| The Resume of David Wasion
David Wasion
In the accompanying feature, "The Mammoth Hunter:
David Wasion's Quest for Pre-Clovis People in North
America," David Wasion provides a personal account
of his independent discovery of physical evidence of
the presence of the earliest known people in North America.
The evidence is in the form of butcher marks
on mammoth bones found in Kenosha County, Wisconsin.
This evidence pushes back the arrival of people in North
America to before the Clovis era. Wasion made his discovery
while inspecting mammoth bones in the basement of a
museum where the bones may have once been displayed.
Wasion has no university degree or formal training in
archaeology. How did he instantly recognize butcher
marks on a mammoth bone that had been inspected by professional
archaeoloigists? The best way to answer this question
is to review the astonishingly impressive resume of
David Wasion, a consummate avocational archaeologist
and citizen scientist. Editor.
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Created a predictive model based on soil types and geomorphology
for locating prehistoric sites.
Devised color-coding aerial photos with soil type to
determine original vegetation patterns as an aid to
site location predictions with topographic and faunal
considerations.
Viewed, studied, and photographed a number of private
collections of artifacts found in the area and established
contacts with locals and landowners in regards to potential
prehistoric sites.
Local Expert Consultant, Center for the Study of the
First Americans, Texas A&M University, 2004. Worked
as an unpaid liaison to landowners for access to identified
and potential sites.
Chesrow Site Excavation, Kenosha County, WI, 1998.
With Great Lakes Archaeological Research Center (GLARC);
local information consultant, excavator, lithic and
mapping artist.
Hebior Mammoth Excavation, Kenosha County, WI, 1994.
Field Supervisor, lithic and mapping illustrator.
Lucas Site (Paleoindian campsite) Excavation, Kenosha
County, WI, 1993.
Field Supervisor, lithic and mapping illustrator.
Schaefer Mammoth Excavation, Kenosha County, WI, 1992.
Field Archaeologist, lithic and mapping illustrator.
Delevan Site Excavations, Walworth County, WI, 1979.
With GLARC; field excavator.
Henschel Site Excavation, Sheboygan County, WI.
With GLARC; field excavator.
Price Mastodon Site, Kenosha County, WI 1994.
Kniper Mammoth Site, Kenosha County, WI, 1994.
Hebior Mammoth Site, Kenosha County, WI, 1994.
Megafauna Site Mapping Project, Kenosha County, WI 1994.
Devised and illustrated a series of regional maps of
known megafauna remains in Kenosha and Racine Counties.
Applied own predictive model of soil types and geomorphology
to locate prehistoric sites.
Des Plaines River, Kenosha, WI, 1994.
Independently surveyed east bank of Des Plaines River,
located and mapped a number of prehistoric sites.
Silver Lake, WI, 1982-1983, 1994.
Independently conducted field survey of northern area
of Silver Lake. Discovered large burial mound, later
found mound indicated on 1836 Kenosha County survey
map. Surveyed eastern shore of lake.
Paleo Beach, Kenosha, WI, 1994.
Independently conducted field survey and located a number
of prehistoric sites.
Pleasant Prairie Paleoindian Survey, Kenosha County,
WI, 1990-92.
Regional survey of all north-south drainages from and
including the Des Plaines River east to Lake Michigan.
Noted all megafauna and paleoindian sites, their spatial
relationships and their environments, past and present.
Pike River Survey, Kenosha County, WI, 1976-79, 1990-91
Independently conducted field survey of both banks of
the Pike River from Lake Michigan to Green Bay Road
and the Pike River floodplain.
George Lake Survey, Kenosha County, WI 1980-81 and 1991.
Independently conducted field surveys and mapped sites.
WisPark Survey, Kenosha County, WI, 1988.
Local expert consultant and field surveyor for GLARC.
Pike Creek Survey, Kenosha County, WI, 1987-88.
Independently conducted archival research and field
survey of sites on Pike Creek from Lake Michigan to
Washington Bowl Park.
Deep Lake and Crooked Lake Surveys, Lake County, IL,
1982-83.
Independently conducted field surveys and mapped sites.
Toleston Ridge Survey, Kenosha County, WI 1979-80.
Independently conducted field survey of Toleston Ridge
in Pleasant Prairie and accompanying drainages from
the sewage treatment plant to the State Line.
Des Plaines River Basin Survey, Kenosha County, WI,
1972-75.
Independently conducted field survey of 35 sq. mile
area of Des Plaines River basin using own predictive
model. Wrote "A New Approach to Site Survey"
(unpublished paper).
Mud Lake, Fenske, and Shaefer Megafauna
Sites, Kenosha County, WI, 1992-present.
Independently performed archival and field research.
Discovered mammoth bones with butchering marks in the
collections of the Kenosha County Historical Museum
and Kenosha Public Museum and reported find.
Mud Lake, Fenske, Shaefer and Hebior Megafauna Sites,
Kenosha County, WI, 1992-Present
Performed field surveys, excavation, site supervision,
site layout, field school instruction, site illustration,
and co-authored paper. Performing ongoing surveys and
area interviews.
Thomas Site, Kenosha County, WI, 1977-present.
Independently studied, identified, photographed and
cataloged Robert and Elaine Thomas collection of over
1,000 artifacts. Investigated Thomas Site burial.
Copper Burial Site, Kenosha County, WI, 1994.
Independently conducted initial field investigation
and reported site.
Henn Site, Kenosha County, WI 1977-1994.
Independently studied and identified the Henn collection
of over 2,000 artifacts and collection notes. Used own
predictive model to indicate early vegetation patterns
and compared them to current topography and artifact
concentrations to predict location of prehistoric sites.
Pederson Site, Big Bend, WI, 1978-79, 1992.
Assisted in excavation of bundle burial. Independently
surveyed and mapped a mound group nearby.
Scott Site, Kenosha County, WI, 1991-92.
Surveyed and mapped site, geomorphology, flora, and
artifact distribution. Studied and established prehistoric
vegetational patterns of Scott, Smiley, and Luitze sites.
Pike River Site, Kenosha County, WI, 1989-91.
Independently discovered, surveyed, mapped, and reported
Pike River Site (Middle/Late Woodland). Excavated site
for Kenosha Public Museum.
Barnes Creek Site, Kenosha County, WI, 1973-1989.
Independently surveyed, mapped, and performed test excavations
of site. Excavated dog burial with Late Woodland pottery
and debitage. Discovered bison scapula, prehistoric
bison headdress (partial), elk humerus, deer beaming
tool, and possible elk beaming tool during creek bed
survey; artifacts identified by Dr. Turnbull, Field
Museum, Chicago. Discovered and mapped buried forest
below Toleston Ridge at site. Wrote geographical description
of Barnes Creek, and reconstructed original vegetation
patterns for site.
Wolf Creek Site, Kenosha County, WI,
1984, 1986, 1988.
Independently surveyed, mapped, performed test excavations,
and reported site located previously by locals.
Ranch Site, Kenosha County, WI, 1984-85.
Independently surveyed, mapped, and reported site located
previously by locals. Conducted test excavation of the
site.
Sand Ridge Site, Lawrenceville, IN, 1970-71, 1976-1978.
Independently conducted field survey and excavated site.
Supervised test excavations. Assembled human cranial
remains, and dated child’s remains.
Parkside Site, Kenosha County, WI, 1976.
Discovered and excavated archaic burial and wrote report
on excavation.
Chesrow Site, Kenosha County, WI, 1972-76.
Discovered, named, and identified paleoindian habitation
site later placed on National Register of Historic Places.
Krans Site, Kenosha County, WI, 1972-75.
Independently surveyed, mapped, and performed test excavations.
Analyzed artifacts and artifact distributions.
Assistant Supervisor, Marquette University Field School,
Hebior Mammoth Site, 1994.
Taught testing, grid layout, excavation, mapping, faunal
and lithic identification.
Assistant Supervisor, Marquette University
Field School, Lucas Site, 1993.
Taught testing, grid layout, excavation, mapping, lithic
identification.
Lake County Museum, Lake County, IL, 1979.
Identification of historic and prehistoric artifacts.
Examination of human skeletal remains from gravel pit
at Van Patten Woods.
Kenosha Public Museum, Kenosha, WI.
Identification of prehistoric projectile points 1989.
Archival research of archaeological sites 1990. Established
contacts with local landowners 1990-1992.
Kenosha County Historical Society Museum, Kenosha, WI,
1974.
Design of Middle Woodland Hearth display. Provided materials
for display.
D. Overstreet, D. Joyce, K. Hallin, and D. Wasion, "Cultural
Contexts of Mammoth and Mastodon in the Southwestern
Lake Michigan Basin," Current Research in the
Pleistocene 10, 75-77 (1993).
Overstreet, D. F., D. J. Joyce, and D. Wasion, More
on Cultural Contexts of Mammoth and Mastodonin the Southwestern
Lake Michigan Basin, Current Research in the Pleistocene
12, 40–42 (1995).
D. Wasion, illustration in Mammoth
Trumpet (1995).
D. Wasion, illustrations in Wisconsin
Archaeologist 74, Nos. 1-4 (1993).
"Alas Poor Paleo Man" Kenosha News, 1975.
"Bones Unlocking Prehistoric Clues" Kenosha
News, 1991.
"Paleo Man" in the book Paris – Past
and Present, 1978.
"Ice Age Landscapes of Southeastern
Wisconsin" with K. Sverdrup, M. Kolb, and D. Overstreet.
Historic Preservation Survey and Planning Grant FY 1995.
GLARC, Milwaukee, WI.
"Ice Age Landscapes of Racine and Kenosha Counties,
Wisconsin" with D. Overstreet and K. Sverdrup.
Historic Preservation Survey and Planning Grant FY 1994.
Report of investigations No. 355, GLARC, Milwaukee,
WI.
"Ice Age Landscapes of Racine and Kenosha Counties,
Wisconsin" with K. Sverdrup and D. Overstreet.
Historic Preservation Survey and planning Grant FY 1993.
GLARC, Milwaukee, WI.
"Early Holocene Megafauna Exploitation, Kenosha
County, Wisconsin" with D. Joyce, R. Blazina-Joyce,
D. Overstreet, and K. Sverdrup. Historic Preservation
Survey and Planning Grant FY 1992. GLARC, Milwaukee,
WI.
Composite scale masters of Schaefer
and Hebior Mammoth Sites bone distribution maps.
Illustrated historic artifacts from Hanson site featured
in Wisconsin Archaeologist, Volume 74, Issues 1-4, March
-December 1993.
Illustrated lithic artifacts and bone distributions
for Schaefer Mammoth Site, for Historic Preservation
Survey and Planning Grant, 1992.
Recognized the need for a local organization
and spearheaded the founding of the Kenosha County Archaeological
Society (KCAS) in 1972. Served as Society Chairman from
1972-1976. Served as Field Director in excavation of
historic Montgomery Cabin Site, Kenosha County. Presented
lecture to KCAS on the Thomas Site and the Thomas collection.
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