Indian artifact collection on display

Staff Reports

The Cassinelli-Perino Artifact Collection, a permanent exhibit of Indian artifacts on display at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center in Gardnerville is now available for viewing online.

The exhibit, which was created by Northern Nevada author and historian Dennis Cassinelli, showcases hundreds of projectile points created by early Great Basin inhabitants. The new online gallery features 50 high-resolution color photos, which users can view either individually or as a slideshow. The gallery is available now at http://web.mac.com/denniscassinelli.

The artifacts were collected by Cassinelli's aunt prior to the introduction of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, which prohibits the removal of Indian artifacts from public lands. All of the artifacts were found from the surface of the ground; none were dug up or taken from known archaeological sites.

Cassinelli said that when he inherited the artifacts in the early 1990s, he decided to donate them to a local museum for the public to enjoy.

"Essentially, I wanted to do more with the collection than file it away in a box," he said. "I thought everyone should be able to enjoy the craftsmanship and beauty of the points. They really are remarkable."

In order for the collection to be scientifically useful, each of the artifacts needed to be identified. Cassinelli said he first sought help from a handful of professional archaeologists, but most didn't have the time to work on a volunteer project.

The Cassinelli-Perino Artifact Collection is on permanent display at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center located at 1477 Highway 395 in Gardnerville. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children 6-18. Children younger than 6 enter for free. For more information, call 775-782-2555.