Introduction
The Tuscarora M&R site (18FR615) was a Middle
and Late Archaic period short-term camp focused on lithic procurement
and manufacturing.
Archaeological Investigations
The site was first identified during a Phase I
survey in 1988. The survey involved two episodes of surface collection
that located a small concentration of lithic artifacts.
Phase II testing commenced with the mechanical
removal of the overburden from 20% of the surface area of the site.
This testing was accomplished via backhoe trenches (1.8m by 61 m).
Twelve cultural features were identified. These included 11 storage
or trash pits and a postmold. The features were devoid of artifacts,
but all of the non-post features contained carbonized plant food
remains (nuts and seeds).
Aside from archeobotanical remains, lithics comprise
the only artifact type recovered from the Tuscarora M&R site.
These included twelve quartz flakes, 5 quartzite flakes, 43 rhyolite
flakes, 17 modified chunks/blocks, 2 unmodified chunks/blocks, 13
bifaces/biface fragments, 3 rhyolite projectile points, 1 quartz
core, 3 quartzite choppers, 1 rhyolite drill fragment, and 1 sandstone
abrading stone. Diagnostic artifacts include a Stanley-like point
and two Bare Island points. These artifacts are representative of
a Middle-Late Archaic occupation.
Archeobotanical Studies
Eleven flotation samples derived from eleven features
(Features 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) were submitted to
Cheryl Holt for analysis. The presence of small wood charcoal fragments,
nutshell fragments, and seeds was noted. A total of 52 carbonized
seeds and 3 nutshell fragments representing 18 different taxa were
identified. Important comestible taxa documented in the Tuscarora
assemblage include sumac and hickory.
References
Ballweber, Hettie L. |
1990 |
Archaeological Investigations at the CNG Tuscarora
Measuring and Regulating Station Site
(18FR615),
Frederick County, Maryland (Phases I and II). NPW Consultants,
Inc., for the CNG
Transmission
Corporation. |
|
Holt, Cheryl |
1990 |
Ethnobotanical Analysis of Feature Flotation
Samples from Site 18FR615. Appendix IV to Archaeological
Investigations at the CNG Tuscarora Measuring and Regulating Station
Site
(18FR615),
Frederick County, Maryland (Phases I and II). NPW Consultants,
Inc., for the CNG
Transmission
Corporation. |
|