Archaeological Data Recovery at Site 44LE165, Associated with the Route 58 Project, Section E32, Lee County, Virginia Project: 0058-052-E32, PE101 PPMS: 15613
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VIRGINIA’S POWELL VALLEY DURING THE LATE ARCHAIC/EARLY WOODLAND AND MIDDLE/LATE WOODLAND TRANSITIONS Archaeological Data Recovery at Site 44LE165, Associated with the Route 58 Project, Section E32, Lee County, Virginia Project: 0058-052-E32, PE101 PPMS: 15613 PREPARED FOR: Virginia Department of Transportation PREPARED BY: William and Mary Center for Archaeological Research TECHNICAL REPORT SERIES NO. 30 JULY 1999 VIRGINIA’S POWELL VALLEY DURING THE LATE ARCHAIC/EARLY WOODLAND AND MIDDLE/LATE WOODLAND TRANSITIONS Archaeological Data Recovery at Site 44LE165, Associated with the Route 58 Project, Section E32, Lee County, Virginia Project: 0058-052-E32, PE101 PPMS No.: 15613 VDHR File No. 92-0833-S WMCAR Project No. 97-39 SUBMITTED TO: Virginia Department of Transportation 1401 East Broad Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 (804) 371-6749 SUBMITTED BY: William and Mary Center for Archaeological Research Department of Anthropology The College of William and Mary Williamsburg, Virginia 23187-8795 (757) 221-2580 AUTHOR: Stevan C. Pullins WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM Daniel R. Hayes Justine Woodard McKnight Richard Yerkes PROJECT DIRECTOR: Dennis B. Blanton JULY 7, 1999 MANAGEMENT SUMMARY The William and Mary Center for Archaeological chaic postmolds returned a corrected, calibrated, 2 sigma Research conducted archaeological data recovery at Site date of 3095–2905 B.C. (Beta-124255). The late Middle 44LE165 in Lee County, Virginia, associated with Woodland/early Late Woodland pit contained lime- Section E32 of the Route 58 project. These investigations stone-tempered, Radford-like ceramics, and large were conducted from November 17, 1997, to February amounts of wood charcoal. Archaeobotanical analysis 15, 1998. This work was conducted in accordance with of flotation samples from the pit revealed two complete an agreement with the Virginia Department of corn kernels and three cupule fragments, as well as a Transportation (Project: 0058-052-E32, PE101). few hickory and walnut shell fragments. Two radiocar- The total site area was approximately 0.91 ha. bon dates were obtained from the feature. Wood charcoal Gradall stripping revealed an area of intact subplow- from the upper portion of the feature returned a cor- zone deposits measuring about 13 m in diameter and as rected, calibrated 2 sigma date of AD 645–880. Wood much as 0.52 m deep in the southwestern portion of the charcoal from the lower portion of the feature returned site; these deposits were the focus of the excavations. a corrected, calibrated, 2 sigma date of AD 780–1000. Geomorphological analysis demonstrated that the This feature provides important, secure dates both for site occupies portions of two terraces adjacent to and the ceramic materials recovered from the feature, and above Cane Creek, with the upper (second) terrace ad- for the use Zea mays (corn) in southwestern Virginia. jacent to an upland toe slope with exposed limestone. The archaeological results identified and described Approximately 97 m² was stripped by a Gradall to the the function and structure of a small special purpose top of the Late Archaic/Early Woodland Transitional camp occupied beginning in the Late Archaic period components. A total of 48 m² was excavated in 26 test and continuing through the transition into the Early units; the excavation of these units, eight cultural fea- Woodland period. Components from the Middle and tures, and four backhoe trenches resulted in the recovery Late Woodland periods were also identified in plow- of 20,992 prehistoric artifacts and 23 modern historic zone contexts, and artifact assemblages were examined artifacts. Prehistoric features include six postmolds and and described from a diachronic perspective as well. an informal hearth associated with the Late Archaic Lithic microwear analysis was conducted on a selec- component, and one pit feature associated with the late tion of 42 tools to examine site structure, function, and Middle Woodland/early Late Woodland component. A activities. radiocarbon sample obtained from one of the Late Ar- 3 CONTENTS MANAGEMENT SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................................. 3 FIGURES ........................................................................................................................................................................... 6 TABLES ............................................................................................................................................................................ 7 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 8 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. 8 PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT ................................................................................................................ 9 REPORT ORGANIZATION ................................................................................................................................. 9 2 Research Design and Methods ............................................................................................... 11 PREVIOUS RESEARCH ..................................................................................................................................... 11 RESEARCH DESIGN.......................................................................................................................................... 12 DATA RECOVERY METHODS: FIELDWORK............................................................................................... 13 DATA RECOVERY METHODS: LABORATORY ANALYSIS .............................................................................................................................. 19 PREHISTORIC LITHIC ARTIFACT ANALYSIS .......................................................................................................... 19 DEBITAGE ................................................................................................................................................. 19 TOOLS ...................................................................................................................................................... 21 OTHER LITHIC ARTIFACTS ........................................................................................................................... 22 PREHISTORIC CERAMIC ARTIFACT ANALYSIS ...................................................................................................... 22 ETHNOBOTANICAL ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................................. 22 LITHIC MICROWEAR ANALYSIS .......................................................................................................................... 22 ARTIFACT CURATION ..................................................................................................................................... 22 3 Results of Excavation ............................................................................................................. 23 EXCAVATION RESULTS.................................................................................................................................. 23 GEOMORPHOLOGICAL RESULTS .......................................................................................................................... 23 DESCRIPTION OF STRATIGRAPHIC CONTEXTS ....................................................................................................... 24 PLOWZONE CONTEXTS ................................................................................................................................. 24 STRATUM IV-A ........................................................................................................................................... 24 STRATUM IV-B ........................................................................................................................................... 24 STRATUM V ............................................................................................................................................... 27 STRATUM VI .............................................................................................................................................. 27 CHRONOLOGY .................................................................................................................................................. 28 DIAGNOSTIC HAFTED BIFACES ..................................................................................................................... 28 DIAGNOSTIC CERAMICS ............................................................................................................................... 29 RADIOCARBON DATES ................................................................................................................................. 30 SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................................. 30 DESCRIPTIONS OF FEATURES .............................................................................................................................. 31 LATE MIDDLE WOODLAND/EARLY LATE WOODLAND FEATURES ROUND PIT (FEATURE 7) ............................................................................................................