Archaeologists unearth kiln site of pioneer master potter

In 1852, Thomas Davenport fired up a kiln in southern Utah's first pioneer settlement and started making pottery and crockery that slowly spread through the West along with his reputation as a craftsman.

The old site in Parowan, where Davenpoprt manufactured the clay pieces, is being excavated now by a team from Michigan Technological University led by a associate professor who has been studying Davenport and his work for the past 10 years.

Timothy Scarlett said the site is significant in understanding the artisans and industry of the West and culture of pioneers with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who settled in the area.

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Ancient artifacts sacred, not trivial

George Hawkins ("Let ordinary people collect artifacts," June 16) is pretty sure he can make an Anasazi pot, one that he doubts even an expert could tell from an old one.

Hawkins is likely a very skilled artist and I commend the hard work it must have taken to reach that level of skill.

But what he is making is a replica, not an Anasazi pot, because he's not an Anasazi. They disappeared from the region a long time ago.

Hawkins also thinks ordinary people ought to be able to collect ancient artifacts from public land. His thinking reveals that he is missing a large part of the picture of what ancient artifacts are and why we want to protect them.

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