ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS AT HILLTOPPER SHELTER (15WA1), WARREN COUNTY, KENTUCKY:  REPORT OF 1999 AND 2000 FIELD SEASONS

NOTE: This is a hypothetical site and site report! This site does not exist!

Chapter 1.    Introduction
Chapter 2.    Site Description
Chapter 3.    Field Methods
Chapter 4.    Laboratory Methods and Interpretive Models
Chapter 5.    Results
Chapter 6.    Summary and Conclusions
References

     Hilltopper Shelter is a rockshelter located on the west side of Drakes Creek in Warren County, Kentucky.  The site was first recorded in 1972 during a Kentucky Archaeological Survey pedestrian survey of archaeological sites in the Drakes Creek drainage (Doe 1973).  Cultural items and features exposed on the surface of the shelter indicated historic occupations, but the artifacts were not collected at the time of survey.  Archaeologists from Western Kentucky University returned to Hilltopper Shelter in 1999 and 2000 to conduct subsurface investigations.  During the two summer field seasons, an area of 20 sq m was hand excavated to bedrock.  The excavations exposed nearly one m of stratified deposits containing several thousand historic and prehistoric artifacts.

     The goals of the archaeological excavations related to culture history and lifeways reconstruction.  One set of research questions concern when the site was occupied.  Is Hilltopper Shelter a single component historic period site, as the surface remains suggested, or is it a multicomponent site that also represents prehistoric occupations?  How many distinct components are evident? Can a specific range of years be specified for each occupation?  The other set of research questions relate to the function of the site during each temporally distinct occupation.  How was the site used during each occupation? What activities took place at the site? How intensely was the site used?

     Artifacts recovered during the two field seasons at Hilltopper Shelter were used to answer these questions.  Results of the field work and lab analyses are presented in this volume in such a manner as to address the research questions.  The next chapter describes the Hilltopper Shelter site in terms of location, dimensions, and environmental context.  Chapters 3 and 4 consider the field and lab methods, respectively, used in the study.  Stratigraphy, cultural features, and artifactual analyses are presented in Chapter 5.  Answers to research questions are presented in the final chapter.

CHAPTER 2.     SITE DESCRIPTION

     Hilltopper Shelter is a large rockshelter located on the west side of Drakes Creek in Warren County, Kentucky (Figure 1).  The area is part of the Mississippi Plateaus physiographic province, which is characterized by subsurface drainage, cave systems, and sinkholes.  Eroded into a short cliffline that defines the edge of the upland:floodplain boundary, the shelter is carved into the predominantly limestone bedrock of the St. Louis formation.   

     The shelter opens to the northeast, has a long axis of 43 m oriented northwest-southeast, is 22 m deep, and has a ceiling height of up to 12 m (Figure 2).  Significant accumulations of roof fall are found at the northwestern and southeastern ends of the shelter; the central portion of the shelter is comparatively free of talus and, therefore, suitable for occupation.  Dry sediment deposits are mostly ashy loam and sandy loam with limestone pebbles and cobbles.
 

     The site is located at an elevation of 170 m above mean sea level.  The current vegetation in the area consists of a mixed deciduous woodlands with some conifers (such as cedar) and mast-producing species (such as hickory, oak, and walnut).  Stands of second-growth woodlands are separated by expanses of agricultural fields, pastures, and grasslands in succession.  A variety of fauna, including white-tail deer, small mammals, turkey, waterfowl, and reptiles, inhabit the area today.  Molluscs are not found in Drakes Creek.

CHAPTER 3. FIELD METHODS

     Field methods followed standard archaeological procedures and consisted of establishing spatial controls, systematic surface collection, controlled excavation, screening, and field documentation.  Field documentation is curated at the Western Kentucky University Anthropology Laboratory.

     A permanent datum in the form of a metal pin attached to bedrock was established at the northern end of the site.  Surveying equipment (laser transit, levels, global positioning system) was used to measure the spatial attributes of the datum.  All lateral and vertical measurements were made with tapes and transit in relation to the datum.  A block grid of 20 one by one m units, which was used for surface and subsurface artifact recovery, was established with the grid datum in the southeast corner (Figure 2).  All intra-unit measurements were made in relation to the southeast corner of each respective unit. The 20 units were organized into five larger blocks of four one-by-one units for some analyses; these large blocks are referred to as blocks A, B, C, D and E (Figure 3).
 

     All artifacts exposed on the surface of the shelter were recovered systematically within the 20 sq m block grid.  Labeled bags for each unit were used to collect surface artifacts.  Point provenience data was not recorded during surface collection.

     Controlled hand excavation involved the systematic removal of sediments from each of the 20 one by one m grid units.  Trowels, brushes, and dental tools were used for hand excavation.  Each stratigraphic zone was excavated in five cm levels, and areas of variation in the sediment (including cultural features) were excavated and processed separately.  Two one-liter soil samples were collected from the southeast corner of each unit. Excavation proceeded until bedrock was reached in each unit.  Stratigraphic profiles of each unit were drawn upon completion of excavation.

     The following excavation procedure was used for cultural features, which were identified by variation in sediment type, sediment texture, sediment color, and/or artifactual inclusions. Each feature was assigned a number by the principle investigator.  The top of each feature was carefully cleaned with a trowel so as to expose and delineate the edges.  One half of the feature was excavated by stratigraphic layer or by arbitrary 5-cm levels, depending on whether or not the feature was stratified.  The stratigraphic profile of the drawn to scale and described.  Then the remaining half of the feature was excavated.

     Sediments excavated from each unit (excluding soil samples) were screened through one-quarter inch mesh hardware cloth. In order to retrieve small artifacts, one of the one-liter soil samples from each unit was fine screened using 0.6 mm mesh hardware cloth.  (The other one-liter soil sample was not processed in the field). Feature sediment was also fine screened.  Artifacts recovered by screening were placed in paper or plastic bags labeled in indelible ink with site name, provenience, field sample number, date, and excavator. A log of field samples was maintained by the principle investigator.

     Carbonized plant material was collected from unit levels, unit profiles and features using trowels and tweezers.  The remains were placed in aluminum foil and then bagged as described above.  Fragile artifacts were wrapped in cloth or cotton and placed in labeled plastic vials prior to bagging.

     Field documentation was maintained by each member of the field crew as well as the principle investigator. The following information was recorded in field books for each excavation unit:  surface elevations, surface plan view map, plan view maps of the bottoms of each excavation level, point provenience data for each diagnostic artifact, sediment descriptions including Munsell color, features, field sample numbers, photo numbers, and stratigraphic profiles. Standard level forms and feature forms were completed by the principle investigator.

     Photographic documentation was kept by the principle investigator. Black-and-white print and color slide photographs were taken of the surface of each excavation unit, the bottom of each excavation level, the tops of cultural features prior to excavation, cultural feature profiles, excavated features, and unit profiles.

CHAPTER 4.     LABORATORY METHODS AND INTERPRETIVE MODELS

     All field samples were processed at the Western Kentucky University Anthropology Lab. For each field sample (excluding soil samples), artifacts were removed from the field bag and separated into fragile and durable remains. Fragile remains including charcoal, carbonized plants, uncarbonized plants, small bones, friable pottery, and friable shell were carefully cleaned by dry brushing. Durable remains were washed in tepid water with soft brushes. Lime-coated lithic artifacts were soaked in white vinegar and then washed in tepid water to remove the lime deposits. Cleaned artifacts were placed on labeled trays and air dried.

     One one-liter soil sample from each excavation level was processed by flotation in order to recover small artifacts. The heavy and light fractions were placed on separate labeled trays and air dried.

     Cleaned artifacts were labeled following the guidelines of the Webb Museum at the University of Kentucky. White and black India ink, varnish sealants, and Radiograph pens were used to label artifacts with the site number and unique artifact numbers. A hand-written inventory of artifact numbers with corresponding provenience data and artifact type was compiled during the labeling process. These data, as well as the attributes recorded for each artifact, were entered into an Excel spreadsheet that served as the descriptive inventory for the site assemblage.

     Labeled artifacts were sorted into groups according to the following classification scheme: prehistoric lithics, prehistoric pottery, archaeobotanical remains, zooarchaeological remains, osteological remains, and historic artifacts. Analytical methods varied by artifact type. For detailed discussions of specific analytical methods and interpretive models used to examine each artifact class, refer to the appendices listed below.

Appendix 1. Lithic analysis and interpretation
Appendix 2. Pottery and ceramic analysis and interpretation
Appendix 3. Archaeobotanical analysis and interpretation
Appendix 4. Zooarchaeological analysis and interpretation
Appendix 5. Osteological analysis and interpretation
Appendix 6. Other historic artifact analysis and interpretation

     To address the question of site use during each occupation, the following interpretive models were used. Tables 1 and 2 are the models used to determine the nature of prehistoric and historic, respectively, occupations of Hilltopper Shelter. Predicted artifactual residues resulting from different activities are outlined in these models.
 

CHAPTER 5.     RESULTS

     This chapter summarizes the results of field work and artifact analysis for Hilltopper Shelter. Site stratigraphy, cultural features, radiocarbon dates, and artifact assemblages are described in such a way as to address the two research questions.

SITE STRATIGRAPHY

     Three distinct stratigraphic zones were identified during the course of excavation and in stratigraphic profiles. Zones I, II and III are described in terms of thickness, sediment type, color, inclusions, compaction, moisture, artifactual assemblage, and cultural features. Stratigraphic profiles for the excavation block are provided in Figures 4, 5 and 6.
 

     The uppermost Zone I varied in thickness from 12 to 19 cm within the excavation block, being thicker in the northern part of the block. Zone I consisted of dry to damp, loose to subcompact, strong brown to brown ashy loam and loam. Pebble- to cobble-sized irregularly shaped pieces of limestone roof fall were found throughout Zone I. The majority of artifacts recovered from Zone I are historic remains. Six cultural features (Features 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8) were documented in Zone I. Numerous earthworm burrows and two rodent burrows (Features 3 and 5) were noted in Zone I. A total of 6440 liters of Zone I was excavated and screened from the 20 excavation units.

     Zone II is the intermediate stratigraphic unit within the excavation block at Hilltopper Shelter. It varied in thickness from 30 to 34 cm, being slightly thicker in the southern portion of the excavation block. The top of Zone II was encountered at 19 cm below datum in the northern part of the excavation block and at 12 cm below datum in the south. The base on Zone II was at 49 and 46 cm below datum in the north and south, respectively. Zone II consisted of dry to damp, subcompact, brown to yellowish brown to brownish yellow ashy loam and loam. Small clay nodules and pebble- to cobble-sized irregularly shaped pieces of limestone were found throughout Zone II. The tops of two limestone boulders were exposed in Zone II. Most artifacts from Zone II are prehistoric remains. Four cultural features (Features 9, 10, 11 and 13) were found in Zone II. One rodent burrow (Feature 12) was encountered in Zone II. A total of 11,100 liters of Zone II was excavated and screened from the 20 excavation units.

     The lowermost Zone III represents a zone of sediment accumulation above the limestone bedrock of the shelter. It varied in thickness from 46 to 52 cm, being thickest in the central portion of the excavation block. The top of Zone III was encountered at 49 cm below datum in the northern part of the excavation block and at 46 cm below datum in the south. The base of Zone III was at 95 cm below datum in the north, 99 cm below datum in the center, and 92 cm below datum in the south. Zone III consisted of damp, subcompact to compact, mottled brown to reddish brown to brownish red sandy loam, clayey loam, sandy clay and silty clay. Pebble- to cobble-sized irregularly shaped pieces of limestone roof fall were found throughout Zone III, and two limestone boulders (corresponding to those documented in Zone II) were found in Zone III. All artifacts recovered from Zone III are prehistoric remains. Seven cultural features (Features 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21 and 22). One rodent burrow (Feature 18) and one natural bedrock depression with midden accumulations (Feature 19) were documented in Zone III.  A total of 15,880 liters of Zone III was excavated and screened from the 20 excavation units.

CULTURAL FEATURES

     Eight features originated in Zone I (Figure 7). A total of 540 liters of sediment was excavated from the features, which are clustered in the northern portion of the excavation unit. Six features yielding 442 liters of sediment are cultural in origin, and two with 98 liters of sediment are natural. Features 4, 6, 7, and 8 are post molds arranged in a linear pattern oriented northeast-southwest. 

     Feature 1 was documented in Zone I deposits of Unit 2. It is a shallow, circular storage pit that measured 40 cm in diameter and 18 cm deep. The dark brown loamy deposits in Feature 1 contained ash, charcoal, and corn remains. A total of 124 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

     Feature 2 is a hearth found in Zone I of Units 7 and 8. The irregular outline of this feature measured 52 cm east-west and 66 cm north-south; the feature was 14 cm deep. The mottled medium brown and dark gray loamy ash deposits in Feature 2 contained abundant wood charcoal as well as heat-damaged historic artifactual remains. Fire-altered rock formed an incomplete upper border around the feature; several pieces of fire-altered rock were also found within the feature fill. A total of 138 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

     Feature 3 was encountered in Zone I and uppermost Zone II of Unit 6. It is a rodent burrow infilled with medium brown loamy sediment. The burrow varies in diameter from 11 to 14 cm. At about 22 cm below datum, the burrow opened into a small semi-circular chamber with a diameter of 21 cm; the base of this chamber is at 29 cm below datum. No artifacts were recovered from Feature 3. A total of 48 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

     Feature 4 is a post mold found in Zone I of Unit 14. The cylindrical feature was 14 cm in diameter and had a U-shaped bottom that was 15 cm below datum. The mottled medium brown ashy loam deposits of Feature 4 contained limestone, charcoal, and historic artifacts. A total of 44 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

     Feature 5 was encountered in Zone I and uppermost Zone II of Units 3 and 9. It is a rodent burrow infilled with medium brown loamy sediment. The burrow varies in diameter from 10 to 14 cm. It pinched to an end at about 22 cm below datum. No artifacts were recovered from Feature 5. A total of 50 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

     Feature 6 is a post mold found in Zone I of Unit 13. The cylindrical feature was 14 cm in diameter and had a U-shaped bottom that was 14 cm below datum. The mottled medium brown ashy loam deposits of Feature 6 contained limestone, charcoal, and historic artifacts. A total of 47 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

     Feature 7 is a post mold found in Zone I of Units 10 and 12. The cylindrical feature was 13 cm in diameter and had a U-shaped bottom that was 14 cm below datum. The mottled medium brown ashy loam deposits of Feature 7 contained limestone and charcoal. A total of 38 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

     Feature 8 is a post mold found in Zone I of Unit 11. The cylindrical feature was 13 cm in diameter and had a U-shaped bottom that was 16 cm below datum. The mottled medium brown ashy loam deposits of Feature 8 contained limestone and charcoal.  A total of 51 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

     Four cultural features and one natural feature originated in Zone II at the Hilltopper Shelter site (Figure 8). The former yielded 360 liters of sediment and the latter, 59 liters. The Zone II features are concentrated in the southern portion of the excavation block.

     Feature 10 is a U-shaped pit found in Zone II of Unit 17. The top of the feature was encountered at 20 cm below datum and the base extended to 44 cm below datum. The maximum diameter was 39 cm and the feature was 24 cm deep. The reddish brown sandy loam deposits of Feature 10 yielded limestone, sandstone, charcoal, and a few prehistoric artifacts. The function of Feature 10 is undetermined. A total of 78 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

     Feature 11 is another U-shaped pit of unknown function. It was encountered in Zone II of Unit 10. The top and bottom of the feature were measured at 25 and 46 cm below datum, respectively. Feature dimensions were 51 cm across and 21 cm deep. The dark grayish brown ashy loam deposits of Feature 11 contained limestone, sandstone, charcoal, and a few prehistoric artifacts. A total of 91 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

     Located in lowermost Zone II and uppermost Zone III of Units 15 and 13, Feature 12 is a rodent burrow infilled with medium brown loam. The top of Feature 12 was uncovered at 43 cm below datum and it extended diagonally to a depth of 59 cm below datum, where it pinched out. The cylindrical burrow varied in diameter from 10 to 14 cm and was 61 cm long. A few prehistoric artifacts were recovered from the burrow. A total of 59 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

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Figure 9. Plan View of Zone III Features.
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     Feature 18 is a rodent burrow in Zone III of Unit 1. The top of the burrow was observed at 66 cm below datum and the feature extended laterally to a depth of 79 cm below surface, where it truncated abruptly. Feature 18 cut across the northeastern portion of Feature 17 at a depth of 75 cm below datum. The burrow ranged in diameter from 11 to 15 cm and was 52 cm long. Archaeobotanical remains were recovered from the grayish brown silty fill of the burrow. A total of 40 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

     Located in Zone III of Unit 20, Feature 19 is interpreted as a natural bedrock depression with accumulations of midden. The top of the puddled deposits was encountered at 88 cm below surface and the base extended to bedrock at a depth of 92 cm below datum. The midden accumulation measured 28 cm across and four cm deep. Prehistoric artifacts were recovered from the brown silty clay deposits in the bedrock depression. A total of 24 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

     Feature 20 is a post mold found in Zone III of Unit 14. The top and base of the cylindrical feature were measured at 61 and 78 cm below datum, respectively. The post mold measured 17 cm across and 17 cm deep. The sandy, ashy loam feature fill yielded limestone, sandstone, charcoal, and a few prehistoric artifacts. A total of 44 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

     Feature 21 is a post mold found in Zone III of Unit 16. The top and base of the cylindrical feature were measured at 62 and 79 cm below datum, respectively. The post mold measured 16 cm across and 17 cm deep. The sandy, ashy loam feature fill yielded limestone, sandstone, and charcoal. A total of 30 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

     Feature 22 is a post mold found in Zone III of Unit 15. The top and base of the cylindrical feature were measured at 60 and 78 cm below datum, respectively. The post mold measured 15 cm across and 18 cm deep. The sandy, ashy loam feature fill yielded limestone, sandstone, and charcoal. A total of 66 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

     Feature 23 is a burial located in Zone III of Units 11 and 12, between two large boulders. The pit feature measured 1.51 m long, 55 cm wide, and 43 cm deep. The loam feature fill contained human remains but no associated artifacts. A total of 69 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

     Feature 24 is a burial located in Zone III of Units 9 and 10, between two large boulders. The pit feature measured 1.66 m long, 59 cm wide, and 46 cm deep. The loam feature fill contained human remains but no associated artifacts. A total of 81 liters of sediment was excavated and screened from the feature.

RADIOCARBON DATES

     Nine radiocarbon dates, three from each of the three stratigraphic zones, were obtained for organic materials recovered during excavations at Hilltopper Shelter (Table 3). The Zone I radiocarbon dates suggest historic occupation during the early to mid nineteenth century, corresponding to the Antebellum period in Kentucky history. Radiocarbon dates for Zone II indicate prehistoric occupation during the Early to Middle Woodland period, between 525 BC and AD 75. The Zone III radiocarbon dates suggest prehistoric occupation during the Early Archaic period, about 6625 to 7150 BC.

 
ARTIFACT ASSEMBLAGES
 
LITHIC ARTIFACTS

          - Each student will complete this section of the report -

CLAY ARTIFACTS

ARCHAEOBOTANICAL REMAINS

ZOOARCHAEOLOGICAL REMAINS

OSTEOLOGICAL REMAINS

OTHER HISTORIC ARTIFACTS

CHAPTER 6.     SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

     - Each student will complete this section of the report - 

REFERENCES

     - Each student will complete this section of the report, adding references for interpretive models used in analyses -

Doe, Jane
 1973 Archaeological Reconnaissance Along Drakes Creek in Warren County, Kentucky. Kentucky Archaeological Survey, Lexington.    [hypothetical]

Ledbetter, R. J. and Lisa D. O'Steen
 1991 The Grayson Site: Phase III Investigations of 15Cr73, Carter County, Kentucky. Report prepared by Southeastern Archaeological Services, Atlanta, Georgia.

McBride, Kim A. and W. Stephen McBride
 1990 Historic Period Culture History. In The Archaeology of Kentucky: Past Accomplishments and Future Directions Volume Two, edited by David Pollack, pp. 583-748. Kentucky Heritage Council, Frankfort.