09/05/2026
HELP NEEDED!
The Dark Moon Site (28Sx429) is an incredible Late Woodland Site that is open to the public. Located within the Dark Moon Nature Preserve, it is located on Hibler Road in Green Township, Sussex County, and is owned by the Ridge and Valley Conservancy, Inc. It was heavily investigated by members of the Sussex County Historical Society (SCHS) and the Archaeological Society of New Jersey (ASNJ) from the 1950’s through the 1980’s. They found more that 5,000 potsherds, more that 5,000 Late Woodland triangular arrowheads, pitted anvil stones, and considerable evidence of stonework in the form of broken bifaces and debitage. Features included many postmolds that form both large and small dwellings, caches, and shallow pits. While various aspects of the site have been documented, the whole story of this unique cultural treasure has yet to be told. Below are many questions. It is the hope that this post reaches those with the answers, and those answers will be used in a comprehensive site report and brochures, and to train history advocates who will give site tours of Dark Moon to generations of cultural heritage tourists. Responses to these questions can be sent to: [email protected]. Thank you!
1. Who will accurately map the Dark Moon Preserve on the Tranquility Quad?
2. Where are the two different house models of Dark Moon that were in the possession of Walt Godek ca. 2013?
3. Does anyone have the 1965 paper given to the Academy of Science meeting at Ryder College or the Rutgers University talk by Ralph DeVries?
4. Was Ralph DeVries’ final site report ever completed? Where is this, or the ca. 1995 draft report?
5. Is anyone in contact with Ralph’s son Byron DeVries, or the Hartzell family, or the Hendershots, or Walt Godek or his family???
6. Where is the Hendershot family collection and Mert’s Map of Dark Moon? What parts of the collection have been sold at auction?
7. Where are the artifacts and records of the excavations by SCHS/ASNJ from 1973 to 1987?
8. Is there paperwork associated with the C-14 date funded by ASNJ CA. 1985?
9. Are there photos of the ca. 1982 exhibits at SCHS?
10. Where are the tapes of interviews with Mert Hendershot and Raph Devries by SCHS President Bob Longcore and Staats ca. 1997 or the transcripts?
11. Which nearby house owned (formerly?) by the Hendershot family is the former Dark Moon Tavern?
12. Are there newsletters of the Minisink Chapter ASNJ/Archaeology Section of SCHS ca. 1970-1986 that mention Dark Moon?
13. Should we nominate Dark Moon to the NJ and National Registers of Historic Places or get a Determination of Eligibility (DOE)?
14. Should we apply for a Sussex County sign to mark the Dark Moon site?
15. Are there enough potential members to revive the Minisink Chapter, ASNJ?
