Indian site awaits further research

Monday, February 7th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

An archaeological find in east Texas could help researchers reconstruct the history of the Caddo Indians. Shreveport, La., archaeologist Claude McCronklin found Caddo artifacts two years ago in the east Texas woods that were evidence of the last known settlement of the Caddos.

The tribe lived in southwest Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas at the time European settlers moved into the region. The Caddo word for allies, "Tejas," became the word for Texas. The group in Arkansas was considered among the most advanced of the Caddo. The discovery of the Sha'chadinnih community by McCronklin and historian Jacques Bagur in 1997 was confirmed by a test dig last year but still awaits funding -- some $100,000 -- to kick off a thorough excavation.

The excavation would help archaeologists reconstruct the late history of the Caddos, resurrecting lost information about the culture and traditions of the once-powerful tribe. "We hope to have more excavations and do more surveys over the next several years," said Mark Parsons, an archaeologist with the Texas Historical Commission, which would oversee the dig.

The Caddo Nation dominated parts of what became Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas for a thousand years. The mostly agrarian people were known for their colorful pottery and the diplomatic skills they used to mediate disputes among other American tribes. By the early 1800s, the Caddo were hemmed in by white settlers migrating north. In Arkansas, they were weakened by diseases introduced by the Europeans and by attacks from the Osage.

In 1835, after being juggled politically between the Mexicans and Americans, the Caddo sold their land to the United States and were driven off the property. They eventually settled on a reservation near Binger, Okla., where today about 4,000 tribe members live.

Sha'chadinnih, the Caddo word for the "last village," was "the last place that the Caddo occupied as an autonomous tribe, where the chief was still in control. "Those of us who are Caddo have a very strong tie to that spot of earth," said Cecile Carter, a member of the tribe and along time historian. She published a book, "Caddo Indians: Where We Come From," in 1995.

The dig area is on a 100-acre tree farm owned by International Paper Co. Access to the private area is restricted, and the location is being kept a secret, said Richard Shaw, the company's area manager of forest resources at Texarkana, Texas. "We've been committed all along, recognizing the importance of the site and what it means to Indians," said Shaw.

By law, artifacts found on the site belong to International Paper, but most are expected to be placed in historical collections or returned to the Caddo. A request for funds from the Texas Legislature must wait until at least the next regular session in 2001. Parsons said a major step toward state funding is getting the site designated as an official Texas archaeological site. Gary Endsley, an educator with the Texas Rural Systemic Initiative, which plans to involve young students in the dig, said a more thorough excavation could start as early as next winter.