The Cummings Site: An Early Woodland Occupation in the Etowah River Valley of North Georgia

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Cummings (9BR710) is a multi-component site with occupations dating from the Late Archaic through the Middle Mississippian periods. It is located about three kilometers northwest of the Etowah Indian Mounds in Bartow County, Georgia. The site is situated about 500 meters from the Etowah River. Over the past five years archaeological investigations have focused on the Early Wilbanks Phase (AD 1250-1375) occupation and the site’s relationship to Etowah in the 13th century. Current research however has identified an Early Woodland component based on the recovery of significant quantities of Dunlap Fabric Impressed pottery. The presence of steatite fragments and Savannah River points may indicate a transitional Late Archaic-Early Woodland manifestation. The occurrence of Cartersville Series ceramic types, including Cartersville Check Stamped and Cartersville Simple Stamped (but no Cartersville Linear Check Stamped) suggests this occupation continued into the Middle Woodland period. Based on the ceramic and lithic artifacts and the presence of pit features, possibly associated with domestic habitation, Cummings likely represents a small settlement, perhaps representing a nuclear family or two, engaged in the harvesting, processing, and storage of forest resources. A comparison of results with other nearby sites and elsewhere in north Georgia will also be provided.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 38912.0