Arkansas Archeological Survey Annual Report for fiscal year 2017–2018 A Division of the University of Arkansas System Arkansas Archeological Survey Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................1 Highlights for 2017–2018 .........................................................................................................2 Reports of the Survey Research Stations Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park ............................................................................ 20 Parkin Archeological State Park ............................................................................................ 26 University of Arkansas at Fayetteville .................................................................................. 32 University of Arkansas at Fort Smith ................................................................................... 40 Winthrop Rockefeller Institute ............................................................................................. 45 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff ..................................................................................... 51 University of Arkansas at Monticello .................................................................................. 56 Henderson State University................................................................................................... 61 Southern Arkansas University............................................................................................... 67 Arkansas State University....................................................................................................... 72 Reports of the Coordinating Office, Fayetteville The Survey Director ................................................................................................................ 82 The State Archeologist ............................................................................................................ 84 The Survey Registrar ............................................................................................................... 87 Sponsored Research Program ............................................................................................... 91 Computer Services and Archaeogeophysical Applications ............................................ 98 Publications Program ............................................................................................................108 Photographic and Graphic Arts Support ..........................................................................111 Educational Outreach ...........................................................................................................112 Partners in Preservation .......................................................................................................116 Accounting & Administrative Staff ....................................................................................122 How to Contact the Arkansas Archeological Survey .....................................................123 Appendix 1. Reports & Publications by ARAS Staff, 2017–2018 ...............................124 Appendix 2. Presented Papers, Symposia & Workshops, 2017–2018 ........................127 Photo Identifications & Credits ..........................................................................................130 The 2017–2018 Annual Report was compiled and edited by Deborah Sabo. Layout, design, and cover by Deborah Sabo. No state funds were used to print this document. ii University of Arkansas System Arkansas Archeological Survey Introduction he Arkansas Archeological Survey (ARAS) is a part of the University of Arkansas System. Our mission Tis to study and protect archeological sites in Arkansas, to preserve and manage archeological informa- tion and collections, and to communicate what we learn to the people of Arkansas. Cooperative agreements with seven state university campuses, two state parks, and the UA System’s Winthrop Rockefeller Institute enable scholars at research stations around the state to carry out this mission. The Survey has been a model for statewide archeological programs in the United States and around the world. Our coordinating office (CO) in Fayetteville is the ARAS administrative body. The Director, the State Archeologist, the ARAS registrar, the fiscal office, publications staff, and outreach programs operate from the CO. The registrar maintains a central archive of all archeological site records for the state. The coordinat- ing office building also contains the University of Arkansas Museum Collections Facility. The Survey acts as a repository for archeological collections originating from state and federally funded projects in Arkansas, our own research, private consulting firms, and donations. Also at the coordinating office are our sponsored research program (SRP) and computer services program (CSP) which support themselves in part through grants, contracts, and cost-share agreements with local, state, and federal agencies. The CSP maintains several websites with educational information on Arkansas archeology and frequently updated stories about our projects. The CSP also supplies research support through our archaeogeophysical program, employing the latest technologies for nondestructive detection of subsurface features at archeological sites. Professional archeologists at our research stations teach college courses in anthropology and assist their university museums, or develop materials for public interpretation at the state parks, in addition to con- ducting basic research in their areas. Survey archeologists help to increase our knowledge of the past and its relationship to the present by working closely with local, state, and federal government agencies, American Indian tribes, college students, school teachers and K-12 students, tourists, fellow scholars, land owners and managers, amateur archeologists, and all Arkansas residents interested in archeology, prehistory, and the early history of the state. At the Survey, science and service go hand-in-hand. George Sabo III, Ph.D. Director 1 Arkansas Archeological Survey Highlights for the Year Scientific Achievements & Archeological Mission 2017–2018 • Survey staff authored or coauthored47 print or digital publications and reports, and presented 55 papers or posters at meetings and conferences in 2017–2018. • The Survey’sAMASDA database (Automated Management of Archeological Site Data in Arkansas) is one of the oldest and best computerized site file systems in the country. Our computer services program and registrar’s office personnel are constantly working to expand and upgrade the AMASDA system to add new functionality. The system is now available online (password protected) for qualified researchers. Contractors may subscribe per project or for an annual fee. • 527 new archeological sites were recorded, bringing the total number of sites in Arkansas site files to49,306 . • 135 new archeological projects were entered into the database, bringing the projects total to 7206. • The Survey registrar facilitated2100 requests for information from the Arkansas site files by students, researchers, and project managers. This included19 graduate student and academic research projects. We assisted local, state, and federal entities, six American Indian Tribes, and 46 private firms conducting projects in Arkansas. • We conducted projects supported with new funds generated by grants and cost-share agreements totaling $107,040. • Volunteer participation in our projects, totaling 14,146 hours, continued to show a high level of interest in archeology. • Digital Data Collection Initiative. A DDCI working group within ARAS led by Carl Drexler (ARAS-SAU) developed an “action plan” to transition us from paper records filled out by hand to use of a digital platform for creating all of the records col- lected during fieldwork and uploading those records from the field to our servers. This involved making digital versions of the many forms we use (excavation unit level records, feature forms, profile forms, Field Serial Number log sheets, photo record sheets, special sample forms, etc.), selecting associated hardware platforms (weatherized tablets for use in the field), and devel- oping software for uploading the data. Other members of the group were Elizabeth Horton (ARAS-TMRS), Jamie Brandon (ARAS-UAF), Emily Beahm (ARAS-WRI), John Samuelsen (ARAS-CSP), and Teka McGlothlin (ARAS-Registrar). • Team members worked to create an interactive fieldwork database using iPads for data entry. The group determined that FileMaker and iPads were the best options for ARAS. With input from the group, Samuelsen wrote a proposal to the ARAS Director for internal funding for a pilot project. This was approved. A Mac server was created to manage the ARAS iPads and the FileMaker software was installed on the archeology.uark.edu server. The team worked together to create a database and interface for the fieldwork data. The system was tested by Carl Drexler in the field at Pea Ridge during sum- mer 2018, with positive results. The team plans to expand the use of this system for lab data entry next year. 2 Annual Report 2017–2018 • Our publications program is thriving with a new Research Series volume published in 2017, another scheduled for 2018, two Popular Series volumes in production, and two more accepted for publication. • A major development took place this year for ARAS-Publications