260 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[Bull. 182 



Cross sectioning these two pits we found that the deeper pit was the 

 earlier. It was encroached upon by a shallower midden pit, which 

 in turn was encroached upon by the later burial (fig. 51). 



With our extensive investigation of this site we found no evidence 

 of any habitations. We found no post molds even though the cultural 

 deposit rested directly upon a nearly flat bed of red clay. We can 

 only postulate that the shelters must have been rather flimsy struc- 

 tures not to have left any impression either in the midden-covered 

 zone or in the underlying red clay. 



We managed to locate a number of burned areas within the midden 

 deposit which we called hearths. There was no evidence that there 

 were any prepared floors surrounding such areas. Some of the hearths 

 contained fire-broken stones mixed with ashes. Other similarly broken 

 stones were found scattered throughout the midden. 



Animal remams were scarce, and bone artifacts were just non- 

 existent. Wliile we found various types of awls, beamers, and bodkins 

 in the other sites, this one did not yield a single bone tool. From 

 this fact we might conclude that these people were primarily food 

 gatherers living off the natural fruits, seeds, and tubers the vicinity 

 would yield. 



POTTERY 



The site showed no actual stratigraphy. First, we removed the 

 cultural layer in 3-inch levels and later changed this to 6 inches, think- 

 ing that we might work out possible seriational studies which would 

 indicate any cultural change that had taken place at this site. 



Of the 3,871 sherds recovered by our efforts, we were able to separate 

 the lot into seven different wares, depending upon their exterior sur- 

 face treatment. All of the sherds were sand tempered. The quantity 

 varied somewhat which gave us a clue as to time placement, but this 

 was not absolute, since we had to take into account certain individual 

 likes and dislikes of the potters. OUa forms predominated while the 

 wide-mouthed, parallel-sided, conoidal-based bowls, both typical of 

 the Eastern Woodland culture, were present. 



Table 14 indicates both the numerical count and the percentages of 

 each type present. 



Table 14. — Numerical and percentile count of the various wares recovered from 

 Chrassy Creek Site, f/.iMc53 



