I just heard from my local NPR outlet that the discovery of several burials dating back to the ~fifth century AD have been found in Newton, near Cincinnati. Among the grave goods are gorgets made from seashells that came from the American southeast coast--probably acquired as trade items by the old Ohioans--which have animal images engraved on them: "opossum," "cat," and also a "griffin," which local experts think may be a representation of a Carolina parakeet. More news will be forthcoming soon, but eventually we might have an answer to the controversy about the identity of birds found in other archaeological sites in the state. In the meantime, you'll probably see these images in the local media soon. Bill Whan Columbus ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]