Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

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A.D. “Gus” Corcoran. amateur archaeologist.
discovered nine skeletons in the Wapsipinicon State
04
4, 0 '8
Totem Pole that stood in the Wapsipinicon State
Park. (See story) (Submitted by Anamosa Historical
Society)
Jbl-
Park in 1922. (Submitted by his daughter, Sister Irma
Corcoran)
accomplished, his hands were tied. Following orders,
he did nothing further. However, after four months of
waiting for permission for further study, and no one
showing up from the state, vandals, who did not wait
for permission. carried off, or destroyed many of the
artifacts. It was eventually decided that the remaining
skeletons and the few salvaged artifacts would be left in
the community where they were found. and they were
placed in the basement of the public library, where
souvenir hunters again helped themselves to the
celebrated discoveries.
Meanwhile, there was further talk of excavating the
cave site. However, at the next meeting of the
Conservation Board it was ruled that no further digging
would be allowed in state parks.
Of the nine skeletons discovered. only one skull
remains that may have come from the cave. Several
years ago, according to state archeoiogical officials, a
box containing miscellaneous bones and artifacts. with
Corcoran's name on it was placed outside their office
door by a person, or persons, unknown.
Of the Horse Thiefexcavation, Duane Anderson, state
archeologist said, “Archaeology was not very well
organized in 1922, and all work done until then was
superficial, mainly Mound Builder sites."
Regarding the vandalism Anderson said, "Even
today the general public, in good faith, will come to an
excavation site when we have left and help themselves.
Actually, we try to leave something for future scientists
who will have more advanced equipment to analyze
discoveries."
“Had the site been excavated today,“ Anderson said,
"it would have taken a good summer of painstaking
work to be productive." He believed the skeletons were