Good morning, everyone, and for you triskaidekaphobes, happy Friday the 13th!

This is just a quick reminder that the next Blake Mound Work Day in Chesterfield
is this Sunday, July 15, from 8am until 11am.

For those of you weren't around for our last Work Day three months ago, the
Blake Mound is the largest surviving prehistoric mound in St. Louis County and
has been "adopted" by MAS Trustee Mark Leach as part of his Missouri Mound
Adoption Project (MoMAP). For more information Mark's efforts to reverse decades
of looting and neglect at this archaeological site in west St. Louis County,
visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SLARK/message/920 and
http://associations.missouristate.edu/mas/macquest/Desk/indexMOMAP.htm

Don't forget that Mark will also be the featured speaker for the next Mound City
Archaeological Society (MCAS) program at the Missouri History Museum on Tuesday,
August 7, so this Sunday will be a special "sneak peek" of that lecture for
those who come. We'll send another reminder about the lecture later, but for
now, you can visit the Missouri Historical Society's on-line events calendar at
http://www.mohistory.org/content/EventCalendar/EventSummary.aspx?Date=8/7/2007#8\
/7/2007

Please note that we'll be starting an hour earlier than we did in April. We
should have things wrapped up before it gets too hot, but we strongly recommend
everyone wear a hat and light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, nonetheless.
We'll also provide plenty of ice-cold water, plus a big bottle of sunblock.
We'll work at a steady pace at a variety of tasks, but no one will be asked to
exceed their own physical abilities. All we're asking is that some of you give
us a few hours out of your Sunday morning to help preserve and protect an
important piece of our collective past. All ages are welcome, but all minors
should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Blake Mound (ASM site number 23SL51) is in a moderately wooded area along a
bluff overlooking the Chesterfield valley (one heckuva view, in my opinion), so
there may be some poison ivy, ticks, and mosquitos. During one of our breaks,
those who are up for it will be treated to a hike down the bluff to a nearby
midden and rock shelter that are associated with the mound. If we have enough
volunteers, we'll split off a few to conduct a surface collection of the midden
and take "in situ" photographs of any artifacts they may find. We'll have a GPS
unit with us, so while we're there, we'll also take some readings of the midden
and rock shelter. All of the information we collect will be written up in a site
report for inclusion in the overall site's file.

Lastly, there's a golf course nearby, so stray golf balls are abundant; golfers
are invited to bring a backpack and collect as many as they can carry.

You'll notice that I haven't mentioned where, exactly, in Chesterfield the Blake
Mound is. That's because the location is on private property and we're trying to
keep it CONFIDENTIAL. For those of you who haven't been there before, please
call or e-mail me by this Saturday evening and I'll gladly give you detailed
directions. For those of you who have been there before, please contact me to
let me know that you're planning on being there.

If you live somewhere between the Chesterfield and the Central West End and
would like to hitch a ride with me, please call me as soon as possible so we can
work out details.

Mark's done a lot of work in preparation for this Sunday, so it would be very
nice if we had a good turnout. Remember the old saying, "many hands make light
work".

Hope to see you this Sunday,

Greg

Greg Paulus
President, Mound City Archaeological Society
bgpaulus@...
(314) 704-3507