Recent Archeological Investigations and Material Analysis Jason Reichel Minnesota State University - Mankato
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Minnesota State University, Mankato Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato All Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects Projects 2015 Revisiting the Nelson Site: Recent Archeological Investigations and Material Analysis Jason Reichel Minnesota State University - Mankato Follow this and additional works at: http://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds Part of the Archaeological Anthropology Commons, and the Native American Studies Commons Recommended Citation Reichel, Jason, "Revisiting the Nelson Site: Recent Archeological Investigations and Material Analysis" (2015). All Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects. Paper 510. This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects at Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects by an authorized administrator of Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. Revisiting the Nelson Site: Recent Archeological Investigations and Material Analysis. By Jason A. Reichel A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Science In Anthropology Minnesota State University, Mankato Mankato, Minnesota December 2015 Revisiting the Nelson Site: Recent Archeological Investigations and Material Analysis. Jason A. Reichel This thesis paper has been examined and approved by the following members of the student’s committee. ________________________________ Dr. Ronald C. Schirmer (Advisor) ________________________________ Dr. Kathleen T. Blue (Committee Member) ________________________________ Dr. Woo S. Jang (Committee Member) ABSTRACT Reevaluating the Nelson Site: Recent Archeological Investigations and Material Analysis Jason Anthony Reichel Master Science in Applied Anthropology Minnesota State University, Mankato Mankato, Minnesota, 2015. The Nelson Site (21BE24) is situated on a low terrace along the southern boundary of the Blue Earth River, approximately 2 miles west of the city of Mankato, Minnesota (Appendix A, Figures 1 and 2). Initial survey of the site in 1973 identified the site as a single component Terminal Woodland habitation site associated with cultural entities centered in the Mississippi River Valley of Iowa and Wisconsin. However, subsequent analysis and additional archeological investigations conducted in 2011 and 2013 identified additional components of the site and recognized variations in decorative elements from pottery recovered from previous surveys, which differed from those generally attributed to defined pottery wares in adjacent areas and states. Additional investigations were conducted in the summer of 2014 to collect data from the originally defined Nelson site area and artifact concentrations identified during later surveys pf areas to the immediate south, with the explicit purpose to define cultural contexts to each component of the Nelson site terrace. The results of this archeological investigation revealed that materials recovered from artifact concentrations identified to the south of the previously defined Nelson site are consistent with materials recovered from the 1973 investigation of the site. An admixture of materials consistent with both eastern and western sources suggests a comingling of influences and a regionally unique combination of material culture. While concentrations of cultural materials were identified throughout spatially distinct areas of the Nelson site terrace, these all appear to represent a relatively short temporal occupation of the area by a seemingly homogenous, yet regionally distinct cultural group. However, the presence of cultural materials within buried habitable soil horizons that have been interpreted as temporally synonymous with materials recovered from overlying horizons cannot be demonstrably associated with the apparent primary occupation of the Nelson site terrace. As such, these materials may be representative an earlier occupation of the Nelson site terrace, which may or may not be related to its primary occupation. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many people influenced, guided, and assisted me throughout the process of pursuing higher education in a field that I love and enjoy on a personal and professional level. These individuals include those who have provided educational support and guidance, my peers, and family and friends who have demonstrated continued support through many long and stressful years. First and foremost, I would like to acknowledge my wife Anna and children Wyatt, Grant, and Charlotte, for their continued support and dedication to my chosen career path and the many obstacles we have faced along the way. I would also like to acknowledge some of the many individuals who have supported and/or influenced me both directly and indirectly throughout my education. These individuals include my advisor, mentor, and friend Ronald Schirmer, my grandfather Anton Reintjes, my grandmother Charlotte Reichel, my parents and in-laws, and trusted friends, associates, and influential persons; John and Bev Todd, Kate Blue, Woo Suk Jang, Dan Wendt, Leroy Gonsior, Art Schaible, Adam Holven, Mike Bergervoet, Jared Langseth, Kyle Harvey, Kelly Harvey, and Bruce Koenen. I would also like to acknowledge the many dedicated peers who worked tirelessly in the field and lab to complete this research in a timely, efficient, and professional manner. These individuals include Minnesota State University Mankato students Joshua B. Anderson, Cory Nowak, Michelle Neumann, Ty Warmka, Travis Hager, Jaclyn Skinner, Jasmine Koncur, Adam Peterson, Duncan Widman, and Jamison Jordan. I would especially like to thank Josh and Michelle for their hard work and dedication throughout the entirety of the fieldwork portion of this project. The influence, support, and commitment demonstrated by all of these individuals has directly contributed to the results of this archeological investigation and served as the formative foundation for my knowledge and experience in the field of archeology. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................................................... 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................................. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS..................................................................................................................................... 6 LIST OF APPENDICES ..................................................................................................................................... 7 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 6 Research Problem ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Project Intent ............................................................................................................................................ 7 METHODS ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 File Search and Literature Review ............................................................................................................ 9 Field Methods ........................................................................................................................................... 9 Laboratory Methods ............................................................................................................................... 11 Lithic Analysis ...................................................................................................................................... 11 Pottery Analysis .................................................................................................................................. 19 Faunal Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 34 Botanical Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 34 Matrix Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 34 Mineral Analysis .................................................................................................................................. 35 PHYSICAL SETTING ...................................................................................................................................... 36 Soils ......................................................................................................................................................... 36 Geology ................................................................................................................................................... 38 CULTURAL SETTING ..................................................................................................................................... 40 RESULTS .....................................................................................................................................................