SUGAR CREEK SITE (12 Jo 289)
A total of 1,381 specimens weighing 1,962.5 grams were recovered from 12 Jo 289, a comparable number and weight to the material from 12 Jo 5. Like 12 Mg 1 and unlike 12 Jo 5, 12 Jo 289 is close to a permanent watercourse, albeit a slightly smaller one. Thus the topographic and environmental setting, as well as the cultural affiliation, is similar at 12 Jo 289 and 12 Mg 1. The summary data for the site is presented in Table 4, "Faunal Remains from 12 Jo 289," listing material divided by major taxonomic groups.
GO TO: [Summary]
Vertebrates. 44 specimens were only identifiable as vertebrates. Again, this is an indication of slightly more surface weathering of bone than seen at 12 Mg 1.
Mammals. Unidentified mammal bone comprised the majority of the assemblage, based on NISP. Again, these categories are mostly contain long bone shaft fragments with some epiphyseal ends that were too fragmentary to be identified to element or species. 794 specimens were unidentified mammal; the majority of these (585) fell into the large mammal category, which is most likely deer. Deer were the most common species, with 479 identifiable specimens. Assuming that separate features do not contain portions of the same animal, there is an MNI of twelve deer for the site as a whole.
A cannon bone (fused third and fourth metacarpal) is from the base of the plowzone. This specimen is indeterminate Bos or Bison, since it is metrically in the zone of overlap between these two species. Morphologically, I found this specimen to exhibit stronger similarities to bison than to cattle, based on specimens available to me. Anyone particularly interested in the occurrence of bison in the late prehistoric period would certainly want to examine this specimen again and perhaps submit it for genetic testing.
One specimen of worked bone was an awl, fabricated from the ulna of a coyote (Canis latrans). This is the only specimen of coyote from any of the three sites excavated this summer, and its presence in the form of worked bone, rather than food refuse, suggests it was not a species that made a regular contribution to the human diet.
Most of the remaining species occur in fairly small numbers: elk, black bear, beaver, raccoon, fox squirrel, and chipmunk (possibly intrusive). Of particular interest among the mammals with minor representation, or assumed minor importance as food items, are the remains of moles (Scalopus aquaticus). Often assumed to be intrusive when discovered in prehistoric contexts, one of the two specimens recovered from 12 Jo 289 was charred, thus indicating both its prehistoric presence and its possible use as a food item.
Birds. Ten specimens were unidentified medium/large bird long bone shaft fragments (probably turkey). Fourteen specimens were identifiable as turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), and one specimen exhibited a strong resemblance to the single comparative specimen of crane (Ardea sp.) cover a fair number of species: Turtles (Emydidae), water turtles (Chrysemys sensu lato), frog (Rana sp.), box turtle (Terrapene sp.), slider (Trachemys scripta), and softshell turtle (Trionyx sp.).
Although 12 Jo 289 produced the smallest bone quantity of the three sites, the diversity of aquatic resources was quite high. The reduction in fish compared to 12 Mg 1 is probably due to differences in preservation. The presence of aquatic mammals such as beaver, as well as the abundance of reptile and amphibian remains, indicates food procurement strategies similar to those of 12 Mg 1. The only major difference was the heavy reliance on mussels at 12 Mg 1 and their conspicuous absence at 12 Jo 289.
In addition to both shed and nonshed antler from 12 Jo 289, which indicates occupation during the fall/winter season, there are also nonwinter indicators. Frog remains (Rana sp.) and box turtle (Terrapene sp.) are usually associated with fairly warm weather occupation. There is no faunal material suggesting that 12 Jo 289 was unoccupied during any particular season, although there are really no good faunal indicators of spring and early summer occupation other than mandibular ages. In this study, the only sample which had enough ageable mandibles was 12 Mg 1.