The Gast Farm Project

Summary

The Gast Farm project was an interdisciplinary investigation of the archaeological and paleoecological deposits from two alluvial fans along the western edge of the Mississippi River valley in southeastern Iowa. Controlled surface collections and limited excavations were conducted from 1990-1994. The Gast Farm site included a large Havana Hopewell component as well as a substantial initial Late Woodland Weaver ring midden locus. Smaller Early Woodland (Marion) and late Late Woodland artifact concentrations indicate occupation during those periods as well. Sub-surface Middle and Late Archaic deposits were identified from geological cores and trenches. The Gast Spring site contained very sparse surface materials but intact buried deposits of Late Archaic and Early Woodland material, including domestic features and preserved faunal and floral material.