Indian Metate Spirits	by Laraine Romaine,
Central States Archaeological Societies 2006 July Journal	Guadalupe County, Texas

Indian Metate Spirits” discovered 1996 by Laraine Romaine, Gudalupe Co., Texas

I have been interested in Native American history for a majority of my life, since I first saw a cave man picture in a book. I picked up my first fossil while fishing with my family on a river banks at age seven. I always knew what I wanted to be when I was growing up; of course a mother first, an artist, and an archaeologist. I am the mother of twin sons, both in college now.

I am also an avocational archaeologist, as well as a self taught artist. When I moved to Guadalupe County, Texas; I had no idea there were so many Indian artifacts in the area until my husband plowed up a spear point near the edge of our house. Soon after, I began to search the region and found many.

“Indian Metate Spirits” discovered 1996 by In 1996 one of my friends was interested in my hobby. She and I set out on private property in search of Indian artifacts. We would always get permission first to go on the landowner’s property to hunt. I wanted to search this outcrop of large boulders that I suspected to contain Metate sites: (Metate meaning hand-used grinding stone). I first found this site due to a bowl shape, oval cavity in one of the boulders which had drill marks all along the edges. You could see where the Indians drilled the bowl out. The bottom of the bowl was so smooth. I bet that took some time. I took us about three hours of digging to uncover the area. I explained how the Indians would use these big boulders to prepare their food by grinding their harvest of seeds and plants. In this area are an abundance of wild plum, dewberries, wild persimmons, mulberry and mustang grapes. Acorn, pecan and mesquite trees also inhabit the area. The boulder with the metate site was as big as a pick-up truck and was covered with many of these grinding bowls. It is wonderful site we found, the best I have ever encountered in all the years I have been a rock hunter. My friend was impressed with our find. All artifacts I have found in this area are archaic. I never found a true arrowhead. All are spear points and tools, including a mano which fits the holes in the rock. You can see in the picture where the Indian Maiden actually sat and ground the food in a circular motion in the bowls. This is private property, no inquiries please.