Digging Texas has signed a lease agreement on a new dig site at Pipe Creek, Texas! We will be doing a test dig this coming weekend! This is not a normal Test dig as we know artifacts are there. We just want to see how large the
site is so we will be moving around a lot. The one thing you need to know about this weekend's dig is that even if we hit artifacts we will keep moving until we find the outer edges of the site.
If your not happy with that, just wait until the next weekend and dig then (we only want happy folks at the dig). Once we have found the boundaries we can clear the brush later and get the site ready for the long haul. From what I've seen, there will be plenty of chances at finding some good artifacts this weekend. Once I'm satisfied I know the boundaries of the dig site we will settle into one spot and dig on. That might happen Saturday afternoon or Sunday.
This is already an established site that has been started by one of the Universities and known by poachers for a long time. There are a few small potholes around but it's just enough to let you know that there are artifacts there! We do know that since this landowner has owned this property (a little less than 20 years, there has been no commercial digging on it but be aware that before that no one knows what happened there). I only tell you that as a warning as I do before all Test digs). Don't get upset if we find a beer bottle or a Dr. Pepper can. There will be no refunds because we know for sure there are artifacts here.
The site is covered with cedar trees and brush so this Tuesday we will be there clearing the site in preparation for this test dig. Ill try to send out some more pictures after we do some clearing for y'all to see.
A ditch was dug by the owner of the property to help drain it towards Pipe Creek. The landowner has moved a small amount of the dirt that was dug out of that ditch. She found many artifacts, including several different dart point types as well as a large Scottsbluff that had a large impact fracture running from where the tip was all the way down to where it was hafted (see photo)! She also has found some nice blades and a metate with a good dish.
That Scottsbluff got my attention! What a shame a high grade artifact like that got broken. I can't promise there will be more but at least we know they were there! We can only hope that more are there. Only one way to know and that is to dig it!
I don't know if we will find another but LOOK at this Scottsbluff! That would have been a museum quality piece. Note that long impact fracture from
the tip back to where it stopped at the hafting. WOW
The blade on the right was found in the trench dirt - it would have been perfect had the trencher not hit it.
Here is John our landowner holding a couple of Diane's (his wife's finds, John doesn't dig) she found next to the drainage ditch. She has a ton of brokes that
came out of this area. Note the bucket full of snails that the ancients were eating and the flint debris pile as she dumped her screen.
This is the cedar, mesquite and brush we will be cleaning this week. Lots of fire rock in places
How Do I Come To the Dig?
Here is the short version:
1. Everyone that comes to a Digging Texas dig is a member of our organization
so if you're not a current member
you will need to join (See further below on how to do that).
2. Sign up for the day/s you want to come by emailing diggingtexas@gmail.com (More info on that also below).
3. We ask everyone to sign up by 8 pm the Thursday before the dig so those traveling a long way will know
we are going to have a dig (if we do not get enough members to sign up to pay for the dig, we cancel it).
For All the Details- Read On...
DIG, CAMPING & MEMBERSHIP FEES
2017 Membership FEES - All Diggers Are Required to Join Digging Texas!
Digging Texas is not a "Dig Site", we are an organization devoted to digging and learning about the ancients that came here before us!
Everyone digging is required to join. We have been an organization since
1994
when we started the commercial digging idea you see today.
Some of our original diggers are still with us!
Keep reading below how to join.
(Note: Some of you still have active memberships as I only re-activated them while we were digging and froze them again when we finished Cibolo.
If you feel you
may have membership time remaining, please ask and I will double check).
ANNOUNCING! SOMETHING NEW! Texas Adventures!
One membership / BOTH Adventures!
New Memberships will also include Texas Adventures! a new extension of Digging Texas!
that I am starting.
I will lease properties, guides etc. to go on weekend adventure trips. It will center around Camping, Cook outs, Fishing, Hiking, Artifact Surface Hunting, etc. Some weekends will have special programs for kids.
Later, I would welcome your adventure ideas - maybe it can happen if we get enough interest! More on this later as I am working on the webpage for it now (but from now on, your membership will include both Digging Texas AND Texas Adventures).
Adventure weekends will be when we are between dig sites and are searching for the next one! There will be at least one Texas Adventure trip per month
when we are not digging (unless of rain-outs or other un-expected problems).
You can sign up for the Texas Adventures Electronic FREE Newsletter by sending an email to
diggingtexas@gmail.com
, be sure to put Tx Adventures in the Subject line!
Membership Fees
1 year Membership to Digging Texas! (you are automatically are entered in Texas Adventures also)
Single membership for 1 year - $50
Family Membership 1 year - $75
2 year Memberships (get it over with for awhile and save $10!)
to Digging Texas!
(you are automatically are entered in Texas Adventures also)
Single membership for 2 year - $90
Family Membership 2 year- $140
Family memberships are for a Husband/Wife
and kids 18 years and younger (Couples NOT married are eligible also).
Children 12 and up are allowed a spot on the screens at the normal rate. They must be accompanied
by an adult and are expected to stay at the screens with you or your vehicle if they get tired.
NOTE: Children younger than 12 are not allowed to dig or on our site when equipment is running.
Some Texas Adventures trips will be for all ages but some will be restricted also. We will try to mix it up.
HOW DO I PAY MY MEMBERSHIP?
We prefer you Pre Pay your membership in advance so we do not have to deal with that at the dig site!
It's best to prepay your membership prior to the dig site so we can focus on digging! but you will pay CASH
at the site for your digs only.
We do not accept PayPal for dig fees.
Go to PayPal.com and use diggingtexas@gmail.com as the email to send payment.
You can use your Credit Card there also (even if you don't have a PayPal account).
Contact me at the same email with all your names / family members names / address / Cell Phone.
Alternative way to pay your membership fee - Send a Money Order (sorry no CHECKS) to:
Bob McWilliams
19319 Sherwood Trail
Helotes, TX 78023
Once paid you will be added to our membership.
We will send you a Digging Texas / Texas Adventures membership card.
How Do I Pay My Dig Fees?
$250 PER DAY - CASH AT THE GATE!
NO LOOSE CASH ACCEPTED. PUT YOUR MONEY IN A SEALED ENVELOPE
(
We provide you with this envelope).
Fill this envelope out at the dig site, sign and take a photo of it for your receipt.
Please DO NOT hand me loose cash at the site, it can get blown away, lost etc.
If you will put your money in the envelope and seal it you will get full credit for paying -
hand me cash and I may forget you ever paid! This is your proof of payment that protects you and me.
Take a photo the completed envelope and keep as your receipt.
* SIGN UP CUT OFF IS THURSDAY NIGHT 8 PM
before the dig (or we may have to call off the dig).
We require you to sign up by Thursday night because many people drive from far away
and need to make sure that we are going to have the dig. If we only have 3 or 4 folks sign up,
it is not financially possible to have the dig. Please respect other diggers and sign up as soon as possible.
Directions To The Dig
I will send the directions of the dig site to you on Thursdays 8PM before the dig (I send them out at the same time).
Camping Fees at Pipe Creek
(Rough Camping- No Electricity) -
$20 for one night per person - $30 if you're staying for two nights.
Children
