Manis Mastodon

Emanuel Manis dug a pond for migrating birds in Sequim, Washington. His 1977 discovery rocked the world of archaeology forever! Author Shirley, his daughter and former teacher, lived her father’s discovery story, which focused her interest in archaeology and inspired this one-of-a-kind picture book.

 

“The field work involved in gathering archaeological information is exciting and rewarding, but all too often, scientific reporting seems stuffy and uninteresting; written primarily to convey information to our scientific colleagues. If there is a way to transfer the excitement of discovery to the printed page, this book can bridge that gap. It is necessary that scientific reports are precise in the same way a medical doctor writes prescriptions or a lawyer states his case. My report might have been titled:

 

45 CA 218 - Archaeological Manifestations of an Early Cultural Complex on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington.

 

“I suspect it would never make the “Best Sellers” list!

 

“This story is as much about people as it is about archaeology. For ten years, Emanuel Manis devoted his retirement years to an old mastodon in his front yard. With support from his neighbors, he allowed archaeologists to overrun his farm and disrupt his leisurely lifestyle, so typical of people living on Washington’s northern Olympic Peninsula. More importantly, he opened his property to the public so that visitors could enjoy and appreciate the fruits of his labor. Emanuel and I talk of ducks and geese and blueberries, and a pond that someday will be; and of ghosts that still lurk around the pond that once was.”

 

Original statement by Dr. Carl E. Gustafson, Ph. D. with minor edits by Shirley Manis. 

 

This story was originally published as: In A Scoop of Dirt: How Digging A Pond Changed North American’s Prehistory, copyright 2011.