An Amazing Find from the 1980s	by Thomas Theodore Welborn
Central States Archaeological Societies 2025 January Journal	Alburn, Kentucky

This excerpt from "An Amazing Find from the 1980s" published in the 2025 Central States Archaeological Societies 2025 January Journal Read this and mores in the Central States Archaeological 2025 January Journal which can be purchased on-line after March 2026
An image showing the size of a Glyptodon from the 1866 publication Catalogue of casts of fossils, from the principal museums of Europe and America with short descriptions and illustrations by Henry A. Ward

Back in the day as a younger man, I was an avid artifact hunter in the fields and rock shelters of south central Kentucky. My brother and several other friends at the time would join me in weekly outings to sites known or unknown to seek this elusive treasure.

During the spring of 1984 or 85, one friend, whom I have lost contact with (so he shall remain anonymous), made an amazing find. It was at a spot which is now also ‘location unknown’, but I do have pictures (Figs. 2,4).

We set out that weekend to north Warren County to a farm bordering on the Green River. The owner was a congenial fellow and had given us and others permission to dig his rock shelters along the cliffs fronting the river. We chose an undisturbed site at the western end of these bluffs, and set to work with shovels and screens. We dug on our own, but then at one point we were digging side by side, each helping to removing the top layer 6” to 8” deep. It was during this process that my friend first found a 3 ½” Cumberland point.

It can be seen in Figures 1 and 2. Shortly after, within a very few shovels, he found a mysterious small black object. It appeared to be a sculpture, resembling an armadillo.

This object was small, not more than an inch in length. It is easy to recognize its size when compared to the points in Figure 3. It was undamaged, and exquisitely fashioned and detailed. Most likely it was a pendant, but it was not drilled for suspension.

As to what it depicts, it could be a mythological, stylized image from the creator’s imagination, but I tend to believe, considering it was found in close proximity to a Paleo point, that it could represent a megafauna species existent in those days: a glyptodont 1. These were giant armadillos.

In consultation with the editor, Steven R. Cooper, it was deemed prudent to share these images with Dr. Michael Gramly and Dr. David Easterla, both whom are contributors to this publication. Dr. Gramly believed it to not be a Glyptodont, due to its markings and the way the shell appears to be in three segments, which he felt were similar to the smaller armadillo species we are ....

This excerpt from "An Amazing Find from the 1980s" published in the 2025 Central States Archaeological Societies 2025 January Journal Read this and mores in the Central States Archaeological 2025 January Journal which can be purchased on-line after March 2026

Recoveries from the rock shelter. The 3 ½” Cumberland point is at the top, and the figurine is at bottom/center.