|
Pennsylvania Archaeologist 82(1): 1-24 |
| In 1962, Donald Tanner and others conducted test excavations at
the Mathies Mine Mound (36WH29) in Washington County, Pennsylvania.
The excavations showed that the mound consisted primarily of an
earthen Early Woodland Cresap phase Adena burial mound, with a major
tomb, two burials, and a crematory basin. In association with Burial
I were a number of artifacts including a rare expanded bit stone
tubular pipe, with carbonized residue adhered to the interior of the
pipe. This residue recently tested positive for nicotine (Rafferty
et al. 2012), indicating that a species of tobacco was smoked in the
pipe. A deer bone fragment in association with Burial l was recently
AMS dated to 2190 ± 20 rcy B.P. (ISGS-A1849). While the primary
burial mound was earthen and built in the Early Woodland period, the
mound was used again late in the Middle Woodland period when the
northeastern portion of the mound was capped with stone slabs.
Fragmented humans remains of at least three individuals were
recovered beneath the stone cap. Charcoal associated with Burial 5
from under the stone cap was AMS dated to 1630 ± 20 rcy B.P.
(ISGS-A2178). This report presents Donald Tanner's discoveries
during the 1962-63 investigation, as well as new data from the site. |
|
Pennsylvania Archaeologist 82(1): 25-31 |
| Hartman 's Cave (36MR22 1 ), a prehistoric arch aeological site
and Pleistocene-Ho locene age bone bed in Monroe County,
Pennsylvania, was investigated on four separate occasions during the
years 1 8 79 to 1 923. After the last investigation, conducted by
Max Schrabisch in 1 923, the paleontological and archaeological
history of the cave was largely forgotten for 86 years until it was
rediscovered in the year 2009. Today the cave is owned by the Pocono
Heritage Land Trust and maintained by the Nature Conservancy. The
entrance to the cave is fenced off to protect the resident bat
population. It appears that the investigations of the past have
practically removed all vestiges of the former bone bed and
archaeological site. The importance of the site lies in its
association with Victorian period scholars-heavy weights of their
day and m aj or contributors to the formation of modem American
archaeology, paleontology, and botany: William Henry Holmes, Henry
C. Mercer, Max Schrabisch, Joseph Leidy, Edward Drinker Cope, and
Thomas C. Porter |
|
Pennsylvania Archaeologist 82(1): 32-46 |
| A prelimi nary geoarchaeological study of 36F066 (Indian Camp
Run 2) is presented here in the context of soi l-landform evolution
and site formation processes. Indian Camp Run 2 is a multi
component site along the Upper Al legheny River that contains Late
Archaic through Late Woodland cultural assemblages within weakly to
moderately developed soil horizons. A disconformity occurs within
the soil-sediment sequence that separates upper and lower soil
stratigraphic units. The highest artifact density occurs within the
upper 20-40 em of the sequence in association with mixed Early
through Late Woodland cultural components. The mixed and compressed
Woodland components suggest very low rates of alluviation and a
stable landform suitable for occupation over the past few thousand
years. However, the vertical separation between time-diagnostic Late
Archaic and initial Early Woodland artifacts within the lower soil
stratigraphic unit suggests higher rates of al luviation and only an
intermittent cultural presence. A single AMS assay determined on
charcoal from below the deepest Late Archaic time-diagnostic
artifact indicates the landform has been vertically accreting for
more than 5,300 years. Late Holocene pedogenisis has kept pace or
outpaced alluviation, thus overprinting the geological and
archaeological records at 36F066. |
|
Pennsylvania Archaeologist 82(1): 47-65 |
| This report details the examination of 15 human skeletons
recovered from the Quaker Hills Quarry site (36LA1100) in Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania. Individuals in this series include 4 males, 5
females, and 6 individuals of indeterminate sex. The age
distribution is as follows : 3 infants, 3 children, 4 young adults,
and 5 older adults. Bone preservation is moderate to poor and none
of the skeletons are complete. Whi le the degree of bone
preservation precludes a detailed assessment of the remains,
skeletal health appears to be generally good. There is little
evidence of nutritional or infectious pathology, and the incidence
oftrauma is low. The majority of the identified il lness is
attributed to age-related degenerative processes and dental
pathology is associated with a diet that is moderately rich in
carbohydrates. |
|
Pennsylvania Archaeologist 82(1): 66-73 |
|
Some important Susquebannock ethnographic artifacts
from 17th century Pennsylvania that now are in the Skokloster Castle
collection in Sweden are discussed. The similarity of some of these
artifacts to objects worn by the Susquenbannock native in Captain
John Smith's (1612) map of Virginia appears to be more than
coincidence. |
|
Pennsylvania Archaeologist 82(1): 74-78 |
| Eleven Paleoindian projectile points from the Loyalhanna Creek watershed of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, are presented and discussed. |
|
2012 Pennsylvania Archaeologist 82(2):1-16 |
| The Prosperity site (36WH 1 408) and John I.
Dunn site (36GR96/36WH706) were discovered during a cultural
resource survey conducted by Christine Davis Consultants in southern
Washington County and northern Greene County. A total of 52
archaeological sites were recorded during the survey, including 40
upland "lithic scatters." Additional survey conducted on two of
these "lithic scatters" resulted in the recovery of significant
Paleoindian components, although neither site conformed to
traditional settlement pattern models for this period. |
|
2012 Pennsylvania Archaeologist 82(2):17-33 The Middle Woodland: Western Pennsylvania vs.Eastern Pennsylvania Mark A. McConaughy |
|
The Middle Woodland in western Pennsylvania has been defined as an
overly long time period that includes several diverse cultures.
Mayer-Oakes ( 1955) placed it between the Early Woodland Adena and
Late Prehistoric Monongahela based on remains from a few stratified
sites. Kent et al. ( 1971 ) more generally dated the Middle Woodland
period of Pennsylvania between 500 B.C. and A.D. 1 000. The starting
date for the Middle Woodland in Kent et al. (1971 ) is much too
early. However, the dates follow Middle Atlantic conventions for the
Middle Woodland period. Unfortunately, western Pennsylvania cultures
are more closely aligned with those from the Midwest than the Middle
Atlantic. The Middle Woodland period in the Midwest largely covers
the time when the Hopewell Interaction Sphere was active. It runs
from approximately 200 B .C . to A.D. 400. Cultural participation in
the Hopewell Interaction Sphere network provides a method for more
clearly delineating the Middle Woodland period in western
Pennsylvania. It is proposed that Middle Woodland period of western
Pennsylvania be defined based on its participation in the Hopewell
Interaction Sphere and separated from that of eastern Pennsylvania
and its connection with the Middle Atlantic system. |
|
2012 Pennsylvania Archaeologist 82(2):34-43 Finding Fort Machault (36VE212) Brian L . Fritz and William Black |
| Fort Machault (36VE212) is one of only four French forts that
were built in Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War
(1753-1763). Based on historical documents and maps it is believed
that Fort Machault was located on the west bank of the Allegheny
River in what is today the town of Franklin. An archaeological
survey was conducted in 2007 to find evidence for the location of
Fort Machault and to determine the potential extent to which
cultural deposits associated with the fort may have survived modern
urban development. A bucket auger survey was chosen as an expedient
method for sampling a large area while minimizing disruption to
property owners. Examined soil profiles revealed evidence of
cultural features and possible French and Indian War era artifacts
within an area adjacent to the west side of Elk Street and south of
an old stream channel that has been filled in by modem landscaping. |
|
2012 Pennsylvania Archaeologist 82(2):44-53 Early Woodland Features at the Consol Site (36WM100), Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Robert Oshnock |
| Four very similar Early Woodland period features at the Consol
site (36WM100) are presented and discussed. Although the main
occupations on the site relate to a series of Late Prehistoric
Monongahela villages, there is evidence that the site was also
occasionally visited in the Early Woodland period. Documented Early
Woodland sites are rare in southwestern Pennsylvania. It is hoped
that this report will add insight into Early Woodland period
settlement and subsistence patterns in the area. |
|
2012 Pennsylvania Archaeologist 82(2):54-63 We Had Everything but Money: A Study of Buying Strategies at a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp in the Allegheny National Forest Jonathan R. Libbon |
| The Great Depression, the worst economic depression in American
history, was a time of extreme poverty for many Pennsylvanians. The
research presented here focuses on using archaeology to gain a
better appreciation of the individuals enrolled in the Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC) during this time. Ultimately, the goal of
this research is to understand how consumer behavior changed in the
Great Depression and the economic influence of enlistment in the CCC.
Excavations were carried out at a CCC camp in the Allegheny National
Forest, and the results of these excavations were then synthesized
with findings from excavations at two other CCC camps, two
Depression-era domestic sites, and two pre-Depression era domestic
sites. The outcome is an in-depth understanding of buying strategies
in the 1930s and the effect that the Great Depression had on them. |
|
2012 Pennsylvania Archaeologist 82(2):64-70 A Preliminary Model for the Alligewi Tribe David J. Sorg |
| The semi-legendary Alligewi tribe is the source of the
place-name "Allegheny" in western Pennsylvania but very little is
known about the Alligewi. This article reviews the literature and
concludes that they were a small tribe absorbed into the incoming
Unami Delaware people in the 18th century. A study of protolanguages
also leads the author to propose that they were Algonquian speakers. |
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