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created them. Perhaps most importantly, through this collaboration with locals, the researchers are covering a lot of uncharted ground for such study. Douglass notes that most archaeological work in Nebraska has been completed on public lands, which amount to less than 2 percent of the state's total area. That leaves a huge area undocumented. Whether the setting is the Trailside Museum, which houses the Clash of the Mammoths and other prized fossils, or the community center at a small town such as Mullen, the show gathers important information. Each projectile point that is recorded helps add to the knowledge of the people who once lived on this land now known as Nebraska. Interesting patterns have already emerged. The arrow and spear points from collections in northwestern Nebraska and the Sandhills range from those 10,000-year-old points to much newer historic metal trade points manufactured by Europeans and Euro-American blacksmiths and later copied by the natives. "From the collections we have seen so far, we are noticing two time periods where we have very few points," he said. "These 'gaps' correspond to massive droughts in the Great Plains and suggest that private collections might help scientists to understand the relationship between cultural and environmental history in our state. The two most notable gaps are from extensive periods of drought 8,500 years ago and just over 700 years ago. Research has shown that the latter event, known as the Medieval Warm Period, was dry enough to move dunes in the Sandhills. "It's not surprising that we're seeing gaps, but it's really neat to see that the work being done with geologists is backed up by the projectile points of collectors," Douglass said. Douglass said they are able to age the points by comparing shapes and other characteristics to those that have been collected among radiocarbon dated materials at other dig sites. Reference manuals, which have been created from that information, have been developed to aid identification. Equally important to the items used by the historic peoples who inhabited the region are the stories that go along with their discovery, and other historical narratives. Along with collecting data about the artifacts, the project has been interviewing locals to build a collection of information about the history and development of the High Plains as we know it today. The interviews focus on homesteading, early farm and ranch history, and personal accounts of life on the Great Plains. Some are recorded with people who have been suggested as experts of the region, others are with people who have just walked through the door. "Through stories, we are gaining important information related to early settlement, the conditions affecting the success or failure of homesteads, and the impact of rainfall and drought cycles on this process," Douglass said. The project's website is still in development, but people may see "a small sampling" of several hundred images and oral histories at Unl.edu/plains/your-united-states-national- grasslands. While the focus so far has been in the Sandhills and Pine Ridge regions, the program is just hitting its stride and researchers are entertaining invitations to set up their show at locations throughout the state. They're reaching out to Nebraska's many small museums and historical societies hosting an Artifact Road Show event. They'd also like to work with school teachers who want to involve their students in archaeology. Just as the peoples of 10,000 years ago surely learned their chances of success were greatly improved with the cooperation of their fellow tribesmen, Douglass knows the success of this project hinges on the involvement of others. In that spirit, he's encouraging people across the state to become involved in the Artifact Road Show. They can watch their local news for an upcoming road show, or contact him or Kuhnel to arrange a location. "We're the researchers and we're working really hard to learn about the history, but it's the people who live throughout the state that know so much about things we've never seen or heard of," he said. "It's through their collaboration that this is able to happen." ■ Michael Chodoronek shows a point brought in by a local rancher and its virtual representation from recording through 3D laser scanning during the Artifact Road Show at Fort Robinson State Park. The 3D laser scanner records a projectile point during the Show, sponsored by University of Nebraska Archaeological Field School and the National Grasslands Visitors Center. AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 • NEBRASKAland 53