Page 11 - RAGBRAI2009

DAY 7 - MT. PLEASANT TO BURLINGTON

Of Geology and Archaeology

the 17 counties Geology plays an im-
the route passes through portant role in the field of
this year, Des Moines County, archaeology. Since prehis-
in southeastern Iowa, has the

greatest number of recorded toric artifact assemblages

sites, currently at are so often dominated by

1070. lithic materials, geologic

sourcing is routinely performed

Flint to address issues including trade,

knapping is the movement of people, and so-

the process by cial interaction. For over 12,000
which stone or years Native Americans have uti-
lithics tools are lized chert to create an assortment
made. A flint of stone tools, and Iowa’s bedrock
knapper uses a contains a large variety of qual-
hammerstone to ity, knappable, lithic raw materials.
Two of the most prevalent types of
chip away at a
core to create a

projectile point chert found in archaeological sites

or other tool. in southeast Iowa are Keokuk and

Burlington chert, both of which

may be seen in outcroppings along

the Day 7 leg of the route, on our

way into Burlington.

Kevin VerhulcsotufrlitnestyknoafpMpianrgy, DpheoLtoagGraaprhzsa Keep an eye Keokuk chert outcrop,
out for Kevin coutersy of Ray Anderson,
who will be Iowa Geological Survey.
flintknap-
ping at
overnight

stopWsrt. ahidteecshresojweuretsaeforyirsn!g!!!