What's a cupule?

While we all know, intellectually at least, that people have been living on the banks of the Dan River in Stokes County for thousands of years, the fact doesn't really strike home until an immovable artifact appears. The "Indian Rock" in the Dan River at the confluence of North Double Creek is definitely one of those artifacts.
During a pleasure float on a spring Sunday in 2011 archaeologist, Chris Espenshade, noticed a large pock-marked rock in the river that reminded him of some petroglyphs his organization recently identified on the Hiwassee River near Cherokee, North Carolina. The type of markings are known as cupules and are considered the oldest form of rock art known.

Chris returned to the river the following Wednesday with his son, Andrew, as well as me, Dale Swanson. The Dan River Company provided our shuttle to their private access just downstream of the Highway 89 bridge - a huge convenience. After launching Andrew took off like a rocket apparently bored by two old guys talking and examining every rock along the riverbank for unnatural markings.
About a mile downstream, after passing "Snake Island", we approached the mouth of North Double Creek marking the upstream border of George's Bottom. A low rock in the middle of the stream clearly had Chris' attention as we got closer. I experienced a funny 'Aha' moment when the pock-faced rock came into focus and exclaimed, "That's the Indian Rock!" Of course, I had noticed it years ago and was familiar with the local speculation about the purpose of the little cup-shaped divots in it. Grinding corn or nuts or inks were the most common suggestions - none of which had ever made sense to me.
Chris explained that over the past year his company, New South Associates, had been contracted to survey the Hiwassee River in Cherokee, NC. That project had revealed rock art in the form of cupules on rocks just upstream of each of three Native American fish traps or weirs in the study area. The Dan River "Indian Rock" at North Double Creek appears to be similar in design and location to those already documented artifacts.
The layout of area around the Indian Rock helps to create a picture of pre-colonial life along the Dan River. George's Bottom, where the rock is located, would have been a bustling village. It's 40 acres are bounded almost entirely by the running waters of the Dan River, North Double Creek and South Double Creek. A truly ideal location for a village. The farmland that occupies that space today is rumored to be rich with arrowheads and other stone tools.

Sitting on the rock and looking downstream you can imagine the activity of the area. Two large gravel bars in the riverbed - a major frustration for recreational boaters in August when the water is low - would almost certainly have been arranged into fish traps. This setting provides a cultural environment very similar to the area studied on the Hiwassee River. I could imagine children playing in the river and possibly sitting on that same rock. Could the 45 to 50 cupules on that rock been carved by generations of bored children?

Experts remain puzzled by the specific purpose of these 'cupules' which are found throughout the world. It seems unlikely that the cups were useful in any utilitarian way - they are simply too small for grinding quantities of grains or nuts. And so researchers fall back into the standard "don't know" response - "some type of ritual."
So the next time you float the Dan River from Highway 89 to Moore's Springs Campground or beyond - take a moment to drink in a little historical reverie with our long departed neighbors. It is humbling and will enrich your experience of our world.

Riverbank Dumps at Dan River Shores Community

Assessing the 1st dump site

Saturday morning, March 19, 2011 dawned with the promise of a beautiful and warm Spring day. In the parking lot of the Dan River Company people with a purpose gathered with happy greetings. The purpose – clean up 2 riverbank dumps that boaters on the Hanging Rock section of the river have been tolerating (and griping about) for a decade or more.

Separating the metal

The dump sites began, ostensibly, as a home made erosion control project with objects like old bed springs, metal pipe, a few rocks and broken bits of concrete. Having taken on the appearance of a dump, others apparently began contributing construction debris and household trash.

In the ditch at site 2

Once our number rose to 11 at the DRC lot we loaded into three vehicles for the 2 mile trip to the riverside development. We armed ourselves with a few shovels and rakes supported by a big roll of trash bags and plenty of gloves provided by Stokes County Big Sweep coordinator, Sara Jo Durham. Bottled water provisions were supplied by Hanging Rock General Store.

A sign of improvement

After a brief evaluation of the situation, we fell to work bagging the trash and extracting the larger items. Plenty of wallboard and broken lumber along with heavy sewer and water pipe. We also collected a few stuffed animals and unidentified, mud-caked textiles. A microwave oven and birdhouse were among our more interesting "finds".

Two local residents, Greg Tahtinen and Philip Dodson, came down to chat, thank us for our efforts, and pitch in. We discussed what might be done to discourage further dumping and found out about other dump sites in more discreet locations. There is definitely more to be done in this unique development on the river.

Unloading at Sizemore Rd.

Many thanks to Mark Larimore (co-owner of Sheppard Mill) and Randy Young for providing their own trucks to haul everything to the county's Sizemore Rd. facility. Thanks again to Sara Jo Durham for taking care of the paperwork and to the County for waiving our tipping fee. Stokes County values healthy and clean rivers!

A happy, hard-working group

I also want to extend special thanks to Alan Wood, Stokes County Economic Development Director, and his son, Jacob, for taking time out of a precious Spring Saturday to show their support for the river. And, of course, Ben and Allison Kelble, Jimmy Newsome, John Davis, and Vanessa Melvin – thanks for pitching in!

Discussions are underway to post some “No Dumping” signs in the Dan River Shores community as a reminder for folks. No one wants to clean up the same dump site twice! Dealing with the erosion, streambank stabilization and trespassing issues will take more time and coordination among the residents and property owners in the development.

The Dan River Basin Association's Stokes Office is organizing two upcoming river sweeps in April and May in addition to sweeps by the Tarheel Paddlers Association and High Point University's outdoor program.

Hart's Access at Highway 704

Spring 2010 Paddler Cleanup

More than 20 years ago a group of people in Stokes and Rockingham Counties joined together to establish a network of public river access sites along the Dan River Trail.

Creating and protecting access to the Dan River for fishing and floating over the intervening years has demanded the vision, initiative and cooperation of many people and institutions. Success in maintaining the network has seen its ups and downs. The first week of March 2011 the Dan River Trail had another major success.

Late Summer 2010
Grading & Gravel

Spring 2011
NC Wildlife Kiosk & building
slated for demolition.

The river access known as “Hart's Access” at Highway 704 near Francisco, NC, is coming to the end of its 25 year lease agreement with the county. Since the late 1990s when the county budget could no longer stretch to provide maintenance many different groups and individuals have taken it upon themselves to maintain this and other access sites. Most recently a coalition of local canoe and kayak clubs graded and graveled the steep driveway and parking area. But an old, half-burned house – full of the childhood memories of the Hart family – needed to be removed. For Joann Hart, who owns the property with her brother, Johnny, the site had become a danger that needed to be fixed.

Spring 2011
NC Wildlife Res. Comm at work

A partnership was formed between the Harts, the County, and the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) to remove the building in exchange for another 15 year lease.

Spring 2011
Building removed

This past Monday a NCWRC crew of two arrived with equipment. With the addition of a county dumptruck and driver, the site was leveled and hauled off. By 4pm Tuesday all that remained was a seeded and strawed clearing in the woods. As Darren Wade, NCWRC Engineering Services Chief, prepared to head off to the next project he told me (with a big smile), “as long as we're keeping access open and helping folks get out in nature I'm tickled to do what I can.” A man who loves his job.

Spring 2011
Darren Wade, NCWRC, Engineering

Following is a short list of those who have supported this small project to improve and save Harts Access:

• Kin Hodges, Fisheries Biologist, NCWRC
• Jimmy Boles, Enforcement, NCWRC
• Darren Wade, Engineering Services, NCWRC
• Alan Wood, Stokes Economic Development
• Frankie Burcham, Fire Marshall
• Mark Delehant, County Operations
• Brandon Joyce, Stokes Environmental Health
• Don George, attorney
• Triad River Runners
• Smith River Valley Canoe Club
• Tarheel Paddlers Association

and especially

• Johnny Hart and Joanne Hart, owners of the property where Hart's Access is located.

Thanks to all who help keep access open to outdoor recreation!

MillerCoors and River Network Grant Competition

Almost a year ago DRBA participated in a competitive grant program organized by River Network with funding from MillerCoors. After our three-pronged proposal was selected as a finalist it was up to DRBA's supporters to generate votes online ... which you all did so well that we got second place! While there is still plenty of work to do, Mother Nature Network featured our partnership with this video today! We hope you enjoy it, find it informative, and will perhaps share it with your friends and fellow water-dependent humans.

But wait! There's more!

The 2011 Watershed Protection Grant Competition is underway and 6 more outstanding non-profit organizations are looking for your support in the voting process. Please follow that link and check out the various projects and VOTE!

Thanks again to MillerCoors for its important support.