Archaeology Field Experience Program
Monday, October 2, 2006

Project Results Sept. 25-29

First day for the project here in the fall of '06 and we got off to a great start. The weather gave us a great start with warmth and sunshine early this week. Even though the rain came later in the week it did not dampen our spirits. Everyone was very enthusiastic as we arrived at the site, and all of our students were well prepared for a great week of excavation and learning. Students came well prepared with questions and curiosity; we really appreciate that. Thanks to all of the students for making this first week a success. We could not (and would not want to) do it without you.

We opened up three new units: N515 E529, N515 E525, N514 E519 and they immediately paid off. Students from St. Jude, Beach City, Louisville, Holy Family, Holy Rosary and St. Rocco excavated these units and recovered flint flakes, pieces of pottery, and projectile points. Two projectile points from the Late Archaic to Early Woodland time period were recovered. These pieces (one whole and one broken) indicate that natives were hunting near their habitation area. Also, they may have brought a kill back to the camp and the embedded points may have come back to the site with the animal. The flint flakes, found in abundance, indicate that natives were creating and/or resharpening points or tools such as drills in the area of our three units. These units by the way are the northernmost units excavated at the site to date, and they tell us that natives were active at our unit's locations. Also they tell us more about the boundaries of the site; we have not yet hit the Northern boundary. I will post pictures as soon as I can. Thanks again to the exceptional students and teachers for a successful first week.