Phase II Testing and Phase III Data Recovery of Site 220K908, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi

Summary

In late March 1998, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) contracted with Brockington and Associates, Inc., to conduct Phase II archaeological testing on site 220K908 (the Curr Dog site), in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). This site was located within the proposed right-of-way for the Mississippi Highway 12 Relocation Project (MDOT Project No. 79-0018-03-018-10) in Starkville, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. The Phase II testing was conducted in order to determine the potential eligibility of the site for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), in accordance with federal criteria set forth in 36 CFR 60.4. Subsequent Phase III data recovery investigations were then conducted as a result of the site being recommended eligible for the NRHP.

Phase II investigations of site 220K908 revealed intact cultural features. These features appeared to relate to a single prehistoric time period and contain well preserved artifactual and organic materials representing occupation during the Miller I Phase of the Middle Woodland Period. The remains of at least one human cremation were also discovered. Based on the site's potential for answering questions about the prehistory of the region, 220K908 was recommended eligible for the NRHP. In order to mitigate the effects of the proposed construction project, Phase III data recovery was recommended at the site.

A mitigation plan for site 220K908 was developed through consultation between the MDOT, the MDAH, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Phase III data recovery was to consist of continuation of site stripping in order to expose 100 percent of the subplowzone deposits. All features located were to be subsequently recorded and hand excavated. In this manner, a complete mitigation of any adverse effects from proposed road construction was to be accomplished.

Results of the Phase III data recovery included the discovery of a number of prehistoric features and one historic feature. The historic feature, a chimney base, was found in the center of the historic artifact concentration. Prehistoric features included possible post molds, several small basin shaped pits, several other unidentifiable prehistoric features, and one large complex hearth. The post molds were rather irregular in shape and displayed no definable pattern. The most remarkable find from 220K908 was the large hearth designated Feature 620. This consisted of an excavated hole slightly larger than 1 meter in diameter, surrounded by an earthen wall which was capped with a layer of limestone. Surrounding the hearth was a compact activity-surface darkened by cleaning episodes from the hearth. Various artifacts including sherds, flakes, faunal remains, and botanical remains were recovered from this feature, in addition to the remains of the human cremation found during the Phase II investigation. The feature is similar to numerous crematory pits described from several regional mound centers, including the Pharr site, the Bynum site, and the Pinson site. Results of Phase III data recovery confirmed the site's primary single component occupation during the Miller I Phase.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Brockington and Associates, Inc.

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contributor(s): Homes Hogue; Justine McKnight; David Pettry; Dawn Reid

Principal Investigator(s): Joseph A. Gilberti

Landowner(s): State of Mississippi

Submitted To(s): Mississippi Dept. of Transportation; Mississippi Dept. of Archives and History, Jackson, MI

Record Identifiers

Brockington and Associates, Inc., report number(s): 0940

MDOT Project No.(s): 79-0018-02-018-10

Notes

General Note: Curation facility: MS Department of Transportation

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