Sanctuary on the Trail™ - Site owners of the Paleo-Indian site in Northern Virginia are seeking experts knowledgeable in paleo-indian pre-history. The couple have results from a 5-year study that includes notes from the 2011 Archaeological Excavation, a final report ready for peer review and artifacts.
     Jasper (below) discovered early in level B confirmed the presence of human usage at the site. Jasper does not occur in outcrops above the site; thus, it had to be carried into the site.
     Jasper is assumed to be from the Front Royal area and related to the Paleoindian occupation of the Shenandoah River; however, it could have been retrieved from the Shenandoah River.

      The jasper below, found during the excavation, amplifies the site’s Paleoindian association. It has a heavily redden area; also it has likens from lying under the ground for 12,000 years.

      This jasper thumbnail scraper is a classic Paleoindian artifact; especially noted is the spur graver (above). The spur was examined microscopically (400x) and shows striations. Both faces have length-wise parallel flake scars. The spur was used, and the scraper end shows signs of being used.
     The tool is unusually small and was found on the northeastern corner of the excavated square. It was heat treated.

     The University of Washington conducted thermoluminescence (TL) dating that confirms the artifacts last use at 10,470 years before present.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA - Three archaeologists from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) office and a hydrogeologist from Maryland visited the Paleo-Indian site here today.
     Tom Klatka, archaeologist from DHR’s community services division regional offices Western Regional Preservation Office (Roanoke College, Salem) provided sound advice and recommendations to site owners into the importance of preservation. Tom advocates for local communities and helps get their voices heard. He has 26 years’ experience as an archaeologist.
     DHR’s division of Preservation Incentives Easements Joanna Wilson Green, archaeologist and Michael Clem, archaeologist and easement program stewardship coordinator, helped confirm the rarity of finding jasper which is not indigenous to this portion of Northern Virginia.      DHR is the State Historic Preservation Office in Virginia responsible for fostering, encouraging and supporting the stewardship of Virginia's significant historic architectural, archaeological and cultural resources.
     Dennis Cumbie, CPG groundwater hydro-geologist, from Rockledge LLC., Sharpsburg Maryland, shed light on the natural occurrences of stone formations as they developed millions of years ago. He also suggested the site owners get opinions from quaternary geomorphology experts. Dennis is a senior level hydrogeologist with 18+ years experience in water supply investigation, ground- and surface-water monitoring, water quality and watershed management.
     Site owners Chris and René White gave the 4-member team a tour of key features to include the concentric rings, stacked rock linage, alter, triangle formation and day clock.

     Discussions included the possibility of conducting future soil samples and additional Thermoluminescence (TL) dating. The team shared numerous suggestions for further research and analysis to include consulting with specialists from Virginia Tech University, James Madison University and University of Georgia.
     “We welcomed the team to observe and analyze our findings,” said Chris who discovered the above-ground Paleo-Indian site on his property in Northern Virginia. “The highlight of our conversation for me was how these ancient findings impact humanity at large and how we find relevance in our current world view.”

Bluemont, VA -- The Native American Church of Virginia offers ways to encourage and support the identification, stewardship, and use of Virginia's significant archaeological resources for educational and cultural benefits with preservation, protection and restoration of Paleo-Indian and Native American Indian sites and culture.
     Join us in October as we share evidence of an advanced, but different, intelligence left by a people more than 10,000 years ago here.
     Thanks to the Clermont Foundation, Blue Ridge Mountain Civic Association, Bears Den, Friends of Bluemont and Art in the Foothills for hosting us. Currently, we are participating in two presentations and one Art Show, all open to the public:

Clermont Farm Day
Sat., Oct. 11 Presentations and Exhibits
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
801 East Main Street
Berryville, VA 22611

Bears Den
Fri., Oct. 17 Presentations
7:00 - 8:00 pm
18393 Blue Ridge Mountain Rd
Bluemont, VA 20135

International Archaeology Day

Art in the Foothills
Oct. 24-26 Art Show
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Boulder Crest Retreat for Military and Veteran Wellness
18370 Bluemont Village Lane
Bluemont, VA 20135

For information about Virginia Archaeology Month can be found at the Department of Historical Resources.

Release of New T-Shirt on Oct. 11

Bluemont VA – This Winchester Star feature story talks about how PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, learned about the Paleo-Indian site and the Native American Church of Virginia through the local newspaper and arranged to film here at the Sanctuary on the Trail yesterday.
     From Virginia, PBS Director Lucky Severson, Photography Mark Thalman and Audio Engineer Tony Stewart joined PBS Producer David Tereshchuk from New York, to interview the site’s guardians. The special program, about concentric rings found around the world, will air on PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly in late August.
     Paleo-Indian site guardians Chris (Comeswithclouds) White and René White (Feather) have volunteered thousands of hours for the past five years to preserve, protect and restore this site. Thermal Luminescence (TL) dating results recently confirms the site was last used 10,470 years ago, making it older than the standing boulders at England’s Stonehenge.

Related Links:

• PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly
• Winchester Star
• Sanctuary on the Trail

BLUEMONT, VA – Local students and family from three local churches learned more about Native American culture and the Paleo-Indian concentric rings found in here through a July 9 “Art in Nature” ™ class held by the Native American Church of Virginia.
     Students and families ages 6 to 73 arrived from three corners of Northern Virginia to share in this unique physical and spiritual art experience. Eight members from the Bluemont United Methodist Church; seven members from the Emmaus Church of Berryville; and one member from the Fairview Methodist Church in Stephens City participated.
     Led by Native American of Virginia artist René White (Feather), a retired Air Force veteran, the class revolved around the letters P-R-A-I-S-E as a tool to study the Paelo-Indian concentric rings. Her husband Chris (Comewithclouds) discovered the Paleo-Indian site in 2010 while looking for a spot on their land to build a Native American medicine wheel. Last use of the Paleo-Indian rings dates to 10,740 years ago based on recent anthropology luminescence dating of an excavated artifact.
     “My goal with this Paleo-preservation class is to help build comprehension of the process of exploration and to gain an understanding and appreciation of Paleo-Indian culture and see how ancient people lived in balance with nature thousands of years ago, without cell phones and television,” René said.

P-R-A-I-S-E
“I used the letters in PRAISE to help explain the ideas of Purpose, Research, Analysis, Implement, Strategize and Evaluate in a physical, spiritual and FUN art experience outdoors,” said René who is the Native American Church of Virginia president.

P - Purpose
The class began as Chris, CEO of the Native American Church of Virginia, led the group in prayer. Sitting on red, white and blue blankets René explained the class “Purpose:” to create “Art in Nature” to leave outside for Creator God and to PRAISE & worship together.

R - Research
After a quick “go song” on the flute by René, the group began their “Research” to find natural materials to create their PRAISE art in nature piece.
     Using baskets, bowls and scissors they collected arm loads of fern, cut beautiful flowers and fragrant plants, and gathered unusual rocks as they hiked a small portion of the Blue Ridge Mountain eating raspberries along the way.

A - Analysis
The “Analysis” activity took place around a blue tarp near the sacred Paleo-Indian site and along the Spout Run creek, where students laid down their pickings and separated all the mixed up textures and colors into separate piles. One student even carried in a huge branch downed by last night’s storm.  

I - Implement
The objective was to “Implement” the art project by spreading out all the items into concentric rings, similar to what the Paleo-Indian’s left behind. René established the midpoint of the rings by placing a thin slice of black walnut shell in the center of a dried walnut trim gourd with a streamer going out in the direction of the water flowing down the creek towards the Shenandoah River.
     The students placed everything from a pile of carrots and corn to feathers and ferns into the spiral of rings. As they took turns, René reminded them that the “I” in implement also stands for good “Intent.”

S- Strategize
To “Strategize” the children advised each other on how to lay their items, determined which items to place in the gourd bowl and agreed to keep the red carpets (that Chris laid) open to the East and the rising sun.

     “I was glad to be part of bringing the church kids to the Paleo site,” said Bluemont resident Susan Freis Falknor.  “The Whites have made such an exciting discovery and it’s great that these local children are among the first to know about it.”
     “What sticks out in my mind about the art class was that the children were able to slow down and closely observe natural forms, like ferns, sticks, stones, dried ears of corn. Under the soft green light of the wooded mountainside, the colors of the everyday objects that they arranged on the tarp in concentric rings seemed to glow.”
     After a group photo showing the completed work, children explored in the creek and gathered lunch:  a watermelon and cantaloupe cooling in the creek. They relaxed a few minutes on a bridge eating and just enjoying nature and their new friendships before the class finished.
     “In addition to saying thanks and acknowledging elements of creation, by creating Art in Nature and leaving it here, I think this exercise teaches the principles of humility, giving of self, and non-attachment,” said Chris.
    
E - Evaluation
During the “Evaluation” phase, they climbed to a nearby ridge looking back down at their work of PRAISE. Then each participant spoke about their discoveries to the rest of the group in a brief report. Several were shy, but still took their turn to speak before the group.
     “Speaking in front of each other allows them to feel how good it is to get up and acknowledge the experience of letting a creative project bring them together,” said René. “And I think it gives them courage to want to say more next time.”
     Special thanks to Claudia DeLancey of Winchester VA for volunteering to be the official photographer for the event.
     _________________________________

     The Native American Church of Virginia is a 501(c)3 compliant non-profit located at a Sanctuary on the Trail™ near Bluemont, Virginia, and raises money to help preserve, protect and restore a Paleo-Indian site the family found on the property in Northern Virginia.
     Their mission work includes helping reduce suffering in the world, helping wounded warriors and elders by helping leaders first.
     For more about the Native American Church of Virginia, the sacred Paleo-Indian ceremonial site or Art in Nature™ find out more online at these locations:

• Web Site
• Church Facebook
• Sanctuary on the Trail Facebook
• Art in Nature Facebook  

BLUEMONT, VA

"Calling the Rain"
    This music video, in the rain, is not what we had in mind when we set out to play Native American Flute during a mass release of butterflies. But sometimes, Great Spirit leads us to create what we create.

An Authentic First in a Historical Place
     Military veteran and musician Alan Stanz, now stands where another people stood 10,470 years ago. Experts have authenticated Paleo-Indians were here. They held ceremony in these symbolic concentric circles of stones. There is intelligence here. We found it. (Link)

A Spontaneous New Song
     Alan is spontaneously playing a new song. His first recording. Not from a song sheet, but from his heart. 
     Did Paleo-Indians play songs here too, within these circles? Was it eagle bone flute? Church bells? Trumpet taps? What did they pray for? How many heard it? Did they call for rain? Did they release butterflies? We have lots of questions.

Authentic and Real
     This video is as authentic and real as the place Alan stands now; a place where others stood more than 10,000 years ago.
     This is a "one-shot" music video recorded on this spot. One take. One camera. One microphone. Authentic. Real.

Giving Thanks
     We give thanks in all things. For this opportunity. For this song. For this knowledge. For this place. For the rain.

By Josette Keelor
Northern Virginia Daily

BLUEMONT -- The Native American Church of Virginia started in 2009, but a recent discovery of an artifact dating back 10,470 years to a Paleo-Indian site has inspired Rene White (Feather) and Chris (Comeswithclouds) White to call it the oldest church in continuous operation in the world....

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY

Photo by Emy Dean

By Merris Badcock
WHAG-TV  Winchester Bureau Reporter
Your 4 State NBC News Station

Photos of the NBC Interview.

Washington Post via AP

BLUEMONT, Va. — Concentric stone circles near rocks weighing more than a ton — apparently aligned to mark solar events — are believed to be part of a Paleo-Indian site in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Clarke County that an expert has dated to about 10,000 B.C. (Full Story here.)

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Original story by: The Winchester Star, http://www.winchesterstar.com