National Register Assessment of Prehistoric Archaeological Sites 23DA407 and 23DA408 and Historic Properties Survey in the Stockton Lake Project, Stockton Lake Survey and Assessment 1992-1993

Summary

Test excavations were completed at prehistoric archeological sites 23DA407 and 23DA408. Excavations slated for 23DA83 could not be conducted due to high lake levels and will be undertaken at a later date. These sites are being actively excavated by collectors and are in danger of destruction. Hand excavations included 1 m x 1 m test units and shovel tests. Controlled surface collecting or piece plotting was not undertaken as planned because of the obvious evidence of surface disturbance. 23DA407 appears to have functioned as a seasonal habitation and yielded evidence of Early-Middle Archaic, Middle-Late Woodland and Mississippi Period occupations. Evidence of Historic Period trapping activities was also recovered. 23DA408 also appears to have functioned as a seasonal habitation and yielded evidence of Late Archaic, Late Woodland, Mississippi and Late Prehistoric occupations. Neither of these sites was determined to be eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Both have suffered damage from unauthorized digging and neither exhibited visible stratigraphy or positive evidence of in situ cultural deposits.

An intensive survey of 1,372.4 acres on Government lands around Stockton Lake resulted in the investigation of 90 cultural properties and 24 isolated prehistoric artifacts. These include 64 prehistoric, 20 Historic and 6 sites that exhibited both prehistoric and historic occupations. Thirty-eight of these sites yielded evidence that they may be eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places and Phase II testing and assessment has been recommended for them. Seven additional sites are located outside our designated survey areas. Five of these are prehistoric, one is historic and one is both prehistoric and historic. All but one were previously recorded. Archaeological Survey of Missouri site forms were prepared for these but they are not discussed in detail in this report.

Thirty-one sites and eight isolated artifacts are located in Cedar County. Twenty of the sites are prehistoric (seven previously recorded), nine are historic (four previously recorded) and two are both prehistoric and historic (none previously recorded). Fifty-nine sites and 16 isolated artifacts are located in Dade County. Forty-four are prehistoric (17 previously recorded), 11 are historic (three previously recorded) and four are both prehistoric and historic (two previously recorded).

Finally, artifacts collected at 115 Stockton Lake sites in Cedar, Dade and Polk counties by Mr. Howard R. Wimmer of St. Louis were analyzed for evidence of use-wear and classified according to typologies commonly accepted for the Stockton area. Those artifacts that were classifiable or that exhibited use-wear are described in an addendum to this report. Information gained during their analysis is used, where appropriate, to supplement that gathered during the HPA fieldwork.

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): US Army Corps of Engineers Mandatory Center of Expertise for the Curation and Management of Archaeological Collections, St. Louis District

Principal Investigator(s): Timothy C. Klinger

Landowner(s): US Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District

Sponsor(s): US Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District

Repository(s): Fort Osage

Prepared By(s): Historic Preservation Associates

Submitted To(s): US Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District

Record Identifiers

Contract Number(s): DACW41-92-C-0072

Notes

General Note: The digital materials in this collection were processed by the Veterans Curation Program (VCP), and include the finding aid, original investigation report, and scanned asset key. Additional digital materials held by the VCP include administrative files, archives database, box label, correspondence, document folder listing, initial data collection notes, and records removal sheet. For additional information on these materials, refer to the Finding Aid.

File Information