The Algood SR-42 Project: Report on Phase II Excavations in Putnam County, Tennessee
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The Algood SR-42 Project Report on Phase II Excavations in Putnam County, Tennessee Sarah A. Levithol, Michael C. Moore, and W. Steven Spears The Algood SR-42 Project: Report on Phase II Excavations in Putnam County, Tennessee Sarah A. Levithol, Michael C. Moore, and W. Steven Spears Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Division of Archaeology Report of Investigations No. 18 2015 Pursuant to the State of Tennessee’s policy of non-discrimination, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or military service in its policies, or in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs, services or activities. Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action inquiries or complaints should be directed to the EEO/AA Coordinator, Office of General Counsel, 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, 2nd floor, William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower, Nashville, TN 37243, 1-888-867- 7455. ADA inquiries or complaints should be directed to the ADA Coordinator, Human Resources Division, 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, 22nd floor, William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower, Nashville, TN 37243, 1-866-253-5827. Hearing impaired callers may use the Tennessee Relay Service (1-800-848-0298). ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................... viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................... ix INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 I. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING ............................................................................... 2 Physiography ..................................................................................................... 2 Climate .............................................................................................................. 6 Soils ................................................................................................................. 6 Natural Resources ............................................................................................ 7 II. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ..................................................................... 9 Previous Investigations .................................................................................. 11 William Edward Myer .................................................................................. 11 Modern Archaeological Investigations ........................................................ 12 Prehistoric Settlement of Putnam County ........................................................ 17 III. PROJECT BACKGROUND AND METHODS ........................................................ 23 Phase I Survey, 1976 ..................................................................................... 23 Phase II Testing, 1988 ................................................................................... 23 Excavation Methods ................................................................................... 23 Analysis Methods ...................................................................................... 25 Lithic Reanalysis, Early 1990s ........................................................................ 26 Chipped Stone ........................................................................................... 26 Ground and Pecked Stone ........................................................................ 27 Reanalysis and Completion, 2014-2015 ......................................................... 28 IV. SITES 40PM24 AND 40PM25 ............................................................................... 29 Site Descriptions ............................................................................................ 29 40PM24 .......................................................................................................... 29 40PM25 .......................................................................................................... 30 40PM24 and 40PM25 Summary .................................................................... 36 V. SITE 40PM27 ........................................................................................................ 38 Site Description .............................................................................................. 38 Methodology ................................................................................................... 39 Features ......................................................................................................... 46 Feature 1 .................................................................................................... 46 Feature 2 ................................................................................................... 46 Lithic Materials ............................................................................................... 46 Botanical Analysis .......................................................................................... 51 Summary ........................................................................................................ 53 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page VI. SITE 40PM31 ........................................................................................................ 54 Site Description .............................................................................................. 54 Methodology ................................................................................................... 54 Lithic Materials ............................................................................................... 54 Summary ........................................................................................................ 58 VII. SITE 40PM32 ........................................................................................................ 58 Site Description .............................................................................................. 58 Methodology ................................................................................................... 58 Features ......................................................................................................... 63 Feature 1 .................................................................................................... 63 Feature 3 ................................................................................................... 66 Feature 5 .................................................................................................... 66 Feature 6 ................................................................................................... 67 Feature 9 ................................................................................................... 67 Feature 10 ................................................................................................. 68 Lithic Materials ............................................................................................... 68 Botanical Analysis .......................................................................................... 75 Summary ........................................................................................................ 76 VIII. SITE 40PM33 ........................................................................................................ 77 Site Description .............................................................................................. 77 Methodology ................................................................................................... 77 Lithic Materials ................................................................................................ 77 Summary ......................................................................................................... 77 IX. SITE 40PM34 ........................................................................................................ 78 Site Description .............................................................................................. 78 Methodology ................................................................................................... 79 Features ......................................................................................................... 79 Feature 1 .................................................................................................... 79 Feature 2 .................................................................................................... 79 Feature 3 ................................................................................................... 79 Feature 4 ................................................................................................... 85 Feature 5 ................................................................................................... 85 Feature 6 .................................................................................................... 85 Lithic Materials ............................................................................................... 85 Botanical Analysis .......................................................................................... 86 Summary .......................................................................................................