Archaeology in the Mississippi River Floodplain at Sand Run Slough, Iowa

摘要

The purpose of this intensive archaeological investigation was to recover significant cultural remains from a stratified Woodland and Late archaic deposit being eroded by high water levels and recreational traffic on Sand Run Slough. Geomorphic and pedogenic analysis of the site deposits resulted in the separation of cultural components based on their association with conspicuous soil horizons. Research focused on the cultural inventory from the site. A ceramic sequence spanning all of the Woodland periods in the Midwest was described by attribute analysis and tied to existing ceramic sequences in Iowa and Illinois. The culture history of this region was shown to parallel the sequence in the Central Illinois River valley. Analysis of the fire-cracked rock and cobble assemblage revealed the presence of several types of cobble tools. The assemblages of Woodland and Late Archaic components also included hematite and galena. Investigation of the subsistence and resources utilization at Sand Run West revealed that the site was used as a base camp throughout most of the occupations.