Journal of Northeast Texas Archaeology; Volume 31
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Stephen F. Austin State University SFA ScholarWorks CRHR: Archaeology Center for Regional Heritage Research 2009 Journal of Northeast Texas Archaeology; Volume 31 Timothy K. Perttula Center for Regional Heritage Research Tom Middlebrook Center for Regional Heritage Research Jeffrey S. Girard Northwestern State University of Louisiana Mark Walters Texas Archeological Steward Network Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/crhr Part of the Archaeological Anthropology Commons Tell us how this article helped you. Repository Citation Perttula, Timothy K.; Middlebrook, Tom; Girard, Jeffrey S.; and Walters, Mark, "Journal of Northeast Texas Archaeology; Volume 31" (2009). CRHR: Archaeology. 75. https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/crhr/75 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for Regional Heritage Research at SFA ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in CRHR: Archaeology by an authorized administrator of SFA ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Journal of Northeast Texas Archaeology Volume 31 2009 Journal of Northeast Texas Archaeology, Volume 31 (2009) Timothy K. Perttula, Editor Bo Nelson, Distributor of Publications Cover: Holly Fine Engraved vessel and motif from the Boyette site (41NA285), Nacogdoches County, Texas. Friends of Northeast Texas Archaeology 344 CR 4154, Pittsburg, Texas 75686 [email protected] ii Contents History of the East Texas Caddoan/Caddo Research Group, 1996-2008 Timothy K. Perttula and Tom Middlebrook . .1 The Henry Chapman Site (41SM56) Mark Walters . .11 Caddo Sherds from the Hudnall-Pirtle Site (41RK4) in the Buddy Jones Collection at the Gregg County Historical Museum Timothy K. Perttula . .37 A 19th Century Caddo Component at the Gatlin Site (41RK1) in the Angelina River Basin of East Texas Timothy K. Perttula . .41 East Texas Caddo Research Group, Part One, Caddo Origins. .45 Issues Regarding the Early Development of Caddo Culture: Discussion Topics for the East Texas Caddo Research Group, December 2008 Jeffrey S. Girard . .47 Towards the Concerted Study of Caddo Origins Timothy K. Perttula. .49 Comments on Caddo Origins in Northwest Louisiana Jeffrey S. Girard . .51 Lake Naconiche Archaeology and Caddo Origins Issues Timothy K. Perttula. .61 Caddo Origins, A Smith County Perspective Mark Walters . .87 East Texas Caddo Research Group, Part Two, Caddo Historic Archaeology . .93 Ceramic Comparisons Between Certain Historic Caddo Sites in Nacogdoches County, Texas: Henry M. (41NA60), Spradley (41NA206), and Deshazo (41NA27) Timothy K. Perttula. .95 iii History of the East Texas Caddoan/Caddo Research Group, 1996-2008 Timothy K. Perttula and Tom Middlebrook INTRODUCTION archaeological area, or at least the East Texas part of the area since we were more familiar with this Recently, the senior author of this article has region’s archaeology and the archaeologists work- been working with Hester Davis (Arkansas Ar- ing in that area. cheological Survey) regarding the editing of her After a phone conversation discussing the pos- manuscript on the history of the Caddo Conference sibility of starting a research group, Perttula jotted (Davis and Davis 2009), which had its 50th meeting Middlebrook this note on January 23, 1996: in March 2008 (Lee 2008). In her manuscript she laments the fact that there is very little time being Dear Tom, spent by its participants in keeping track of its his- tory: either in the form of transcripts of the meetings, I’ve been thinking about the forma- notes on each conference, saving photographs and tion of an East Texas Caddoan Research images, or actively maintaining an archive of materi- Group. Yes, let’s defi nitely do this. As it als resulting from each Conference. Davis pointed stands right now, there is no good format out that it was important to maintain a record of each to discuss research and archeological is- Conference, and take steps to do a better job in pre- sues among a small and knowledgeable serving for others that record for present and future set of folks. I like the idea of trying to do Caddo Conference participants and researchers. this immediately before or after the Caddo Hester’s points, which we agree with, led di- Conference. If we attempt to do this for rectly to our discussing the need to put on record a this year, we should talk some more about history, as best we can recall it, of the East Texas the agenda, protocol, etc. (One other thing Caddoan/Caddo Research Group. This informal we should do is get a transcript from each group has met a number of times since 1996, with meeting). the purpose of advancing the general understanding I have talked with Ross Fields about of Caddo archaeology in the East Texas region. The this, and he agree to be part of the research meetings have been held to discuss pertinent and group. Other people I’ve thought about as current problems and research issues concerning group members are: Jim Corbin, Dee Ann East Texas Caddo archaeology. Story, Darrell Creel, Maynard Cliff, Pete As we recall, the East Texas Caddoan [now Thurmond, Sharon Derrick, Bob Turner, Bo Caddo] Research Group (ETCRG) developed out Nelson, Kathy Reese-Taylor, Diane Wilson, of discussions between Perttula and Middlebrook Mike Turner. in January 1996. Middlebrook’s own interests in the Let me know what you think. Do other idea had been piqued by reading the obituary of Fred people come to mind? Plog in the October 1995 American Antiquity (Vol. Tim 60, No. 4, p. 679) that described his founding of the Southwestern Anthropological Research Group, Responding on February 5, 1996, Middlebrook sent the success that group had in working together on Perttula this note: common research problems, and in working to- gether to improve understandings of the prehistory Dear Tim, of the American Southwest. This seemed to both . This list looks good to me and I of us like an idea worth emulating for the Caddo think that we should just go with it. Only Journal of Northeast Texas Archaeology, Volume 31, 2009 2 Journal of Northeast Texas Archaeology 31 (2009) other names I could come up with may have We brainstormed about the organization of the less direct and immediate interest: Pete group while feasting on meat pies and crawfi sh. No Gregory, Jeff Girard, Jim Bruseth, Robbie specifi c research topic for the group to focus on was Brewington, Harry Shafer. discussed at the meeting. We did not maintain a list Suggested Outlines for the ETCRG: of attendees of this meeting, but remember that Bob Turner, at least, joined us at the lunch. 1 Meet twice a year (once associated with One of our most productive meetings was the the Caddo Conference, and once in the second session of the ETCRG held on Sunday morn- fall) for a minimum of three hours. Fall ing, October 27, 1996, at the Annual Meeting of the meeting should be held in East Texas. Texas Archeological Society in San Antonio, Texas. 2 Gathering to be informal, perhaps around The meeting was well attended, but again we do not a table. have a list of attendees. Dee Ann Story and Cecile 3 Proceedings taped; edited transcripts to Carter were major respondents to the presentations, Journal of Northeast Texas Archaeology. however. A tape was made of the proceedings, but 4 The emphasis should be on discussion the audio quality was very poor, and consequently and interaction relating to hands-on it has not been fully transcribed and/or published; material (artifacts or pre-distributed a partial transcript has been typed but not pub- handouts). lished. The meeting considered the character of the 5 The purpose of the meeting will be to Middle Caddo archaeological record of East Texas advance East Texas Caddoan studies in its broadest geographical sense—occasioned through encouragement of re-evaluating at least in part by current research in the region, and organizing existing data into test- most especially the recent excavations at the Oak able models of cultural patterns (e.g., Hill Village site in Rusk County, Texas (see Rogers socio-political organization, trade inter- and Perttula 2004)—by reviewing major research actions, etc.). New terminologies related fi ndings along specifi c thematic lines (settlement, to cultural history and artifact typology subsistence, dating, mounds, mortuary practices, should not be avoided but encouraged if ceramic traits, etc.) in each of several river basins. they are understood to be tentative and Summary handouts were prepared by the present- directed toward theory building. Just as ers: Maynard Cliff (lower Sulphur River Basin), Bo important as the above is the encourage- Nelson and Mike Turner (Big Cypress Creek Basin), ment of new research deepening old data Tim Perttula and Brett Cruse (the upper and middle in areas of chronology (e.g., radiocarbon Sabine River basin), Tim Perttula (middle Red River dating), subsistence, etc. The Research and upper Sulphur River basins), and Tom Middle- Group should serve as a sounding board brook (Angelina and Attoyac River basins). Jim for developing ideas… Corbin (Washington Square Mound Site) and Bob Tom Turner (three Middle Caddo cemeteries in Camp and Upshur counties) discussed specifi c Middle Caddo Perttula subsequently drafted a letter of invita- sites in the region. An summary of the meeting was tion to the fi rst group of about 18 individuals encour- prepared by Middlebrook and Perttula (1997:1-8) aging their participation in the research group. in Volume 9/1997 of the Journal of Northeast Texas Archaeology, along with two articles on the Middle Caddo period archaeology in the lower Sulphur and MEETINGS OF THE EAST TEXAS Sabine River basins (see Appendix). Five additional CADDO RESEARCH GROUP articles appeared in Volume 10/1997 of the Journal (ETCRG) of Northeast Texas Archaeology related to this sec- ond meeting of the ETCRG (see Appendix).