...I have attached the report generated by this office documenting my visit to your property and our determination regarding the likely cultural affiliation of the documented cairns. After careful deliberation and discussion, it has been determined that the documented cairns on your property are not likely to be associated with the peoples of the Osage nation or their ancestors...
Unfortunately, James can't positively rule out the possibility of Osage and/or prehistoric cultures association with the site, but he feels it is more likely to be historic in origin.
The bottom line is that we still don't have a definitive answer to the origins and purpose of the rock cairns and are still hoping for more data on which to base a judgement.
Are you implying that if they are historic then they cannot have an Osage affiliation? Certainly there are historic period Osage.
ReplyDeleteNo. I'm not implying anything, but the archaeologist reported that they do not exhibit typical Osage characteristics, which was his main mission. He recommended to the Elder's council that they not consider them as Osage in origin.
DeleteHe further suggested that they are likely historic in age, for reasons still unclear, but acknowledged they may also be pre-historic. The only thing resolved with his report is he doesn't think the Osage Nation should explore this site further as part of their heritage.
And you are correct; the Osage tradition spans both pre-historic and historic eras.