THE HALL LOST LAKE	Phil Mize
Central States Archaeological Societies 2001 April Journal	Nashville, Indiana

In the summer of 1982, Jere Hall was hunting for Indian artifacts in Caldwell County, Kentucky, and found an artifact that was truly spectacular. He had no idea that he would discover what most of us would describe as a find of a lifetime. Jere was just an occasional "rock" hunter, hunting with his kids with the hope that he or his children would find what the Indians had left behind. But on this summer day, Jere's eye caught the tip of what appeared to be a nice point sticking up from the ground. His excitement grew as he began to pull on the point. The ground did not want to let go of the point that it had concealed for thousands of years. Jere pulled harder and the ground began to loosen. As the ground finally gave way, Jere looked down at a magnificent Lost Lake in pristine condition. It was too large to have been an arrow point, so Jere figured that it must have been a spearhead or knife blade. He took the point home and placed it in its own special felt bag.

   I first learned of Jere's discovery in the summer of 1986. I was completing my first year as the Data Processing Supervisor for Arvin Industries at the plant in Princeton, Kentucky. A friend of mine (Leon Forsythe) told me about Jere's fine point. When Jere found out I was also a collector of Indian artifacts, he said, "I will bring in my best piece for you to see." After a few days, Jere showed up in my office with that felt bag. I could tell the piece was big when he handed me the bag. I pulled the huge piece from the bag and stared down at the finest first stage Lost Lake point I had ever seen. Lost Lake points date to the Early Archaic Period from around 9,000-6,000 BP. They are also known as Kentucky Deep Notched points. The piece is 5 1/4" x 2 5/8" and its sheer mass left me almost speechless. I made a Xerox copy of the Lost Lake. Of course, I asked if he would consider parting with the point, but he said, "No, I'll hold onto it and pass it along to my heirs.

   "Time passed and Arvin transferred me to Columbus, Indiana, when the Princeton plant was shut down. Periodically I would look at the Lost Lake photocopy. I always kept in touch with Jere and never failed to express my interest in the point. Then in April, 2000 I sent an E-mail to Jere. He called and left a message on my recorder: he wanted to talk about the point! A few days later the point was mine, 14 years after I had first seen it. I was proud to have it in my collection. I am equally proud to share this point and its history with the members of the Central States Archaeological Societies Inc. I want to thank Jere for allowing me to care for his find and also the American Indian who made it eons ago.