This report covers the faunal remains from three Late Prehistoric sites excavated in 1995 and 1996. Divided into four main sections, this account provides a brief description of the study sites, narrates the techniques of recovery and analysis of faunal remains, supplies the data obtained at each site, and compares and contrasts the animal economy at these sites.
Two other recently analyzed Oliver phase sites exhibit poor preservation (Redmond 1994:26-27; Garniewicz 1996a); and previously published accounts of faunal remains from Oliver sites do not conform to modern techniques of analysis (Dorwin 1971). Thus, the sample presented here provides the best information on the utilization of fauna by the Late Prehistoric inhabitants of central Indiana.
A more complete interpretation of subsistence and animal ecology in central and southern Indiana during the Late Prehistoric period is the focus of ongoing research (Garniewicz 1996c). This work attempts to understand the effects of human-animal interactions on the ecosystem as a whole (Garniewicz 1993) and to compare the animal economies of various Late Prehistoric communities.
The Three Study Sites
During the 1995 summer field season, the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology excavated three Late Prehistoric sites. The bone preservation at these sites varied from good to excellent. To some degree the data recovered is comparable between these sites; however, some consideration of differential preservation is due in regarding fish, small mammals, and birds.
The Bundy-Voyles site (12 Mg 1) is situated on the upper flood plain of the White River near Martinsville, Indiana. The linear distribution of surface material parallels a lower, filled cutoff meander. Extensive buried midden deposits occur along this slope and provide the bulk of recovered faunal material. Prehistorically a rock riffle in the White River provided a convenient connection between the upland forest to the west and the riparian forest and floodplain environment on the east side of the river. Bone preservation at this site is excellent. Faunal remains included turtle scutes and fish scales, which are the elements most likely to be destroyed. As a result, all species and portions of elements that were buried in the midden are likely to be represented in the collection.
The Sugar Creek site (12 Jo 289) is located on a low terrace to the east of Sugar Creek. Again, a rock bottom provides easy access to the uplands west of the modern channel. A slightly undulating area of undifferentiated glacial outwash continues east toward the Big Blue River. Approximately two km downstream from the site these two watercourses join to form the Driftwood River. Bone preservation was very good, with little to moderate chemical weathering present on many of the bones. It is probable that some of the smaller mammal bones were destroyed along with some of the more delicate fish and bird bones.
The Crouch site (12 Jo 5) is located on a high ridge overlooking the valley of the west fork of the White River. Located 3.5 km from the main channel, this site is different from both 12 Mg 1 and 12 Jo 289 in terms of its situation and the cultural material recovered. A Late Prehistoric site of undecided affiliation, the Crouch site is the only one of the three sites that would not be considered an Oliver Phase village. Bone preservation here seemed variable by feature and depth. The majority of bone came from the upper levels of a few features and exhibited weathering similar to 12 Jo 289. It is difficult to determine if the scarcity of bone in other features and levels is due to poor preservation or to its original absence.