Data Recovery Investigations at Site 15CT118 in Clinton County, Kentucky: Terminal Archaic-Early Woodland Occupations of South-Central Kentucky

Summary

Between June 1 and June 9, 2011, Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc., personnel conducted data recovery investigations at Site 15Ct118 in southern Clinton County, Kentucky, for the planned west Albany bypass. The project was conducted at the request of David M. Waldner on behalf of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (Item No. 8-260.01). The site was situated along a knoll overlooking Spring Creek. A total of 15 prehistoric cultural features were identified at the site. The data recovery investigations consisted of the mechanized removal of the plow zone followed by the hand excavation of 11 of the prehistoric cultural features. Based on the three radiocarbon dates obtained from the features (2830+- 30 B.P.; 2670±40 B.P.; and 2190±40 B.P.), it appears that the site consists of at least three individual components dating to the Terminal Archaic and Early Woodland subperiods. Each of the three components was represented by a separate cluster of features The features appear to represent the remains of short-term occupations of the landform. The investigations also resulted in the recovery of a sparse artifact assemblage consisting of a narrow range of lithic, ceramic, and paleoethnobotanical remains. Given the sparseness of the artifact assemblage, it is difficult to more precisely define the activities conducted on-site during the various occupations. The site may likely have served as a short-term hunting or processing camp associated with a larger settlement system.

Keywords

Temporal Coverage

Radiocarbon Date: 2830 to 2190 (BP)

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contributor(s): Renee Bonzani; Andrew Bradbury; Karen Quick; Jo Ann Huser; Jonathan Kerr

Notes

General Note: This submission was funded by the Food Connection Student Opportunity Grant from the University of Kentucky and was entered with the assistance of Ivaylo Ivanov, undergraduate student at the University of Kentucky.

File Information