Cook, Della Collins, Sandra K. Parker, Robert G. McCullough, Timi L. Barone,
Gregory Cook, Douglas S. Blank, Christine Shaneyfelt, Kristin Hedman, and Christine
A. Marvin (Anthropology Department, Indiana University)
LITTLE PIGEON CREEK CEMETERY (12 W 340): AN ARCHAIC MIDDEN-MOUND
IN WARRICK COUNTY, INDIANA
Little Pigeon Creek Cemetery is a dense midden-mound approximately 400 feet by
250 feet in area, and about 9 feet high. It lies on the end of a floodplain ridge
overlooking the creek for which it is named, and is the highest feature in the
immediate vicinity. It was reported to the Glenn A. Black Laboratory in 1985 because
of extensive vandalism. Our 1986 excavations explored the 80 by 100 foot northwest
quadrant of the site that had been extensively disturbed during the previous year.
The site is a man-made elevation consisting largely of sandstone cobbles and of
soil derived from sandstone and from organic materials. The midden is quite dense,
and stratigraphic analysis was difficult. However, three major components can
be distinguished: a modern farmstead largely confined to plowzone, an extensively
reworked upper midden extending 3 to 4 feet below the surface, and a lower midden
extending to 9 feet.
The lower midden reflects activities responsible for the accumulation of the midden
deposits In situ hearths, ash lenses, and smudge pits are common. The stone
tool assemblage reflects a limited range of activities. There is virtually no
chert debitage, and there are few finished lithic artifacts, most of these Matanzas
forms. Bone and antler artifacts are common, and include flakers, beakers, socketed
projectile points, spatulate forms, and incised bone pins and tubes characteristic
of French Lick phase. Faunal preservation is excellent, and there is evidence
for bone and antler tool manufacture.
The upper midden reflects reworking of these Late Archaic deposits from the present
surface. Late Archaic, Early Woodland and Yankeetown material are thoroughly mixed,
features cannot be defined, and midden soil is extremely dark and uniform. Sandstone
cobbles are smaller than below, probably as a result of weathering as well as
fire-cracking. Faunal preservation is poor. Like the lower midden component, the
later components include little chert debitage, but finished lithic artifacts
are common. Three examples suggest that bannerstones were manufactured at the
site. While the lack of discernable features, multicomponency, and poor bone preservation
make this zone of lesser archaeological significance than the lower midden, it
is the focus of vandalism at the site.
We recovered 31 burials, including one dog, from 10 excavation units comprising
Just under 18,000 cubic feet. Burials were recovered from both zones, but formal
similarities and the lack of ceramics with or beneath burials suggest that they
belong to the French Lick phase component throughout. Grave goods include ochre,
incised bone pins and spatulae, and unmodified faunal bone, Age and sex composition
indicate egalitarian access to this cemetery. Density of burials at the site approximates
that at Indian Knoll, and ranks Little Pigeon Creek as the most significant Late
Archaic cemetery thus far discovered in Indiana.
We thank Alcoa Corporation for their support of this preliminary excavation.
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