Highway Salvage Research Articles

THE LOWER WALNUT SETTLEMENT AND ITS CERAMICS

The Lower Walnut Settlement is a loose cluster of sites located in the lower Walnut River valley of south-central Kansas. The sites are dominated by late precontact deposits, dating from ca A.D. 1350 to 1750, though some sites do have earlier components. This paper reviews the history of investigations in the lower Walnut River valley, including major highway salvage investigations conducted by the Kansas State Historical Society in the mid-1990s. Following a brief review of the site cluster, referred to as the Lower Walnut Settlement, we focus on the locally-produced ceramics, using the relatively large assemblage of sherds as well as reconstructed and partial vessels recovered during these excavations. These are used to investigate aspects of ceramic production (including the use of shell as a tempering agent, methods of manufacture, and possible production areas). We offer a redefinition of the Cowley Plain type, replacing ware-type with the type-variety system. We conclude with suggestions for future research.

Provenance Analysis of Obsidian from Two Late Prehistoric Archaeological Sites in Kansas

Six obsidian artifacts from two protohistoric archaeological sites in Kansas were subjected to non-destructive energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence analysis to determine the parent obsidian source used in their manufacture. Results indicate all six specimens were derived from two obsidian sources located in the Jemez volcanic field of northern New Mexico. Silicic volcanic glass (obsidian) are well known from various parts of the Far West, and for the last two decades x-ray fluorescence and neutron activation analysis have been employed by geochemists and archaeologists to determine the parent source of origin for artifacts recovered from prehistoric archaeological sites. Such research has been conducted intensively in California (Jack, 1976; Ericson, 1981; Hughes, 1986) and the Great Basin (Hughes, 1983, 1985; Hughes and Bennyhoff, 1986). Despite the relative paucity of obsidian samples, some important research along these same lines has been undertaken in the Midwest and Plains (Anderson et al., 1986; Frison et al., 1968; Griffin et al., 1969; Baugh and Nelson, 1987, 1988). Baugh and Nelson (1987) for example, have identified changes in the amounts and sources of obsidian used in several southern Plains archaeological sites, and have advanced hypotheses to account for observed changes. One of the more conspicuous gaps in current understandings about prehistoric obsidian conveyance in the Plains concerns Kansas archaeological sites. Although archaeological obsidian was first noted in Kansas over a century ago (Putnam, 1880), it wasn't until the systematic fieldwork of Waldo Wedel between 1937-1940 the presence of obsidian in the state became known to a wider audience of professional archaeologists. Despite the distance from sources of volcanic glass, a surprising amount of obsidian has been documented from Kansas sites. Wedel (1959, pp. 265, 314, 335, 367This content downloaded from 207.46.13.128 on Tue, 06 Sep 2016 06:08:34 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms VOLUME 94, NUMBERS 1-2 39 368, 411, 545), for example, reported more than 80 obsidian artifacts (mostly flakes) from seven sites in Kansas. Since then, obsidian has been a common, if low frequency, find on Kansas sites, particularly on Late Ceramic period (post AD 1500) sites associated with the Great Bend aspect (protohistoric Wichita) in Rice County. At least thirty years ago Wedel speculated obsidian from the central and northern Plains was obtained from Obsidian Cliffs, Wyoming, but that in sites from the Republican Valley southward is more likely from New Mexico or Colorado deposits (Wedel, 1961, p. 274; cf. 1959, p. 264). Although not using Kansas data, Baugh and Nelson (1987) recently observed prior to AD 1450 obsidian found in Southern Plains sites originated from in New Mexico, Idaho, and west-central Utah but after AD 1450, obsidian was derived exclusively from New Mexico. Baugh and Nelson (1987) thus postulated a major change in exchange relationships from north-south to an east-west orientation to account for this change in source use. The present study places both models of Wedel, and Baugh and Nelson to empirical test through analyses of a sample of artifacts from two archaeological sites in the Southern Plains in Marion and Comanche counties, Kansas (see Fig. 1). The two samples analyzed from Marion County come from the Mem site (14MN328), a Great Bend aspect (protohistoric Wichita) site excavated in 1986 in conjunction with a highway salvage project. As of this writing, these specimens are the only obsidian artifacts recovered from this, or any other, Great Bend site in Marion County (Lees et al., 1989; Rohn and Emerson, 1984). Sample 20599 was recovered from the upper levels of a large cache (storage) pit and was associated with European-made artifacts, one of which was a glass bead dated to around AD 1700 (Lees, 1990a). The other sample (10128) was recovered unassociated in the 0-30 cm level of the site. The four samples from Comanche County were excavated from the Booth site (14CM406) during 1989 research by the Kansas State Historical Society and the Kansas Anthropological Association (Lees and Reynolds, 1989). Obsidian made up about 5 percent of the entire chipped stone inventory at the Booth site, an unusually high percentage for Kansas and the Plains in general. Recent chronological information from the Booth site indicates a Late Ceramic period affiliation (suggesting contemporaneity with the Mem site), although the possibility of an earlier occupation during the late prehistoric Middle Ceramic period (AD 1000-1500) also exists. The identity of the Native American occupants of this site is, however, not currently known (Lees, 1990b). METHODS AND PROCEDURES Laboratory analyses on these samples were performed on a Spectrace 5000 (Tracor X-ray) energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometer This content downloaded from 207.46.13.128 on Tue, 06 Sep 2016 06:08:34 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 40 TRANSACTIONS OF THE KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE Cerro KANSAS del Medio

Prehistoric Cremations from Nogales, Arizona

ABSTRACTIn October, 1969, the Highway Salvage Section of the Arizona State Museum conducted emergency salvage excavations in conjunction with the construction of the Tucson-Nogales Highway. Ten cremations were recovered from a backhoe trench which had been placed within the city limits of Nogales, Arizona. Analysis of the cremations indicated cultural contact between the Trincheras culture of Sonora, Mexico, and the Hohokam culture of the Santa Cruz River Valley in southern Arizona.

Prehistoric Subsistence at the Kiewit Site, Northwestern Arizona

ABSTRACTThe Kiewit Site, Arizona G:15:22 (ASM), was a multi- component site located approximately 15.5 km southwest of Seligman, Arizona. The site was investigated as part of the continuing program of Highway Salvage Archaeology in Arizona. This report presents the data recovered from the site and attempts to evaluate the subsistence activities at the site. Nine discrete loci were defined at the site and they represented a time span of as much as 1,000 years. Despite the large temporal range of the site, the majority of subsistence activities identified were related to large game hunting, probably deer. These interpretations tend to support Matson's (1974) contention of a long term stable prehistoric subsistence system in northwestern Arizona.

The Henderson Site: Colonial Hohokam in North Central Arizona a Preliminary Report*

AbstractIn October of 1969 the Prescott College Archaeological Survey contracted witli the Arizona State Museum, through the Statewide Archaeological Highway Salvage program, to excavate a ruin along the Agua Fria River. The ruin was within the right-of-way of State Road 169, just cast of Dewey, Arizona.Excavations yielded a complex series of superimposed Colonial Hohokam structures, a prehistoric canal, and artifacts and ceramics of the Santa Cruz Phase.

Highway Salvage Excavations in the Upper Tonto Basin, Arizona

ABSTRACTUnder contract with the Arizona Highway Department and the Bureau of Public Roads, the Arizona State Museum conducted archaeological excavations in four prehistoric ruins in the Tonto National Forest during January and February, 1967, as a part of the Highway Archaeological Salvage Program. Two pithouses, eight surface rooms, two mescal pits, and a number of other features were uncovered. The sites appear to show a seasonal occupation with a relatively strong dependence on the gathering and use of mescal or agave. Local ceramics are entirely plainware with the few decorated pottery types recovered indicating trade relations to the northeast. These sites represent a late occupation of the area, probably between A.D. 1200 and 1300. Cultural affiliation with the Southern Sinagua is indicated.

Highway Salvage Archaeology in the Forestdale Valley, Arizona

ABSTRACTIn July 1966 under a contract with the Arizona Highway Department and the Bureau of Public Roads the Arizona State Museum in cooperation with the Museum of Northern Arizona conducted salvage excavations on two sites on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation near Forestdale, Arizona. Two phases of occupation were represented at one of the ruins investigated, the Skiddy Canyon Ruin. A kiva, pithouse and a number of burials show cultural affiliation with the Forestdale Phase dated between A.D. 600 and 800. A series of rectangular masonry rooms, a trash area, and burials were characteristic of the Linden Phase which has been dated provisionally between A.D. 1100 and 1200. A second site excavated, the Gobbler Tank site, is a small Linden Phase seasonal unit. Excavation of these sites has enabled a preliminary description of the Linden Phase in the Forestdale region.

Arizona Highway Salvage Archaeology 1969

Arizona Highway Salvage Archaeology 1969

Excavations at a Prehistoric Camp Site on the Mogollon Rim, East Central Arizona

ABSTRACTArchaeological excavations directed by Laurens C. Hammack were conducted near Overgaard, Arizona, under the Statewide Highway Salvage Program. Arizona P: 10:7 proved to be a prehistoric camp site with two temporally and, to some extent, spatially separated occupations. The site was first occupied briefly between A.D. 600 and 950. Four hearths, early Mogollon pottery types, and an extensive lithic assemblage were associated with this occupation. After A.D. 1100 the site was occupied again, as suggested by the presence of Snowflake Black-on-white pottery. This second use of the area was probably a brief one, as little other cultural material and no hearths were found in association with the pottery.

An Experiment in Problem-Oriented Highway Salvage Archaeology

ABSTRACTThe application of both chronological and functional objectives to a highway salvage project revealed a site in which stone was quarried and tools shaped by chipping, game was hunted and vegetal material possibly gathered. These activities were spatially patterned in relation to available natural resources. The users of this site were probably small work groups or single individuals. The exploitation activities carried on at the site occurred from the San Pedro Stage of the Cochise Culture as early as 2000 B.C. to recent Papago.

Prehistoric Burials Near Young, Arizona

ABSTRACTIn the fall of 1965 eleven prehistoric burials were uncovered by roadgrading operations on Arizona State Route 288 near the town of Young. These burials were excavated by the Arizona State Museum in conjunction with the State Highway Salvage Archaeology Program. On the basis of ceramics the burials were found to date between A.D. 1250 and 1385.

Highway Salvage Archaeology. Assembled by Stewart Peckham. Edited by Richard Wormser. Published jointly by the New Mexico State Highway Department and the Museum of New Mexico, Vol. 4, Santa Fe, 1963. x + 122 pp., 48 fig., n.p.

Highway Salvage Archaeology. Assembled by Stewart Peckham. Edited by Richard Wormser. Published jointly by the New Mexico State Highway Department and the Museum of New Mexico, Vol. 4, Santa Fe, 1963. x + 122 pp., 48 fig., n.p. - Volume 29 Issue 3

Highway Salvage Archaeology by the Museum of Northern Arizona, 1956–57

Highway Salvage Archaeology by the Museum of Northern Arizona, 1956–57

Highway Salvage Archaeology in Arizona

Two years ago the Arizona State Museum inauguarated a program of highway salvage archaeology in order to gather scientific information ,from prehistoric Indian ruins before they are destroyed by new highway construction. Highway salvage archaeology involves the inspection of new highway projects for archaeological features and undertaking any excavations indicated as necessary by these preliminary examinations.

Highway Salvage Archaeology by the Arizona State Museum, 1956–1957

Highway Salvage Archaeology by the Arizona State Museum, 1956–1957

The Oklahoma Archaeological Salvage Project

The stimulus for the development of the Oklahoma Archaeological Salvage Project came from 3 sources: The U.S. Bureau of Public Roads Policy and Procedure Memorandum, No. 20–7; the New Mexico Highway Salvage Program; and the Society for American Archaeology's Committee on Highway Salvage Archaeology. Like all programs it was the result of several stages of growth in which a number of individuals participated.

Highway Salvage Archaeology, Volume I. Edited by Fred Wendorf. New Mexico State Highway Department and Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, 1954. iii + 105 pp., 42 figs. [Editor's Note: This report has just been reprinted, and may be obtained for 50¢ (no stamps accepted) to cover cost of packing and mailing, from the Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe,

Highway Salvage Archaeology, Volume I. Edited by Fred Wendorf. New Mexico State Highway Department and Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, 1954. iii + 105 pp., 42 figs. [Editor's Note: This report has just been reprinted, and may be obtained for 50¢ (no stamps accepted) to cover cost of packing and mailing, from the Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, N.M.] - Volume 21 Issue 3