The Melvern Reservoir 1967
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12 ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS IN THE MELVERN RESERVOIR OSAGE COUNTY~ I<CANSAS 1967 by Lawrence E. Bradley An Archaeological Salvage Project Conducted for The National Park Service, Midwest Region U. S.. Department of the Interior Under the Inter-Agency Al"chaeological Salvage PrograITl by the Mus eUITl of Anthropology University of Kansas Lawrence~ Kansas In Fulfilln1.ent of Contract No. 14 -10-2: 920 -12 1968 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING Osage County lies within the Osage Cuestas$ a minor division of the Osage Plains section of the Central Lowlands province (Wedel 1959:13). The Osage Cuestas are made up of a succession of east facing limestone escarpments separated by flat to gently rolling plains., Differential erosion of alternating strata of lirnestone and less resistent shale has produced this distinctive topography (Schoewe 1949:280-288). 014iginally the l'olling plains between stream. valleys were dominated by big bluesteIYl which supported abundant bison and antelope populations. The in'lm.ediate valley floors were heavily tirnbered with hardvvoods such oak~ as black walnut j ehn, and sycamore.. These tirnbered lowlands supported an abundant mammalian fauna including elk j deer j raccoon, opossurn, flying squirrel~ and lnany smaller animals. Fowl inhabiting the area included turkey, prairie chicken, ruffed grouse, and quail (Vi edel 1959:14) .. Osage County is in the wettest portion of Kansas, often receiving in excess of 30 inches of precipitation a year. The mean annual tenlperature is approximately 55 degrees. The average coldest day of the year falls in January~ when the temperature is approximately 31 degrees; while in the SUrrlD.1.er the average temperature is 79 degrees in July. In the spring, the last frost usually com.es about April 21, and is follo\ved by a frost-free gl'owing season of approximately 179 days which terminates about October 17.1 the average date of the first killing frost in the fall (Flora 1949). 5 THE JONES SITE (140S3 ) Site 14083 (Fig. 1) was nl-arked by a concentration of artifacts on the north and south sides of an abandoned meander scar believed to represent a forrner channel of the Marais des Cygnes River. The abandoned rna- ander is on the east side and adjacent to the present channel of the river. ...;.lthough the number 140S3 has been assigned to the lnateria1s adjacent to the ill-eander scar, it should be noted that cultural debris is continuous on the surface of the ground into the area previously designated 140S312 (Smith and Birkby 1962:34). It is possible that 14053 is a portion of site 1408312. Two concentrations of daub" arbitrarily designated Areas A and B J situated on the north side of the meander scar" were excavated. Struc- tural Ternains were discovered in Area A,l but Area B yielded no evidence of a house. A third arbitrary ar~a (Area C) was designated to refer to a concentration of artifacts on both sides of the rneander scar. A road grader" furnished by the Kansas State Highway COlnrnission, was used to scrape 10 ern" of the plow zone fron"1. the areas of daub con- centration (Areas A and B), and a grid of 2 rn. contiguous squares was established over the cleared area. For vertical contro1J 10 ern. arbi- trary levels 'were used. Initial testing in Area A produced a charred post at the depth of 15 crn. below the surface of the ground. Further testing was then confined to adjacent squares and" as the periphery of the house 6 was defined~ the grid plan was abandoned and the floor area cleared.. The periphery of the h6use, as defined by the posthole pattern, closely corresponded to the periphery as defined by a series of contours based on patterns of distribution of daub fragluents. The patterns of distribution v/ere deterITlined by counting the nunlber of daub fragInents in 10 CIn. square samples spaced 1. 0 Ineter apart over the entire area across which the daub fragments were spread. Differing intensities of occurrence allowed contour lines to be drawn, which corresponded very clo'sely to the periphery of the structure C:l..S defined by excavation. FEATURES House 1: Surface indications: In an aerial photograph, the house appeared as an oval stain.) lighter in color than the surrounding soil.. A sur'face survey re vealed a concentration of grass-im.pressed daub and associated artifacts in and around the oval area. Floor dirn.ensions: 5. 7 In.. (east-west) by 7 .. 2 rn. (north-south). Aver age depth was 30 em.. below the present surface. of the ground. The floor area is assum.ed to be contained within the peripheral posts and postholes. Floor: There was no recognizable hardnes s or color change marking the level of the floor. Roof supports: Major roof supports are represented by three charred posts and a large posthole, arranged in a di?1IT?-0nd pattern, about 1 Tn. Fig. 2. Map of site 14083 showing the location of I-Iouse 1 and inter site areas. ..... 7EiIffFZTll"5i!FJiWiiiiI'-.......... Cg=pg I' • r-.....__""""-, _ .....................m"',...._ ....._n'..c~_..t:fi$"'''..!j;;'...r__..lIU_f'....'''m_-rJ..-·· lIIlIiiiU!!iii!B 7 14053 Q I' 30 METERS .. AIlEA A III AREA fl , IJ - AREA C - • - - -- .. tit. it II I I' l'I'I"./,.IIIII,.-t ' •• I I I•I,' , I. f' r I J I• I If' t, ,., ,'I , 'f( f' I'1'" 'I ' fIr r,•• 'I' -, r' , It•• " .• 'I '11'1. II' ... ABANOOH(O WEANOER (.,1.(,,,( ..111.1.11/,,1, •• III I I I I" J I I, 111.It"Ir1ff ," , ,,' "I 1/' I" " , I 1I I" II , I"I' I III /II I. , II II tI III ''" I 8 south of the exact center of the structure. The 9 peripheral posts form an oval pattern at a distance of 1 to 2 rn. froln the central supports of the house. Peripheral posts were represented by both charred posts and post- holes ranging from 19 em. to 31 CITl. in diameter. Average post size was 24 cm.. in diameter. Entrance: A large charred post stub with 2 limestone wedges s a large posthole with a single limestone wedge, and a cluster of sn'1.al1er postholes on the south end of the structure D1.ay represent the entrance. lIearth: An interiol" hearth was not located. Tests made outside the hous e failed to lacate fir eplac e s. Stol'agc pits: None were located. Associations: The house is situated about 125 m. south of a house pre- viously excavated by a University of Kansas field party at the Wiley site (140S312) (Mooreand Birkby 1964:31-33). It is possible that site 14053 rep- resents a portion of site 1405312. AREA B Grass-impressed daub was found scattered over an area approxim.ately 10 x 12 In.. in size, 80 m. southwest of House L Extensive testing failed to reveal additional evidence of a structure in this area, and it is as sU1TI.ed that structural remains were destroyed by recent farming activities. It is also possible that a structure, less permanent than House 1, may have existed in this area. Fig. 3. Plan of House 1. I~ o o o o o o o • • o o o • o • CHARRED POST o o POSTHOLE o POSSIBLE POSTHOLE o o o o o o o o 14053 LIMITS OF HOUSE I EXCAVATION MELVERN RESERVOIR o I I .... METER Fig. 4. House 1 after excavation. Fig. 5. Charred post stub typical of those encountered during excavation of I-{ouse 1. 10 ABSTRACT During the sum.mer of 1967, a field party fro:m the Depart:ment of Anthropology at the University of Kansas conducted salvage investigations in the proposed Melvern Reservoir on the Marais des Cygnes River in eastern Kansas. An intensive survey of the reservoir area produced 13 previously unrecorded sites, six of which were assigned to Central Plains phase or Plains Woodland affiliations. One site, l40S34, repre- sents a possible precerarnic occupation. Excavations were carried out at 4 sites: 1408312, a habitation site with Plains Woodland and Central Plains phase affiliations; 14083, a Central Plains phase habitation site; 14084, a burial mound with unknow~ affiliations; and 140534, which may represent an Archaic occupation. \. ";' \ I 11 AREAC ATtifacts were found scattered over an area approxiITlately 200 ITl. X 50 m. on both sides of the abandoned meander.. One meter square test pits were excavated wherever flake and stone concentrations were encountered on the surface. The test pits revealed that cultural debris did not continue be- low the plow zone, and that it was disturbed by erosion and continuous farnling activities. ARTIFACTS Rin1. Sherds Group I SAMPLE: 6 l'ilTIS .. · (Fig. 6 ~J b) P.l.~STE: Temper: A sparse scattering of clay or shale inclusions J from .5 mm. to 3 rnrD. in dian1.eter;l occur with rust-colored l11.ineral inclusions ranging in size fron1. .. 2 rnn1.. to 2 lnn1.. Texture: Mediunl. J well compacted, angular fracture. Color: Surface color ranges from tan to brown. Core color ranges from brown through gray to nearly black. Surface treatment: Interior surfaces are smoothed. Exterior surfaces exhibit parallel rows of vertical cordrnarks spaced from 1 mm. to 4 mm" apart. In only one cas e do the eord- m.arks eros s .. 12 FORM: Lip: Lips are rounded and range in thicknes s froIn 3 to 5 nun. One example has a slightly rolled outer edge. Rin1: With one exception" rims are straight with an average thickness of 9.6 mrn. The exception measures 16. 8 J:nITl. in thicknes s .. Shoulder: Two rin'1.s retain a portion of the shoulder.