While Elianya’s Story is a fictional account, it is based upon numerous artifacts discovered along the Oconto River in the area described in the story. The existence of the numerous artifacts add clear evidence to the occupations upon which the story is created.
Pottery Pieces
Pottery fragments from a single small vessel museum test excavation - note intricate incising with stick or other pointed instrument. (From Copper Culture Museum, Oconto, Wisconsin). These pottery pieces were the inspiration for Elianya’s Story.
Other Pottery Pieces
These pottery pieces are from the Lee Johnston collection, collected in the same area as the pottery piece above.
Grinding Tool
This grinding tool was discovered by Lee Johnston who lived adjacent to the Couille Village area through his youth when most of his large number of artifacts were collected. The grinding tool is remarkably smooth suggesting use over a long period of time, perhaps generations. It further is uniquely shaped to be held comfortably to expose either a larger grinding surface or a small grinding surface. The smaller surface presumably allows the application of greater impact on a small area. The tool fits comfortably in the hand of a large adult. The tool is in Lee’s personal collection of artifacts.
Spear Points
These spear points were discovered in the Couille Village area and are in the Lee Johnston collection.
Arrowheads
This broad range of arrowhead styles and material further suggests occupations of the Couille Village over many years perhaps centuries.
Cutting Tools/Knives
These tools appear to have been created to serve the purpose of scraping and cutting. They may have been ideal for separating the meat and hides when harvesting animals.
