THREE SIXTEENTH-CENTURY MOHAWK IROQUOIS VILLAGE SITES THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK Regents of The University ROBERT M. BENNETT, Chancellor, B.A., M.S. ................................................. Tonawanda ADELAIDE L. SANFORD, Vice Chancellor, B.A., M.A., P.D. ............................ Hollis DIANE O’NEILL MCGIVERN, B.S.N., M.A., Ph.D. ......................................... Staten Island SAUL B. COHEN, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. ............................................................... New Rochelle JAMES C. DAWSON, A.A., B.A., M.S., Ph.D. .................................................. Peru ROBERT M. JOHNSON, B.S., J.D. ...................................................................... Huntington ANTHONY S. BOTTAR, B.A., J.D. ..................................................................... North Syracuse MERRYL H. TISCH, B.A., M.A. ........................................................................ New York GERALDINE D. CHAPEY, B.A., M.A., Ed.D. ................................................... Belle Harbor ARNOLD B. GARDNER, B.A., LL.B. ................................................................. Buffalo HARRY PHILLIPS, 3rd, B.A., M.S.F.S. .............................................................. Hartsdale JOSEPH E. BOWMAN,JR., B.A., M.L.S., M.A., M.Ed., Ed.D. ........................ Albany LORRAINE A. CORTÉS-VÁZQUEZ, B.A., M.P.A. .............................................. Bronx JUDITH O. RUBIN, A.B. ..................................................................................... New York JAMES R. TALLON,JR., B.A., M.A. .................................................................. Binghamton MILTON L. COFIELD, B.S., M.B.A., Ph.D. ...................................................... Rochester President of The University and Commissioner of Education RICHARD P. MILLS Chief Operating Officer RICHARD H. CATE Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education CAROLE F. HUXLEY Director of the New York State Museum CLIFFORD A. SIEGFRIED The State Education Department does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, religion, creed, disability, marital sta- tus, veteran status, national origin, race, gender, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or sexual orientation in its educational programs, services, and activities. Portions of this publication can be made available in a variety of for- mats, including braille, large print or audio tape, upon request. Inquiries concerning this policy of nondiscrimination should be directed to the Department’s Office for Diversity, Ethics, and Access, Room 152, Education Building, Albany, N.Y. 12234. Requests for additional copies of the publication may be made by contacting Publications Sales, Room 3140, State Museum, Albany, N.Y. 12230. ii Three Sixteenth-Century Mohawk Iroquois Village Sites THREE SIXTEENTH-CENTURY MOHAWK IROQUOIS VILLAGE SITES by Robert E. Funk New York State Archaeologist (Emeritus), New York State Museum and Robert D. Kuhn Assistant Director, Field Services Bureau New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM BULLETIN 503 2003 The University of the State of New York The State Education Department © The New York State Education Department, Albany, New York 12230 Published in 2003 Printed in the United States of America Copies may be ordered from: Publication Sales Room 3140 CEC New York State Museum Albany, New York 12230 518.402.5344 518 474.2033 (Fax) www.nysm.nysed.gov/publications.html Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2003105277 ISSN: 0278-3355 ISBN: 1-55557-147-6 bowl Cover illustration: Clay smoking pipe effigy; Smith site, Fulton County, N.Y. (1½ acutual size) iv Three Sixteenth-Century Mohawk Iroquois Village Sites Bob Funk analyzing Iroquoian ceramics at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, 1992. v Bob Funk beginning excavations at the Klock site, 1969. vi Three Sixteenth-Century Mohawk Iroquois Village Sites CONTENTS List of Figures.............................................................................................................................................................. ix List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................................... xi Preface........................................................................................................................................................................... xiii Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1 Theoretical Considerations and Goals of the Investigations.................................................................. 2 History and Methods of Archaeological Investigations .......................................................................... 3 The Environmental Setting in the Middle Mohawk Valley ................................................................... 5 Chapter 2: THE KLOCK SITE ................................................................................................................................. 9 Location and Setting........................................................................................................................................ 9 Investigations: Methods and Results........................................................................................................... 9 Longhouses........................................................................................................................................................ 11 Possible Attached Structures ......................................................................................................................... 17 Other Settlement Aspects............................................................................................................................... 17 Palisade .............................................................................................................................................................. 17 Post Molds: Attributes and Descriptive Statistics..................................................................................... 19 Features Other than Post Molds.................................................................................................................... 21 The Locations of Features Inside and Outside of Houses....................................................................... 28 Discussion of Features .................................................................................................................................... 29 Artifacts .............................................................................................................................................................. 31 Pottery....................................................................................................................................................... 34 Ceramic Pipes .......................................................................................................................................... 37 Projectile Points ....................................................................................................................................... 37 Other Chipped Stone Artifacts.............................................................................................................. 40 Chert Source Materials ........................................................................................................................... 41 Rough Stone Artifacts............................................................................................................................. 41 Ground Stone Artifacts........................................................................................................................... 43 Bone and Antler Artifacts ...................................................................................................................... 43 Shell Artifacts........................................................................................................................................... 44 Textiles ...................................................................................................................................................... 44 European Goods...................................................................................................................................... 44 Subsistence Remains....................................................................................................................................... 44 Radiocarbon Dates........................................................................................................................................... 47 Chapter 3: THE SMITH-PAGERIE SITE ............................................................................................................... 49 Location and Setting........................................................................................................................................ 49 Investigations: Methods and Results........................................................................................................... 50 Longhouses........................................................................................................................................................ 52 Other Possible Structures..............................................................................................................................