Current Research: Renewing Research on Holman Springs (3SV29), A Caddo Saltworks in Western Arkansas

Abstract

The Holman Springs site (3SV29) lies in western Sevier County, Arkansas, near the Oklahoma border. It is, along with Bayou Sel (3CL27), one of two major excavations of Caddo saltworks that has not been substantially reported. Excavated between 1984 and 1986 by the Arkansas Archeological Society during their annual Training Program digs, the collections remain at the Arkansas Archeological Survey's research station (ARAS) at Southern Arkansas University (SAU) in Magnolia. The collections lay dormant for many years. Then, in 2015, the station staff revived the project and started moving it towards completion. This is a daunting challenge, given the massive size of the collection (estimates for the ceramics alone run to 4,000 pounds of sherds). We detail some of the efforts that have been taking place.