Spatial Distribution of Debitage at a Chert Procurement Site and a Cultural History Assessment on Orange Lake in North Central Florida
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University of Mississippi eGrove Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2015 Spatial Distribution Of Debitage At A Chert Procurement Site And A Cultural History Assessment On Orange Lake In North Central Florida Joseph Petererson Culen University of Mississippi Follow this and additional works at: https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd Part of the Archaeological Anthropology Commons Recommended Citation Culen, Joseph Petererson, "Spatial Distribution Of Debitage At A Chert Procurement Site And A Cultural History Assessment On Orange Lake In North Central Florida" (2015). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 367. https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/367 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at eGrove. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of eGrove. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF DEBITAGE AT A CHERT PROCURMENT SITE AND A CULTURAL HISTORY ASSESSMENT ON ORANGE LAKE IN NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA A Thesis presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology The University of Mississippi By JOSEPH PETERSON CULEN August 2015 Copyright Joseph P. Culen 2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ABSTRACT This project evaluated a 90 acre site on Orange Lake in north central Florida. A cultural resource management survey was conducted to determine what archeological evidence for prehistoric activity was present. This research was conducted in order to identify settlement patterns and determine if they corresponded with settlement strategies already identified for wetland environments in north central Florida. After a tool stone procurement zone was identified, a study examining debitage size grade drop-off trends was conducted in an effort to separate quarrying and non-quarrying activity areas. Field work was conducted using shovel test units 50 by 50 centimeters square and 100 cm deep; utilizing a shovel and quarter inch screen. Observations during shovel test were recorded, artifacts were labeled and bagged. Unit location was recorded using Etrex GPS. Artifacts were sorted based on sets of characteristics for each artifact type. Debitage was sorted into four screen sizes. These data were evaluated using a distance drop-off model to explore the relationship between assemblage characteristics and proximity to chert sources Results of these tests demonstrated there was not a sole quarry location but instead that raw tool stone had once outcropped along the entire length of the shore line. Drop-off tests reinforced the knowledge that chipped stone refuse generated at a quarrying site is unique to this site type. Meaning that the proportion of debitage size grades and frequency of material changes in a predictable manner as distance increases from the original stone source. ii In conclusion, raw tool stone acquisition and the manufacturing of tools from this source were of great importance for prehistoric people of the area. The discovery of evidence for habitation beginning in the Early Archaic and growing in intensity into the Mississippian showed Orange Lake was exploited throughout prehistory for access to tool quality chert and the ecotone environment of hardwood hammocks and prominent wetlands iii DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to all of those who believe in themselves enough to one day fulfill a yearning they have felt deep down inside. Those who have a passion and follow it never work a day in their lives. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to extend a most sincere level of gratitude to Jim H. Williams and R. David Arnold. As the landowners of the project area, it is their generosity and desire to learn of the past that made this project possible. To the many individuals who contributed to this research study, I offer my sincere appreciation and gratitude. In particular I would like to thank the members of my thesis committee. It has been a privilege to work with such dedicated professionals. I am most indebted to Dr. Jay K. Johnson, my thesis committee chairman, advisor, and friend. From the onset of this research study, he has provided me with valuable guidance and support. I will never forget the countless hours he devoted to this research study, nor his unwavering support and crucial advice during the long road to completion. I am very grateful to Sara M. Chavez who gave so generously her time to work with me as my partner during the entire field seasons of 2012 and 2013. Without her dedication I would not have succeeded at achieving my field survey goals. I am also thankful for her assistance with the artifact cataloguing and most of all Sara’s constant positivity in light of the obstacles. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to my parents Gerald R. Culen and Nancy J. Peterson. They continually offered uplifting encouragement throughout the arduous process and never gave up on me even when I was about to give up on myself. Parents can be hard on us and I now know that is a quality of love. In addition, both vastly helped me during the editing and formatting process. I’d like to thank Gerald R. Culen specifically for his editorial contributions. v I’d like to thank Nancy J. Peterson specifically for devoting her time to helping me organize this thesis into an understandable and professional document. A special thanks also goes out to the professional archeologists at South Arc Inc., John H. Davidson, Lucy B. Wayne, and Martin Dickinson. John H. Davidson was crucial in teaching me proper mapping techniques and the correct way to conduct survey work. Lucy B. Wayne offered guidance and expert advice on Florida archeology. Martin Dickinson was the inspiration to exceed the federal CRM guidelines and dig thorough precise shovel tests. Finally, to my many friends and fellow archeologists who either helped me directly with field work or supported me with encouragement throughout this process I want to express my deep thanks: Ajay Gupta, Steven and Gloria Harris, Travis Cureton, D. Kris Holsen, Zim Padgett, Wesley Louis, Eric Griffis and Jim Mitchell. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... II DEDICATION .............................................................................................................................. IV ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... V LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................ IX CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION AND THESIS STATEMENT ................................................ 1 Introduction to North-Central Florida Geology and the Williams’ Hill Project Area ............ 5 Introduction to Data and Methods ........................................................................................ 10 Chapter Summaries ............................................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER 2 – LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................... 13 The Cultural History of Central Florida................................................................................ 14 CHAPTER 3 – LITERATURE REVIEW: LITHIC TECHNOLOGY........................................ 41 Raw Tool Stone, Chert Exploitation, and the Process of Manufacturing Stone Tools ......... 41 CHAPTER 4 – METHODOLOGY: DATA COLLECTION ....................................................... 59 Preliminary Work.................................................................................................................. 59 Shovel Test Procedure .......................................................................................................... 61 Additional Excavation .......................................................................................................... 64 Lab Work and Base Data Analysis ....................................................................................... 66 Statistical Analysis for Distance from Source Drop-Off Testing ......................................... 71 CHAPTER 5 – METHODOLOGY: ARTIFACT CLASSIFICATION ....................................... 73 Debitage, Core and General Tool Class Definitions ............................................................. 74 Uniface vs. Biface: ................................................................................................................ 78 Specific Tool Type Identifications........................................................................................ 79 Ceramics: Defining Groups and Individual Types ............................................................... 90 CHAPTER 6 – LITHIC ANALYSIS ......................................................................................... 107 Lithic Artifact Assemblage ................................................................................................. 107 Spatial Analysis .................................................................................................................. 114 CHAPTER 7 -- DISCUSSION ................................................................................................... 133 Research Problem and Goals .............................................................................................. 133 Distance-From-Source-Drop-off