webb] ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NORRIS BASIN 3 



of the Powell Kiver. When finished, it will be about 265 feet high. 

 The top of the dam will be 1,060 feet above sea level ; and, by im- 

 pounding the water of Clinch Kiver and its tributaries, it will create 

 Norris Lake, raising the water level to the 1,020-foot contour. This 

 impoundment will flood Clinch River for some 72 miles, Powell 

 River for 56 miles, as well as many other lesser streams, such as Big 

 Creek and Cove Creek. Norris Lake will have an area of about 53 

 square miles, and a shore line some 705 miles in length. The area 

 thus flooded, under the 1,020-foot contour, following the Clinch 

 River and its tributaries, constitutes the Norris Basin. This basin 

 lies in Anderson, Campbell, Union, and Claiborne Counties, Tenn. 

 Its exact location in the Tennessee Valley is shown on map 1, a 

 map of the drainage area of the Tennessee River. The extent and 

 conformation of Norris Basin are shown on map 2. 



Survey of Norris Basin 



The archaeological survey of this basin had for its major ob- 

 jectives : 



1. The discovery of all prehistoric sites within the basin. 



2. The excavation of all of the important sites found. 



3. The recovery and preservation of all information and material 

 of archaeological value. 



The first of these objectives implied that a thorough search be 

 made of the entire area from the 1,020-foot contour down to the 

 present edge of the river, locating every evidence of prehistoric 

 occupation. Such sites, when located, were to be plotted on a map 

 of the basin. The second and third of these objectives made neces- 

 sary the excavation of key sites, using such techniques as would 

 conserve a maximum of the remaining evidences of the cultures of 

 the prehistoric inhabitants. Besides conserving the material remains 

 of the prehistoric peoples, it was necessary, in addition, to make use 

 of all other available means in order that such information as could 

 not be preserved in material form might not be lost. To that end 

 a survey of each site was made as excavation proceeded. A system 

 of field notes, covering all phases of the excavation, was carefully 

 kept. These field notes were supplemented by many drawings made 

 in the field. By a diligent use of photography, an attempt was made 

 to produce a complete, accurate, and permanent record of every 

 feature as it was discovered. 



The Physiography of the Norris Basin 



The great valley of East Tennessee lies in the physiographic divi- 

 sion of North America known as the Appalachian Province. The 



