Living Amid Middens—Preserving the Past, Looking to the Future

For those of you that missed this wonderful presentation. It is now online for your enjoyment...

For more than 20 years, Steeves has been involved in research and preservation of significant archaeological sites on the central Oregon coast. A native Oregonian, she grew up at the coast and returned here to work following doctoral studies at the University of Oregon. She has had a life-long interest in Indian cultures and a passion for understanding the coastal environment. During her 36-year archaeological career, she has literally walked across the state documenting sites. With hiking boots on, she continues to enjoy exploring her back (and front) yard, as much as traveling the world.

Find out what archaeologists, working closely with tribal members and scientists, have learned about the central Oregon coast, and why preservation of these non-renewable resources is critical. Cultural sites in and near Yachats will be considered in relation to the Oregon coast archaeological record.

Editors note: Courtesy photo - Newport News Times file

Pleasures await you by the seashore!

Sorry I had a shipment going out at the time a lady came in with a complete fossilized Nautilus that she had just found here in the Newport area. The nautilus was a little larger than a quarter and in very good condition, still had some matrix rock attached to it, but the iridescent shell was complete and spectacular in color and condition. Unfortunately I had to run and help with the freight, so no photo. Well that's another reason to go beach combing for those unexpected treasures from nature here on the Oregon Coast.

Spring Break things to do list: Spring Whale Watching week on the Oregon Coast starts soon March 20-27, 2010. Spring break will offer an active calendar of events for family fun activities, live entertainment, art festivals concerts, Oregon Coast Fishing and more...

Beachcombing On The Oregon Coast

The agate beds have been shifting here in Lincoln County so much this year. We have been trying to explain this phenomena to our guest but they can't seem to understand it. We had a gentleman in earlier this month and he said "The first day I was here the beach outside my window was littered with gravel and I had a great time finding agates, jasper, fossils, etc. The next morning I looked out my window and it was all gone, nothing but sand!" This is what we mean by the change of the tide (every six hours) and the agate bed may disappear.

Obviously all of those cars parked at the beach during the winter can't be wrong. It does not mean the people are out there sun bathing, it just means the folks are having a great time finding treasures out there on the beach. You too will have to actually get out of the car, stand out there on the beach and look north and south maybe a 100 yards and possibly you will find a new gravel bed littered with agates, jaspers, and fossils.

Remember to - Seek, and Ye Shall Find.

Video of Agate Hunting in Newport

Storm Season brings with it warnings to be followed...

We are expecting not one but two storms, Thursday - Saturday in combination with extremely high tides, and a second blue moon for the month of December. What more could we have to deal with for a new year? While storm watching, or beachcombing, please take care as to not jeopardize your life or the Coast Guard rescue teams by playing on the logs or get yourself caught in the surf by the tides. Please be aware this coastline can be very dangerous under normal circumstances but will be doubly dangerous this week.

If you choose to explore, do it as a team, never by your self. Always watching for sneaker waves, they never follow a pattern and can wipe you off your feet in seconds. Yes there will be treasures from the sea to be found but consider doing this after the sea calms down Sunday or so for the sake of your own safety.

Please be very careful and enjoy a safe and happy New Year.

Busy Season here on the Oregon Coast...

The storms have been numerous, delighting our seasoned beachcombers, tourists and novice agate hunters alike. The weather and the waves have caused a variety of changes on the beaches, as well as all sorts of stuff washing up or being exposed. This is a time of discovery with the uncovering oddities and good reports of treasures being found on the local beaches, one couple had even found an old glass fishing float with some fish net still attached. Our guest are really enjoying the hunt looking for agates and jaspers.

Sorry I haven't had a chance to keep up lately, work has been wild. This is the first photo I have been able to take in weeks. I haven't had time to take any photos of recent treasures that have been found. Plus on top of everything else, our updates are in the work for the new revised copy of the pocket guide Agates of the Oregon Coast that will be out next year. Hard to believe it is time for a reprint already. We thought the first printing would have lasted for two years or so.

Jasper Arrowhead Found!

Another great find.,,3" Jasper Indian Arrowhead, artifact found on the Oregon Coast!

Beachcombers Paul and his wife found this Indian arrowhead over a year ago during a very windy day at the beach as Susan was trying to drag him home. He thought he saw an arrowhead and went back to retrieve it. The arrowhead features such an interesting pattern to the jasper color wise too. The photo shows the knapped detail on this piece as seen front and back in the photo very nicely.

Tomorrow we are anticipating quite a windy and rainy day for the coast, maybe that will remove some of that sand to expose the gravel beds. We are getting reports of agate being found to a limited extent daily now. No certain areas to report as it changes by the tide.

Unusual agate found on Oregon's Central Coast

I must apologize to you that I haven't had a chance to keep up on this report but work comes first! However it is nice to be able to say we all are still keeping busy in this economy.

It seems that the agate beds south of Newport have all sanded in but Newport to Lincoln City are still seeing small pockets of gravel that are still rewarding the collectors with nice treasures!

This is truly an unusual agate that was found yesterday by lucky resident Jeff of Lincoln County while he was beach combing north of Newport. This was actually 3½" across showing several interesting cavities of quartz crystals within the agate and mottled with ribbons of red jasper. Nice find Jeff!

Agate collecting at Newport

Sorry folks that I have been busy at work and no time to catch you up on the local beachcombing here in the Newport area. After the last week of storms that hit our area the agate collecting should be good for spring break!

This is just one of many that have come in lately with some great finds. This one was found by Glen D. of Newport. I wire wrapped this pendant in 14KGF wire. The lapidary art of wire wrap works well to capture anything.

Hopefully tomorrow I will get a lot more up for you to see some of the recent treasures that we have been enjoying lately from the coastline here in Newport.

Agate found January 21, 2009

Tali-Ho and off to school she goes!

Have a safe journey and good luck at school, Tali you will be missed by all of us here in Newport! You have been such a great team player here with us for the last two years. We know you will excell in anything you set your mind to.

Tali is shown here with her gold wire wrapped cloud agate that was actually found here in Newport with the inclusion shaped as a cross. How fitting a piece to send her off to Boise Bible College.

Good Luck from all of us!