Steve Norman

Collecting "arrow heads" as a boy sparked Steve's interest in projectile points and how they were manufactured. In the early 1970s, at the age of 18 or 19 he began to experiment and to teach himself how to make (knap) stone tools from chert.  Today he uses his artistic talents to find better ways to create these stone tools.

He moved to the the Lower Pecos region in the early 1980s and quickly realized it was where he belonged. He continues to be intrigued by the history and has expanded his talents to make replicas of many of the the types of artifacts found archeologically in dry caves in the area. These include atlatls, darts, sotol knives, baskets, mats, rabbit sticks, fire starting kits, sandals, and others. Many of these items can be seen at the two seasonal camp sites that he has constructed using native materials at the Galloway White Shaman Preserve and the Shumla School.

Steve has become well known in the area through his involvement with the Rock Art Foundation, the Shumla School, the Whitehead Museum, and the National Park Service. Now the Texas Education Agency's Educational Service Centers for Region XIV and Region XV have purchased several of his Lower Pecos lifeways kits. These kits are available for use in the classroom when students are studying the history of the Lower Pecos region.

In addition, Steve presents seminars to educate first teachers, then their students about prehistoric Native American ways of life. This involvement developed after Steve made a lifeways kit for Scott Walters—a school teacher in Hamilton, Texas—several years ago. Scott has since written an educational book about the Lower Pecos Region history which provides educators with TEKS-based materials and activities.

Steve has given demonstrations at the Brazos Valley Museum in Bryan, Texas, the Grey Moss Inn in San Antonio, Texas, and for Scott Morris of the Texas Institute for Tax Attorneys. His work has been displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

Today much of Steve's work revolves around educating children and adults about the people who lived in the Lower Pecos area during the Archaic and Late Prehistoric periods, but the most rewarding "are the kids." They just love to learn about the lifeways of the ancient people of Texas!