Jacksonville
State Archaeological Resource Laboratory Newsletter
Submitted
by Harry O. Holstein
The Archaeological
Resource Laboratory (ARL) has been involved in several exciting archaeological
projects over the last few months. Last May, the ARL was contracted by Alabama
Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to
conduct a Phase II excavation along a portion of the future City of Talladega
SR-21 Bypass. This proposed roadway will cut through a portion of a prehistoric
site, 1T653, the Chrissmiss Site. Gena Higginbotham supervised the project
under the direction of Principal Investigator, Hunter Johnson. During the Phase
II project, 79 shovel tests were excavated and a trackhoe was used to strip the
upper layer of soil to exposed possible underlying features and/or midden. The
Phase II investigation yielded temporally diagnostic late Archaic and middle to
late Woodland artifacts. The presence of Ledbetter and Pickwick bifaces at the
site indicated a late Archaic occupation (2500-1000 B.C.) while researchers also
recovered Woodland sand-and limestone –tempere sherdlets and a Swan Lake biface
suggesting a middle to early Woodland occupation at the site. The scarcity of artifacts coupled with a
lack of subsurface features or middens resulted in researchers recommending
1Ta653 as ineligible for inclusion in the NRHP. A Phase II report entitled “A
Phase II Archaeological Investigation at 1Ta653 in Talladega, Alabama” was
submitted to the Alabama Department of Transportation.
The Kelly Springs
Site, 1Ta654, lies north of the City of Talladega adjacent to SR-21. Amy
Eberhart supervised the project under the direction of Principal Investigator,
Hunter Johnson. The site lies on a first terrace overlooking Kelly
Spring. The portion
of the site investigated by ARL staff is scheduled for destruction as part of a
proposed widening project of SR-21. Researchers placed 2 one meter by one meter
and 2 two meter by two meter excavation units upon the rise. These units
exposed a dense concentration of 13 Aboriginal features and several post
stains. The artifact assemblage indicates a multicomponent site with a
predominance of late / terminal Woodland Ellis phase materials. Researchers
recovered late Woodland Hamilton and Madison triangular bifaces. The ceramic
assemblage included grog, sand, limestone and shell tempered pottery. One
folded rim and one notched appliqué strap sherd may indicate a late
Mississippian Kulmuga Phase component is present at the site. A late Woodland
pit feature yielded a nutshell fragment which was radiocarbon dated at 1010+/-
BP / AD 940+/-40. This date falls nicely into the Ellis Phase late Woodland
time period. Researchers noticed surface Aboriginal artifacts extend well
outside the proposed right-of-way completely around the large Kelly Spring.
This entire area around the spring appears to be a densely settled by
Aboriginal populations. ARL staff based on Phase II findings have recommended
the Kelly Spring Site, 1Ta654, for future Phase III investigations prior to
highway construction. The Phase II report is in the final stage of completion
and will be submitted to the Alabama Department of Transportation shortly.
In June of 2003, the
ARL faculty, staff and Jacksonville State students conducted a four week field
school on the Hatchett Creek Site, 1Cs171 in Coosa County. The site lies in a
narrow valley upon a prominent rise adjacent to Hatchett Creek. Collector had
recovered a considerable amount of historic trade beads and other Aboriginal
artifacts from this rise. Under the field supervision of Keith Little, students
and staff placed 2 two meter by two meter and 1 one and a haft by two meter
excavation units upon the rise. Seven subsurface Aboriginal features were
revealed yielding artifact dating to the middle Woodland and historic Creek
time periods. One feature was a Creek corn cob filled pit (smudge pit?) and
another feature was a Woodland pit filled with nutshells with a nutting stone
lying on the bottom of the feature. Analysis of this interesting site is
presently going on at the Jacksonville State laboratories.
Throughout the
summer ARL staff members under the direction of Larry Joe Smith as part of a
Alabama Historical Commission grant have been conducting a pedestrian and historic document survey in DeKalb
County in an effort to locate the 19th Century famous Cherokee
settlement of Wills Town. As to date much valued information about Wills Town
and its location has been obtained through this survey.
During late
September and early October , ARL staff members under the direction of Keith
Little as part of a Alabama Historical Commission grant have been conducting a
pedestrian shovel testing survey Mobil-Tensaw Delta of Baldwin County at the
Pine Log Creek site. Shovel test are yielding late Mississipian shell tempered
ceramics. This survey is still in progress.
Finally, ARL staff
have conducted over the last four months Phase I surveys in Calhoun, Cherokee,
Clay, DeKalb, Etowah, Jackson, Marshall, Morgan and Talladega Counties. All of
these Phase I reports have been submitted to the appropriate authorities.
