See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271645715 Animal Remains From the Midway Site (21BL37), Beltrami County, Minnesota Article · January 2005 CITATIONS READS 0 102 2 authors, including: James L Theler University of Wisconsin - La Crosse 47 PUBLICATIONS 426 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: Mill Coulee View project All content following this page was uploaded by James L Theler on 01 February 2015. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. ,ANIMAL REMAINS FROM THE MIDWAY SITE (2lBL37), BEI:fRAMI COUNTY, MINNESOTA Jonathan D. Balcer Department ofAnthropology The University ofTennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996 [email protected] James L. Theler Department of Sociology and Archaeology University ofWisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, Wl 54601 . [email protected] Excavations at the Midway Site, located in the city ofBemidji, Minnesota produced an extensive vertebrate faunal assemblage, with over 23,000 remains representing a minimum of 116 individual animals from 55 different taxa. Despite the lack ofa detailed analysis ofthe cultural remains, the faunal data provide impor­ tant information on Woodland subsistence strategies in northern Minnesota. Although fish are numerically most abundant, large mammals, including moose, white-tailed deer, elk, black bear, and caribou, likely provided the bulk of the animal protein in the local diet. Evidence indicates a multi-season use ofthe site, with a fall-winter deer harvest, use ofmoose (probably along with wild rice) during the winter, and spring harvest of riparian animals, spawning fish, and turtles. The representation of large mammal skeletal ele­ ments suggests an off-site processing of the animal carcasses, with the retention of only specific elements. Overall, the species represented at the Midway Site indicate that the Bemidji area, with its lakes, marshes, and deciduous forest margin located at the southern margin of Beltrami County, may have fUrnished an optimal ecotonal niche to be exploited by prehistoric peoples. Introduction was recommended as eligible for listing on the Na­ tional Register of Historic Places. The Midway Site (21BL37) is multi-component pre­ The parameters of the proposed construction historic occupation located in the city of Bemidji in activities made avoidance of the site infeasible. Ac­ Beltrami County, Minnesota. The site is situated on cordingly, an extensive Phase III data recovery plan a narrow isthmus between Lalce Bemidji and Lake was implemented to mitigate impacts to the archae­ Irving, both flowages of the upper Mississippi Riv­ ological deposits (Kluth and Kluth 2000; LLHSP er (Fig. I). The area surrounding the site has been 2002). This involved the excavation of 48 one-me­ heavily developed, and construction associated with ter units in three discrete portions of the site. Phase the expansion of Minnesota Trunk Highway 197 III excavations commenced in the fall of 2000 and provided a substantial threat to the archaeological were completed in the summer of 2001. A final re­ deposits. port was produced on these investigations (LLHSP In order to evaluate the site's integrity and ar­ 2002), and a version of this paper was included as chaeological potential, Phase II excavations were partofthatreport (Theler and Balcer 2002). Unfortu­ conducted during the fall of 1999 by the Leech Lake nately, the analysis of the cultural material from the Heritage Sites Program (LLHSP) of the Leech Lake site has remained preliminary. Certainly, this faunal Band of Ojibwe (Kluth and Kluth 2000). These analysis will be much more meaningful if a detailed investigations revealed substantial archaeological stndy of the cultural data is conducted at some point deposits, including evidence of seven culturally in the future. However, by itself this analysis does distinct groups: Late Archaic, Brainerd, Laurel, St. provide some important information on Woodland Croix, Blackduck, Sandy Lake, and Oneota-like subsistence strategies in the Headwater Lakes re­ components (Kluth and Kluth 2000). Given the ex­ gion and adds to the limited, yet growing, database tent and integrity of the cultural deposits, the site p 106 THE MINNESOTA ARCHAEOLOGIST- VOLUME 64 • 2005 Figure 1. USGS quad map showing the location of the Midway site (21BL37). of prehistoric faunal remains from northern Minne­ from 19 flotation samples also were analyzed. The sota. flotation material came from a variety of contexts and was processed through 1/16-inch screen. Methods Faunal materials from the 1999 Phase II exca­ vations had been inventoried earlier by personnel Most of the analyzed faunal materials were from the from the LLHSP (Kluth and Kluth 2000). For the Phase III excavation. A total of22,983 fragments of current analysis, they were reexamined only to find animal bone were recovered from the 48 one-meter any identifiable elements. Excavation and initial units. The units were excavated in arbitrary 3-cm processing methods for the Phase II materials were levels, with each level divided horizontally into four similar to those for Phase III, although all of the 50-cm quadrants and each quadrant excavated sepa­ Phase II soil was screened through 1/4-inch mesh. ''' rately. Soil from the northeast, southeast, and south­ The animal remains were identified through west quadrants was screened through 1/4-inch mesh, comparison to modern skeletal collections housed and soil from the northwest quadrant was screened at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Several through 1/8-inch mesh. Many units contained an bird elements were sent for identification to Dr. Paul upper level of redeposited A horizon material exca­ W. Parmalee at the McClung Museum of the Uni­ vated as a single level, processed through 1/4-inch versity of Tennessee. Dr. Hohnes A. Semken, Jr. at screen, and analyzed separately. Heavy fractions BAKER I THELER- ANIMAL REMAINS FROM THE MIDWAY SITE 107 the University of Iowa identified the vole and shrew After identification, the animal remains were remains. placed in polyethylene bags, with a tag on white Prior to analysis, all ofthe bone fragments were acid-free paper identifying the acquisition numbers screened again through 1/4-inch mesh. Fragments and the appropriate provenience and taxonomic smaller than 1/4 inch were scanned for identifiable information. With completion of the analysis, the material and counted, but not identified to class. remains were returned to LLHSP for curation at Fragments larger than 1/4 inch were sorted by class the Minnesota History Center through a repository and identified to the most specific taxonomic des­ agreement with the Minnesota Historical Society. ignation possible, with element, portion, and side recorded as appropriate. Each fragment larger than Results .1/4 inch was also examined for burning, rodent/car­ nivore gnawing, ingestion, fracturing, cut marks, Of the 22,983 tabulated fragments from the Phase and other signs of human or natural modification. III excavations, 11,158 were identified to class, and Provenience, taxonomic, and attribute information 892 were further identified to the family, genus, or was recorded on a paper datasheet and entered into species level. The Phase II materials contributed a Microsoft Access database (Stevenson eta!. n.d.). another 328 specimens identified to family, genus, Taxonomic names for manunals follow Haz­ or species. The following sections summarize the ard (1982), with the exception of the American elk analyzed remains by taxonomic category. Elements ( Cervus canadensis), which is after Thomas and To­ from the redeposited A horizon or other contexts la­ weill (1982). Bird terminology comes from Green beled as disturbed are noted as appropriate. and Janssen (1975), with the "true duck" subfamily (Anatinae) after Kaufman (1996). Terminology for Mammals fish comes from Becker (1983), reptiles and am­ phibians are from Oldfield and Moriarty (1994), and Manunal bones dominate the faunal assemblage. In the single freshwater mussel follows Turgeon et a!. all, 8,869 mammal bones/fragments were tabulated, (1998). with 826 (9.3%) identified to the species, genus, or To understand the dietary significance of the family level, representing at least 46 individuals of species and classes of animals, usable meat weights 28 native and 2 introduced mammal species. As a were estimated for animals identified to the genus or class, manunals contributed 1,096 kg (95%) of the species level. Manunals the size of a Plains pock­ usable meat (Table 1). et gopher (Geomys bursarius) or smaller, as well as toads (Bufo sp.), were excluded from the meat Even-Toed Ungulates (Artiodactyla) weight estimates because their occurrence at the site was probably natural. Variation in animal size was Deer Family (Cervidae) accommodated through the use of conservative es­ timates for usable meat: for mammals, 50 percent In terms of both usable meat and hides, the most im­ of the live weight; for birds, 70 percent of the live portant mammals were four members of the Cervi­ weight, following White (1953:398); and for fish dae or deer family: deer, moose, elk, and woodland and reptiles, 50 percent of the live weight. caribou. A fifth large manunal species, black bear, Live weights for ungulates come from Banfield will be discussed below with other carnivores. (1974), and those for other mammals come from Deer (Odocoileus sp.): Deer elements were by The1er (1987), with the exception of the porcupine far the most numerous ofthe large mammal remains, (Erethizon dorsatum) and the snowshoe hare (Lepus with 354 elements positively identified and another americanus), which are derived from Hazard (1982). 38 identified as probable deer. 1\vo deer species oc­ Live weight estimates for fishes and turtles are based cur in Minnesota, the mule deer ( Odocoileus hernia­ on individual comparisons to modern specimens of nus) and the white-tailed deer (0. virginianus). The known size. Live weights for birds come from sev­ Midway deer remains could not be separated by eral different sources, listed for each species as ap­ species based on their osteological characteristics.