Archaeology Resource Laboratory Report for 2003

The Jacksonville State University Archaeological Resource Laboratory (ARL) began a Phase II investigation of a bridge relocation along Spring Creek in Cherokee County. They have been working on the 1Dk49 and 1Dk58. These sites are two small rockshelters located in DeSoto State Park. 1Dk49 had previously been excavated by amateurs and Little River Canyon staff members. Prehistoric Late Archaic, Woodland and Mississippian artifacts were recovered during that dig. ARL staff began mapping old profiles and creating an overall topographic map for 1Dk49 and nearby 1Dk58. Three aboriginal features, including a central fire pit, were discovered by ARL staff during the salvage project. Work at the Fort Payne Project has basically come to a close. 1Dk72 has yielded a tremendous amount of archaeological information on burial practices, cultural lifeways and paleoenvironmentals in the Big Wills Valley of northeast Alabama. The in-house study will continue. Several staff members presented papers at the 21st Alabama Academy of Science meeting held at JSU. Dr. Holstein was the featured speaker at both the Huntsville Geological Society and the Guntersville Historical Society. Both topics covered the 16th Century Spanish presence in northeast Alabama and the search for Coosa! Dr. Holstein hosted several events this year at his cabin on Logan Martin lake. The most recent was quite beautifully illuminating, on July 5. Much sorting, analysis, and mapping is in progress in the lab as are numerous other projects.

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