Variability in Site Usage: a Comparison of Sites 16RA1758 and 16RA1811 in Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana

Summary

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

In 2020, unauthorized excavations and Hurricanes Laura and Delta extensively damaged sites 16RA1758 and 16RA1811 on the Calcasieu Ranger District of Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana. To address the adverse impacts and gain a deeper understanding of pre-contact lifeways, Kisatchie National Forest initiated comprehensive excavations at both sites. Situated approximately 150 meters apart and separated by Valentine Creek, these sites provide a unique opportunity for fine-scale analysis of pre-contact human activities. Preliminary analysis of both artifact assemblages show that the sites were occupied from the Late Archaic to the Late Woodland periods. Site 16RA1758 has features suggesting permanent settlement that spans from the Late Archaic until the Late Woodland period. Features include multiple post molds and intact fire features. Artifacts include re-worked tools, utilized flakes, biface blanks, and ceramic sherds. Site 16RA1811 has a large accumulation of lithic debitage, no discernable features, few formal tools, and few ceramics. Here, we present a comparison of sites 16RA1758 and 16RA1811 and describe how the observed patterns indicate site-specific provisioning, intersite variability, and diachronic changes. This presentation will discuss the results of investigations, preliminary analysis for both sites, and the implications for socioeconomic choices and strategies of the pre-contact people of central Louisiana.

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): 39978.0