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Archaeologist shares insight into American-lndian cultures Louisiana State professor speaks on artifacts found in Southeast BY ALLYSON BIRD THE (JAMECOCK A Louisiana State University archaeologist spoke Friday at USC about the discovery of4,000 year-old shell rings off South Carolina’s coast. Rebecca Saunders, associate curator of anthropology at the Museum of Natural Science and adjunct professor of geology and anthropology at LSU, spoke at Gambrell Hall on Friday and was the featured speaker at the 29th annual Conference of South Carolina Archaeology, held Saturday in the Capstone Conference room. The shell rings she has studied are places where ancient cultures “gathered seasonally to perform ceremonies, exchange informa tion, select mates and to feast,” Saunders said Friday. Tools, bones, pottery and oth er evidence were left behind by these cultures, which Saunders dated as older than the 4,000 years radiocarbon testing has revealed. These artifacts, often made of shells, give the rings their name. According to Saunders, these gathering American Indians left remnants of their festivities be hind that help explain their cul ture. “The frat guys on our campus take the beer cans and pile them up. It’s the same phenomenon,” she said. Saunders said many links can be made between the creators of these rings and modern culture. “Around LSU, we talk a lot about politicians having an ‘edi flee complex,’ ” she said. “The de sire for monumental architecture is very pervasive in society.” She said monumental architecture is the manifestation of power. Because of these structures, Saunders thinks the cultures she has studied were more advanced than previously thought. Saunders has studied mounds along the Southeastern coast, in cluding those on Edisto Island, which illustrate activities from trade to burial. At such sites as Poverty Point, a prehistoric American-lndian settlement in what is now Louisiana, Saunders said the mounds yield evidence of the be ginning of trade. According to Saunders, about 30 mounds exist off the coasts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina that belonged to several distinct cultures. The rings were not only creat ed for feasting but also by feast ing, as the Native Americans con structed the rings with the food remaining after their ceremonies. Saunders named two cate gories of feasting: celebratory and competitive. Celebratory feasting was simply a festive event, but in competitive feasting, certain par ticipants would come to manipu late the gatherings to their own advantage. Citing one theory, Saunders said, “feasting, which turns into competitive feasting, is the engine for cultural evolution.” In studying the sites of the feasts, Saunders finds the shell mounds to be a typical example of human life. “They did what folks do when ever they come together — gossip, dance, check folks out and eat. That’s what we do in Louisiana,” she said. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Victims families visit R.I. nightclub Death toll rises to 97after body discovered in charred rubble BY MATT APUZZO THE ASSOCIATED 1‘ltESS WEST WARWICK, R.l. (AP) - For days, they’ve lived with the video images of their relatives jammed in the doorway of a burning nightclub, many screaming in terror as they struggled in vain to break free. On Sunday, for the first time, the parents, siblings and chil dren of the dozens of victims who couldn’t escape were allowed to walk up to the charred rubble of The Station nightclub to pray and say goodbye. Their visit came as the death toll from the tragedy was raised to 97 after the governor an nounced that yet another body had been pulled from amid the debris. Tlrmr cionruaH nfThllSPS intr> fhp rain outside the club, where fire fighters had left dozens of roses for them to hold or place at a makeshift memorial, already piled high with cards and flow ers. At least one person was over come and taken to an ambu lance. “These families are going through such a tragedy, such an emotional odyssey right now, and their hearts are broken, and they still don’t know in many cases whether their loved one has been positively ID’d,” said Gov. Don Carcieri, who met with the families several times in the days after a rock band’s py rotechnics turned The Station into a raging inferno. On Sunday, he ordered a no fly zone within five miles of the | site to give the families privacy to mourn. “The agony they’ve been go ing through for the last 48 hours almost has turned into whal you’d expect, the kinds of ques tions: ‘Why did this happen? Did it have to happen? What caused il to happen? Did some individuals cause it to happen?’ ” Carrier: said. “We’re asking all the same questions.” The band was just getting intc its first song Thursday nighi when sparks from the pyrotech nics ignited foam tiles in the ceil ing and quickly spread flames over the crowd of more than 300 Fire officials said the entire building was engulfed in three minutes. T {111._4v.n tVlQ Ano-O+A 1 -- ry wooden nightclub today bu ft ashes. Against one partial wall lear bouquets of flowers, stuffed ani mals and American flags that po lice had gathered from mourn ers, who had been kept behind < chain-link fence several yard: from the site. Amid the growinj makeshift memorial are high school pictures, poems, and ever an unopened can of Budweiser. James Morris, 36, of Warwick stood outside the fence where i steady stream of mourner: sfepped Sunday to pay- their re spects. He said he was suppose< to attend the concert Thursday, but didn’t feel like going out that night. Six of his friends went without him and haven’t been heard from since. “It’s unbelievable,” he said, hugging his two sons. “It’s just awful. They were all young guys in their 20s, early 30s.” A memorial service was planned Sunday night, described as “prayer unplugged,” and mourners were encouraged to bring acoustic guitars to honor the victims. Forty-two of the 97 people killed in the blaze had been iden tified by Sunday afternoon, Carcieri said. He said 80 sur vivors remained hospitalized, about two dozen of them in criti cal condition. Williams CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 roommate for two years. . Williams had a penchant for practical jokes, Stokes said. “He would pass you a note as he was leaving to and from the organ to the piano that said, ‘By the way, you’re supposed to be singing the „ offertory today,’ ” Stokes said. “It wasn’t true, but he loved to give you a little bit of anxiety. He loved to laugh.” Jason Flores, Carolina Alive president, had to sing for a wed ding with Williams. The night be fore, they still hadn’t practiced. Flores said Williams called him and said, “Hey, you slacker, I knew you’d call back tonight, and you are a big slacker, slacker, slacker.” From then on, Williams called Flores “President Slacker” and Jason “Slacker” Flores. “We always called him Chip Daddy,” said Renee Madden, a second-year music student. Williams handed out nick names spontaneously; even the Carolina Alive roster lists Flores and others by their nicknames. But Williams was known as much for his warmth as for his sense of humor. “This past month, my grandfa ther passed away,” said Allison Skipper, a third-year public-rela tions student. “When it happened, the first thing I thought was that we had a retreat that weekend and I had to teach choreography. ... And he said that everything was OK.” Williams’ funeral will be 11 a.m. today at Trenholm Road United Methodist Church, at 3401 TrenHolm Road. “He can’t be replaced,” Wilson said. “We’ll get another organist and another really fine musician, but there will never be another Chip. He’s one of a kind.” Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com POLICE REPORT Each number on the map stands for a crime corresponding with numbered descriptions in the list below. DAY CRIMES (6a.nv6 p.m.) □ Violent Q Nonviolent NIGHT CRIMES (6p.m.-6a.m.) ■ Violent • Nonviolent CRIMES AT UNKNOWN HOURS □ Violent O Nonviolent These reports are taken directly from the USC Police Department. Compiled by Wendy Jeffcoat. Thursday, February 20 O MALICIOUS INJURY TO PERSONAL PROPERTY, S LOT, BURGER KirfG, 104 COLLEGE AND MAIN STREETS. The victim said.someone broke out the right passenger-side window of his vehicle. He said nothing appeared to be missing at the time. Estimated damage: $150-. Reporting officer: C. Taylor. □ SIMPLE ASSAULT, EAST QUAD, 1400 BLOSSOM ST. The victim said Matthew Thomas placed his hands on her and threatened her. Reporting officer: Nu Beza. luesdav Febr 2003 Claude Frank Pianist performing Beethoven’s Concerto No. 3 Also on the program will be Bernstein’s Symphony No. 1 (Jeremiah) featuring Mezzo Soprano, Helene Tintes-Schuermann l__-— --- g Black History Month Events February 24 February 25 , Movie Night Dream it. Do it. Disney.* We’re recruiting on campus! Univ. of South Carolina Thursday, February 27, 2003 5:30 PM, Gambrell Hall, Room 153 Mark your calendars — All majors and all college levels invited. This is your chance to go inside this world-famous resort, build your resume, network with Disney leaders and meet students from around the world. Check out a Walt Disney World ® College Program paid internship. 24-hour secured housing is offered. College credit opportunities may be available. Visit our website at wdwcollegpprogfam.com and then come to the presentation. Attendance is required to interview COLLEGE PROGRAM wdwcollegeprogram.com . V ' K J N. fOf • Drawing Creativity from Diversity • ©Disney