Taphonomy and Chronology of Mounds A and B at the Quapaw Village of Osotouy (Menard-Hodges Site; 3AR4)

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2019: General Sessions" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Menard-Hodges (3AR4), also known as the Quapaw village of Osotouy, is a Mississippian site along the Arkansas River in southeastern Arkansas. Professional excavations have yielded French trade goods and various diagnostic artifacts that supports a predominantly Mississippian-to-protohistoric origin. The site also includes several mounds, the largest of which, Mound A, is conical and ~10 m high. It adjoins a ~4 m high platform, Mound B. Questions about chronology, construction, and taphonomy of the mounds remained unanswered until 2016 when we initiated geoarchaeological investigations. Using solid-earth cores and electric resistivity profiles, we provided details about when and how the mounds were built. Resistivity profiles between Mounds A and B indicates that their apparent conjoining may have resulted from erosion of Mound A, and is not necessarily purposeful. Radiocarbon ages from cores around the mound bases indicate the mounds were built and used from AD 1400-1550 and apparently stable until the 20th century. After ~AD 1930-1950, large trees, particularly on the sides of Mound A, caused gravity slumps. This project has scientific and methodical value, and provides information to formulate effective management, stabilization, and mitigation plans for the mounds. It also offers details to the Quapaw descendant community about their ancestral village.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 24437