The events leading to the publication of the following report by John H. Moselage has been one of the highlights of many years of work with amateur archaeologists. At first meeting it seemed that he protested too much that he wanted to do “real archaeology,” but this desire turned out to be quite genuine. He really wanted help. He wanted to do the job right at any cost.

Enthusiasm and determination clothed the man almost completely. Working with him was a challenge. During the few days of vacation he could spend with regular crews of professional archaeologists his quest for knowledge, techniques, methods and the proper tools was almost insatiable. Then followed long letters containing notes, profiles, photographs and maps, to be criticized, and with each new step the request for assurance of proper techniques and accepted methods before moving ahead. Months stretched into years; bundles of detailed notes, long letters of explanation, copies of hour by hour, day by day descriptions of work and progress were frequently interspersed by long distance calls to solve the problems in the field as they arose. His telephone greeting was “Mr. Chapman, I’ve got a problem!” It was usually thirty minutes to an hour later before a long distance operator could once again clear the line between Missouri and Tennessee or Missouri and Arkansas.

All his spare time, all the influence he could exert to get his friends to join him, were used to progress the work. His determination carried him through rain, mud, flood, and cold, in order to complete the job. His enthusiasm and drive carried many others along with him to the conclusion of the Lawhorn Site investigation.

Study of pottery types and projectile points became his steady reading diet. Long hours were spent in washing, numbering and cataloging the specimens from the digs. Analysis of the material through compilation of ground plans of the excavation, of house structures, and of vertical profiles was a tedious process necessitating the aid of many people. The most generous of these in giving time, advise, and use of facilities was Mr. Charles H. Nash.

The resulting report on the Lawhorn Site which follows is testimony to the unstinting efforts that John Moselage has made. It is an outstanding example of what can be done by a true amateur archaeologist and is a worthy goal for other dedicated amateur archaeologists. The search for knowledge has always led man to his greatest achievements. Research is never-ending as knowledge in any area of endeavor is never complete. The achievement in this instance is a solid contribution to the archaeology of the Eastern United States.