MONTH NOW AND WE’LL GUARANTEE YOU A TEACHING POSITION AFTER GRADUATION. Let your career pay off while still in college: Earn over $900 a month during your junior and senior years. Special Navy program guarantees you a teaching position after graduation. After graduation you get orientation in one of the most successful and sophisticated engineering programs in the country; phis opportunity for advancement. Then, teach college and graduate level math, physics, chemistry and engineering. 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