Denton County's Archaeological History
Told by Alfred A. Mouse
Written and illustrated by
Matt Battaglia
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On a hot summer day in August of 1953, the bones of a prehistoric mammoth were discovered about five miles south of Denton on the M. Calvert farm. Matt, an archaeologist's son, found a little mouse. The kid looked at the frightened mouse and said, "Don't be afraid, little guy. I won't hurt you." The mouse shivered with fright. The boy spoke again. "My name is Matt. What's your name?" The mouse spoke up, "My n-name is, is, A-A-Alfred A-A-MM-MM-MMouse." The boy asked, "Well, Alfred, do you know anything about these bones?" Alfred said, "I can tell you what my Dad told me and what his ancestors told him. We are field archaeologist mice. My ancestor, prehistoric Mammoth A. Mouse reported seeing the mammoth, one of the largest mammals on this continent. These bones were part of the skeleton of a Parelephas Columbi because one tusk measures nine feet, two inches in length. The animal probably weighed two or three tons and stood ten feet tall! In 1919, J.M. Gurley also found three skeletons of a huge prehistoric animal near Denton. Paleontologists (scientists who study prehistoric animal remains and fossilized bones) can tell you more about these and other ancient animals in Texas. |
"Do you know anything else about the archaeology of Denton County?", asked Matt.
"My ancient Mastodon Grandmouse, one of our oldest relatives, passed down stories about the Paleo-Indian Period, about 6550 B.C. and before. She said the American mastodon was one of the largest mammals on this continent and a distant relative of the prehistoric mammoth. In 1894, some bones of a giant mastodon were found near Mingo and similar bones were unearthed in 1916. In 1941, near Forestburg, remains of a giant mastodon were uncovered."
"We've been studying about the Clovis people in class. Did your archaeologist ancestors tell you anything about them?", questioned Matt.
Alfred A. Mouse replied, "During that same period, Clovis A. Mouse, another of my ancestors, told stories about the bones of animals, hearths, and arrow points around Garza-Little Elm reservoir dam. Some of these things were found in 1956 by workmen who were working to make the lake bigger. They think that this region was once occupied 12,000 years ago by Clovis people."
Matt interrupted, "But what about the Aubrey Site?"
Alfred A. Mouse scratched his ear and said, "Clovis A. Mouse II reported seeing Clovis people where Lake Ray Roberts is now, about 10 miles north of what is now known as the city of Denton. This was later confirmed on December 3, 1988, when Dr. Reid Ferring, professor of geoarchaeology at the University of North Texas, discovered what he calls the 'Aubrey Site'. It is located on federal land at Lake Ray Roberts. The site was buried 23-28 feet below the flood plain of the Trinity River. Bones recovered included alligators, snakes, extinct bison, turtles, rodents, squirrel, horse, and mammoth. Stone artifacts numbered more than 9,000 and included spear points, scrapers, knives, flint blades and other tools used by the Clovis people. They discovered two major camp areas about 400 feet apart. There was some evidence that Clovis hunters killed a bison cow there."
Matt replied, "We studied in class where many archaeologists believe that the Clovis people were among the first to migrate across the prehistoric land bridge from Siberia to Alaska during the Ice Age. . We also found out that archaeologists named the Clovis people after the first site which was found near Clovis, New Mexico, in 1932. But now, some new evidence may indicate a Pre-Clovis culture. I wonder why there have been no human remains found of the Clovis people?"
Alfred A. Mouse continued, "During the Historic Period, about 1700 to the present, many of the stories were handed down by my American Indian mouse relatives. Some of my relatives were Cherokee, Delaware, Choctaw, and Comanche A. Mouse, among others. He informed us about all the Indian artifacts. In the early Historic Period many of the Indians were living the same way they did in the Prehistoric Period. But they later learned to ride horses, use guns, and competed for land areas. A skull and some other bones were unearthed by workmen in 1924 while they were doing excavation for the new Lake Dallas dam. Will Williams, Sr., an early Denton County resident, reported that other Indian remains had been found around the county. He also said he found a tomahawk buried in the fork of a tree on Medlin Point. Other people saw the remains of pottery, arrowheads, and other artifacts around the county. Houston Eggleston, another early resident, investigated hundreds of items around Little Elm Creek now covered by the water of Lake Lewisville."
"You mice people have quite a tale", replied Matt.
"My ancestor, Settler A. Mouse", Alfred continued, "came on the covered wagon with John Denton. He told a sad story about John B. Denton. He was a Methodist preacher from Arkansas and became a lawyer, orator, and you name it because he do it. In 1841, my relative reported seeing Denton killed while on a revenge mission after a skirmish with Indians. Denton was buried on Oliver Creek, but later reburied on the lawn of the Old Courthouse on the Square."
Alfred added, "Settler A. Mouse also told us about the pottery industry in Denton County. William Wilson, one of the county's first pottery makers, started his pottery near Corinth. Pottery was considered a good business since there was a need for it. And, the county is rich in clay because the Eagle Ford clay formation is found here. If you traveled in covered wagons, or on horseback, you would probably break things, or have little room to carry pottery. In May, 1998, the last Wilson kiln was excavated on Lake Sharon Estates. The brick cylinder, double-sided fireplace, was six feet in diameter and seven feet tall, and was used to fire pottery. Barry Vermillion led the Archaeology Committee task of disassembling the kiln, brick by brick. The bricks were then loaded on palettes and transported to a county warehouse in Lewisville. The kiln will be reassembled soon so that you will be able to see it."
"Alfred, do you want to come to my school and tell my class about the amazing archaeology of Denton County and do you have any artifacts that I could show my class? You can also include what you know about paleontology and anthropology", said Matt.
"I hope you've been taking notes on this because I've got to go", explained Alfred. "Tell your class to become archaeologists, or help archaeologists conserve our heritage. Remember, an archaeologist is a scientist that learns how past people lived by studying the remains they left behind. For example, where they once lived, or camped. Your friends do not want to become pot hunters that like to collect things and they don't care if they destroy thousands of years of evidence of history, or prehistory. My Dad, Archaeology A. Mouse, has found a new site! Maybe you can help us study it, or read about it soon for yourself."
Editors note: This story was researched, written, and illustrated by Matt Battaglia, a student attending Tomas Rivera Elementary School, Denton, Texas. Matt was assisted by his teacher, Ms. Shirley Watson. The content required very little editing by Barry Vermillion, Chair, Archaeology Committee, Denton County Historical Commission.