University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Masters Theses Graduate School 12-2007 Site Formation Processes in an Upland Paleoindian Site: The 2005 – 2007 Topper Firebreak Excavations Darcy Shane Miller University of Tennessee - Knoxville Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes Part of the Archaeological Anthropology Commons Recommended Citation Miller, Darcy Shane, "Site Formation Processes in an Upland Paleoindian Site: The 2005 – 2007 Topper Firebreak Excavations. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 2007. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/172 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a thesis written by Darcy Shane Miller entitled "Site Formation Processes in an Upland Paleoindian Site: The 2005 – 2007 Topper Firebreak Excavations." I have examined the final electronic copy of this thesis for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Master of Arts, with a major in Anthropology. David G. Anderson, Major Professor We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: Boyce N. Driskell, Sarah C. Sherwood Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) To the Graduate Council, I am submitting herewith a thesis written by Darcy Shane Miller entitled “Site Formation Processes in an Upland Paleoindian Site: The 2005 – 2007 Topper Firebreak Excavations.” I have examined the final copy of this thesis for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, with a major in Anthropology. _____________________ Dr. David G. Anderson We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: ____________________ Dr. Boyce N. Driskell ____________________ Dr. Sarah C. Sherwood Acceptance for the Council Carolyn_R._Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with the official student records.) Site Formation Processes in an Upland Paleoindian Site: The 2005 – 2007 Topper Firebreak Excavations A Thesis Presented for the Master of Arts Degree University of Tennessee, Knoxville Darcy Shane Miller December 2007 Dedication This thesis is dedicated to my incredible lady, Angel. ii Acknowledgements My wife, Angel, helped me stay sane through the experience that is graduate school, even though I’m pretty sure I drove her crazy during the writing process. Chino, my dog, was an invaluable couch companion while I worked from home. Dr. David Anderson provided guidance and support as my graduate advisor, committee chair, and friend. Through him I gained an interest both in Paleoindian archaeology and hunter/gatherer archaeology. Dr. Al Goodyear turned me loose on the site he had spent most of his career trying to find. In addition to giving me my first experience directing an excavation, we spent many hours discussing stone tools and sediments. His barbecue and plush camping facilities at the Topper site also ruined any urge I ever had for a more rustic field experience. Drs. Boyce Driskell and Sarah Sherwood introduced me to lithic technology and geoarchaeology respectively. They both took time out of their schedules to discuss my thesis before ever agreeing to become committee members. For their guidance and insightful comments, I am very grateful. Dr. John Foss walked me through the soils of the Topper site. I would have never thought discussing soils at a Starbucks would be so much fun. Drs. Jan Simek and Gerald Schroedl were the first two professors I met as an undergraduate, and they both had a considerable influence on my education. Additionally, all the analysis for this study was conducted in Dr. Simek’s lab. After this experience, I totally understand the importance of table space, and I appreciate that he let me use what he had available. The guilty parties that frequent the Topper Site every spring are called the “Hole in the Ground Gang,” and they are known for working hard and smiling a lot. Their ringleaders, Tom Pertierra, Bill Lyles, Terry Hynes, Darrell Barnes, Joan and Ernie Plummer, John and Allison Simpson, Anne and Bill Covington, and many others helped me out so much. Doug Sain, Ashley Smallwood, Johnny Kirby, Alaina Williams, Erika Heimbrook, Kenn Steffy, and Daryl Miller made sure I stayed sane during the Summer 2006 Tour of Duty. Additionally, Riley Atchley and Nick Dunn volunteered to wash, count, and sort a lot of rocks for me. Steve Yerka, Jason O’Donoughue, Scott Meeks, John Baker, and Heather Welborn were always around to discuss archaeology, sports, and life in general when I didn’t feel like looking at another rock or Excel table. I would like to thank these people and the many others who have helped me along the way. iii Abstract In the Southeastern United States, archaeological sites dating to the Paleoindian period are elusive. This study examined whether the Topper Site (38AL23) in Allendale County, South Carolina has buried, relatively undisturbed Paleoindian deposit using a sample excavation block removed during the 2005-2007 field seasons. Artifact horizons were defined by plotting the density of each bulk provenience against a vertical profile. The vertical displacement of refitted artifacts and the position of diagnostic artifacts were used to test the integrity of these horizons. The results indicate a discrete deposit associated with diagnostic Clovis artifacts. Subsequent analyses tested for horizontal post-depositional movement, and the results suggest isolated bioturbation events and winnowing had occurred. As an additional test of the horizontal integrity of the deposits, a spatial analysis found non-random patterning among the artifact classes. This study concluded that some areas were significantly disturbed, while other areas contained vertically discrete Clovis deposits with the spatial array of artifacts potentially intact. iv Table of Contents Chapter Page I. Introduction 1 Paleoindian Anthropology 3 The Savannah River Paleoindians 6 The Topper Site (38AL23) 10 Site Setting 13 Field Methods 21 Problem Orientation 24 II. Vertical Post-Depositional Movement 26 Defining the Artifact Deposits 27 Vertical Refit Analysis 37 Positions of Diagnostic Artifacts 38 Discussion 51 III. Horizontal Post-Depositional Movement 60 Horizontal Refit Analysis 61 Artifact Orientations 64 Spatial Distribution by Size Grade 69 Microartifact Analysis 75 Discussion 79 IV Spatial Analysis 82 All Artifacts 85 Flakes 85 Bifaces, Bifacial Fragments, and Overshot Flakes 87 Cores 93 Quartz Cobbles/Pebbles 97 Modified Debitage 97 Discussion 107 V. Discussion 111 VI. Conclusion 119 Study Summary 119 Future Directions 121 Concluding Remarks 124 List of References 127 Appendix A – Mass Analysis Data 146 v Appendix B – Description of Clovis Assemblage 190 Vita 236 vi List of Tables Table Page 1 - 1 Paleoindian Period Chronology for the Southeastern United States 2 1 - 2 Typical Pedon for the Lakeland Soil Series 17 1 - 3 Backhoe Trench # 20 Soil Descriptions 18 2 – 1 Vertical Displacement of Refitted Artifacts 39 2 – 2 Diagnostic Lithic Artifacts 42 2 - 3 Pottery by Arbitrary Level 55 3 - 1 Horizontal Displacement of Refitted Artifacts 62 3 - 2 Artifact Orientations by Excavation Unit 66 3 - 3 Artifact Densities 71 3 - 4 N102E66 Microartifact Data 78 4 - 1 Piece-Plotting for the 1” Size Grade 84 4 - 2 Nearest Neighbor Analyses 108 A - 1 Mass Analysis Data – Bulk samples 147 A - 2 Mass Analysis Data – Piece-Plotted Artifacts 152 A - 3 Mass Analysis Data – Pottery 189 B - 1 Flake Metric Attributes 193 B - 2 Biface Metric Attributes 202 B - 3 Biface Manufacturing Stages 204 B - 4 Overshot Flake Metric Attributes 207 B - 5 Cores Metric Attributes 208 B - 6 Battered Quartz Cobbles/Pebbles Metric Attributes 212 B - 7 Modified Debitage 218 vii List of Figures Figure Page 1 - 1 Selected Archaeological Sites in the Savannah River Valley 11 1 - 2 USGS Topographic Map with the location of the Topper site (38AL23) 12 1 - 3 Excavation Units at the Topper Site (38AL23) from 1984-2006 15 1 - 4 Soil Profile at Eastern Side of the Firebreak Excavation Block 19 1 - 5 Soil Profile at Western Side of the Firebreak Excavation Block 20 1 - 6 2005 – 2007 Excavation Units 22 2 - 1 Units N100E52, N100E56, N100E8, and N100E60 Artifact Density 29 2 - 2 Unit N100E52, Level 2. May 18th, 2006 30 2 - 3 Unit N100E58. Level 5 – Level 8 31 2 - 4 Units N100E60, N100E62, N100E64, and N100E66 Artifact Density 33 2 - 5 Units N100E60 and N100E62 Artifact Density 34 2 - 6 Units N102E52 - N102E54 and N102E58 - N102E66 Artifact Density 35 2 - 7 Units N100E60 and N102E60 Artifact Density 36 2 - 8 Diagnostic Archaic Bifaces 44 2 - 9 Diagnostic Clovis Bifaces 45 2 - 10 Diagnostic Artifacts Plotted Against N101 Profile 46 2 - 11 Diagnostic Artifacts Plotted Against N101 Profile 47 2 - 12 Diagnostic Artifacts Plotted Against N103 Profile 48 2 - 13 Diagnostic Artifacts Plotted Against N103 Profile 49 2 - 14 Redstone Biface 50 2 - 15 Overshot Flakes (2006 Field Season) 52 2 - 16 Blade Cores 53 2 - 17 Prismatic Blades (2006 Field Season) 54 2 - 18 Artifact Densities and Diagnostic