2002 Late Spring and Summer Archaeological Resource Laboratory Projects

Submitted by Harry O. Holstein

The Jacksonville State University Archaeological Resource Laboratory (ARL) staff over the last few months has been involved in several fascinating archaeological projects. The Archaeological Resource Laboratory continues the investigation of 1Dk71 prehistoric Indian village northwest of Fort Payne, Alabama. This muticomponent Archaic / Woodland site has to date yielded over 500 Indian features and over 2000 post stains. From the post stains, Rich Walling, the field director, was able identified several circular Woodland structures. In addition, his field crew excavated hundreds of the features that yielded valuable botanical and archaeological data concerning Aboriginal population of the Big Wills Creek Valley who lived in the region between 2000 B.C. to A.D. 500. Over sixty features contained human remains. As a result of the human remains, the Archaeological Resource laboratory has hired Dr. Casandra Hill. She is a physical osteologist anthropologist. Dr. Hill is presently examining the human remains in situ on the site and protecting them until authorities decide how to properly remove them. ARL staff is currently analyzing the enormous amount of materials recovered from 1Dk71.

  This past summer, the ARL staff conducted a Phase II investigation for the Alabama Department of Transportation on 1Dk94. This site is located on the right bank of Big Wills Creek several miles downstream from 1Dk71. The site was originally discovered by JSU archaeologist in 2001 as part of an ALDOT bridge replacement survey. The field director was Baxter Mann. Mann’s field crew recovered artifacts from the surface to a depth of 1.7 meters below the present ground surface. Temporally the artifacts ranged from 4000B.C. Aboriginal bifaces to the 19^th and 20^th Century historic metal and glass. Excavation unit profiles and artifact distributions indicated a stratified site that extended well over a meter and one half below the present ground surface. As a result of this fact and the quantity of materials recovered, the ARL has recommended 1Dk94 for Phase III level of investigation. ARL staff in August submitted a report entitled “An Archaeological Phase II Investigation at 1Dk71, Dekalb County, Alabama to the Dekalb County Commission Engineering Department.

  In the Spring of 2002, ARL field crews conducted a Phase II investigation for the Alabama Department of Transportation on 1Ca627, the Rainbow Bridge Drive Site. Gena Higginbotham was the field supervisor. The site lies upon a tributary of Choccolocco Creek in eastern Calhoun County. The excavations revealed intact stratified archaeological deposits along the west side of the project area. These deposits ranged from Late Archaic through Woodland and Late Mississippian. Of interest to JSU researchers were the Barnett Phase Late Mississippian ceramics that are regionally associated with 16^th Century Aboriginal population within the upper Coosa Valley. JSU researchers believe the A.D. 1540 Hernando DeSoto expedition traveled south through Choccolocco Valley on their way to Mauvilla. ARL staff in April submitted a report entitled “An Archaeological Phase II Investigation at the Rainbow Drive Bridge Site (1Ca627), Calhoun County, Alabama to the Calhoun County Commission Engineering Department.

    In the Spring of 2002, ARL field crews conducted a Phase I investigation for the Calhoun County Department of Transportation on 1Ca211, the Old Broadwell Mill Site. This mill is believed to be one of the oldest grist mills in Calhoun County. Rebecca K. Turley was the field supervisor. The site is located along Little Tallaseehatchee Creek just west of the City of Jacksonville. Surface inspections revealed presence of artifacts and structural remnants associated with the 19^th to mid 20^th Century mill. Additionally, surveyors located the Mill’s standing wooden blacksmith shop within 10 meters of the proposed right-of-way. Surveyors noted the presence of the rock dam and wall along Little Tallaseehatchee Creek. In addition, Mill’s millstone encased in a ferrous iron strap, gears and shafts are scattered along the creek. Based upon the abundant remains of the mill and the historical significance, the ARL recommended the mill site be avoided during new bridge construction. ARL staff in June submitted a report entitled “A Cultural Resource Survey of the Proposed Replacement of the Old Broadwell Mill Bridge in Calhoun County, Alabama to the Calhoun County Commission Engineering Department.

      In the early summer of 2002, ARL field crews conducted a Phase I investigation for the proposed water tower replacement in Marshall County, Alabama. Rebecca K. Turley was the field supervisor. No prehistoric cultural resources were located during this survey. However, four early historic structures were investigated. Three of the structures were 19^th and early 20^th Century domestic houses. These structures were in such poor condition that they were not recommended for eligibility for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. One structure was a one and one half story New South cottage (circa 1890-1900) that was in fair condition and appeared to have maintained its basic form and materials to be considered for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. ARL staff in June submitted a report entitled “A Cultural Resource Survey of the Proposed Water Tower Replacement in Marshall County, Alabama to CDG Engineers and Associates.

In May ARL staff conducted a Phase I investigation of a proposed Bridge Replacement along Coleman Road in Anniston, Alabama. No cultural resources were located. ARL staff in July submitted a report entitled “A Cultural Resource Survey of the Proposed Borrow Pit Along Coleman Road in Anniston, Alabama to APAC-Alabama, Inc.

  In July ARL staff conducted a Phase I investigation of a proposed bridge replacement along Limestone Creek in Madison County, Alabama. No cultural resources were located. ARL staff in July submitted a report entitled “A Cultural Resource Survey of the Proposed Bridge Replacement Corridor Over Limestone Creek in Madison County, Alabama to the Madison County Department of Public Works.

 Also in July and August, ARL staff under the field direction of Keith J. Little conducted archaeological Phase II investigations of two prehistoric archaic sites, 1Fr4 (Middle Archaic) and 1Fr5 (Early Archaic), in Franklin County, Alabama. As part of this project, the ARL submitted a RC14 date from what was believed to be a Middle Archaic pit. This feature was oval in plan view and contained debitage, charred nutshell fragments and wood charcoal. The RC14 date was 7,310 BP or roughly 5000 BC. This date fits nicely within the Middle Archaic time range. Analysis of the recovered archaeological data is presently being conducted.at JSU. ARL staff are going to recommend further archaeological investigation be conducted upon these sites prior to site distruction.

  In the spring and summer of 2002, the ARL under the direction of Harry O. Holstein conducted its annual archaeological fields school. This season the students and staff returned to Wright’s Farm, 1Ca18, Calhoun County, Alabama. Several archaeological field schools have been held at this important multicomponent prehistoric Aboriginal village site over the last decade. These investigations have uncovered nearly three hundred Aboriginal features and post stains ranging from Archaic through Early Mississippian occupations. Portion of a possible Late Woodland/ Early Mississippian fortification ditch have located along the edge of the village. This site has also yielded abundant amounts of shucked Aboriginal charred corn. This maize was previously dated by RC14 to the 12^th Century. The 2002 field seasons main objective was to investigate the far western portion of the site that had previously received scant attention and to try to locate the Aboriginal ditch feature along the western edge of the site. Fourteen two by two meter excavation units were investigated. Over forty features and post stains were uncovered. The ditch was not located. Ninety percent of the features yielded Early Woodland ceramics and chipped stone artifacts. One feature, Feature 212, yielded Cane Creek Phase incipient Mississippian ceramics and maize. The summer was a success in that we were able to see both the Woodland and Mississippian occupation extended well west of previous excavations. The 2002 excavation appear to be still 100 meters from the western edge of the surface scatter. Next spring tentatively, the ARL will return to 1Ca18 for the final season to investigated the extreme western portion of the site and determine if the occupation continue out to that point. Also another attempt will be made to locate the ditch that has been uncovered along the eastern and southern portion of Wright’s Farm.

  This summer, the ARL was pleased to receive three research grants from the Alabama Historical Commission. These grants will provide nearly $50,000 dollars in research monies. The first project has already begun with a field survey for archaeological sites within the greenstone bearing Hatchet Creek drainage in Coosa County, Alabama. Cavin Harrelson was the field supervisor. The general purpose of the research was to locate as many Mississippian sites within the drainage with hopes of determining whether indigenous Aboriginal populations obtained the material then traded it to outlying populations or outsider populations traveled to the outcrops themselves to obtained the precious regional greenstone lithic material. The second research project involves the search for Big Wills Town in Dekalb County, Alabama. This project has been inspired and assisted by Larry Joe Smith. Smith has contributed invaluable historical background and field knowledge of this historically famous 19^th Century Cherokee town within the Big Wills drainage of Northern Alabama. The final project will begin in October with a intensive survey of a portion of the Alabama River within the delta region. This survey of Pine Log Creek area of the Alabama River will be conducted in an area research believe may near the historically significant 16^th Century De Soto battle of Mauvilla. To date this delta area of Alabama has received little archaeological attention due to the difficult survey conditions. Researchers hope to locate several new archaeological sites this fall. 

  Finally, the ARL was lucky to hire three excellent archaeologists to their staff. In June, Mr. Hunter Johnson and Rebecca Turley came to JSU. Mr. Johnson will head our CRM program. Mr. Johnson has a MA from the University of Alabama in anthropology and he has work at  both the Office of Archaeological Resources, Moundville and Panamerican Associates as a Principal Investigator for several years. Ms. Turley is presently working on her MA at UAB in faunal analysis and paleoethnobotanical stuidies. Finally, Gena Higginbotham has been hired as a staff archaeologist by the University. She will take over many of the archaeological duties formerly done by our former employee Curtis Hill.