Accompanied by J. L. Henson and son, Charles, James Vorus, and John,
Jr., we moved to the part of the site that I rented for the summer, and
decided on a square on the highest part on this end of the site. We
established the square 15R8 and put up the shelter over the square to
protect us from the sun. We removed all potsherds from the plow zone to
DD 4.7, at DD 4.7. There appeared a black area in the NW ¼ of the
square. The NE ¼ had indications of burned clay. The black area
suggested a pit but there was no outline of one. At DD 5.0 the black
area was still there and contained above the normal amount of charcoal
but still no define outline of a pit. At DD 5.5 we outlined the black
area and sketched in the square form. At DD 6.0 the area did not exist.
The only difference in this area and the rest of the square was the dark
color; the contents or number of potsherds, and other evidences appeared
to be the same as the rest of the square. I could not positively say
that this area was a pit.
At DD 5.5 the soil changed to a lighter brown. There were tree root
impressions visible that were not visible in the above level. This
suggested another natural level. Also, there was little material to be
found. The few sherds were not in a midden. There was little other sign
of an occupation in this soil (the lighter brown soil).
This lighter brown soil was mottled in color, having light sandy streaks
and circles and at DD 7.2 there was yellow sand. In this mottled sandy
soil was a burial (25) under the R9 line and less than one foot north of
the 15 line, and there was no sign of the midden with this burial,
though there was a little darker appearance of the mottled soil. The
members of the party and all kept up with activities throughout the
whole square and it was plain to all that there seemed to be no
connection between this burial and the midden above. There was a
separation at the knees. Also, there appeared a sunken place in the
pelvic region which was reflected in the midden above. It would also
account for the separation between the bones at the knees. There was a
deformity of the right femur which should be explained at a later time
after examination by proper persons.
A different method of taking the soil profile was followed. This time I
used the transit at each running foot of the east wall to record the
lines inscribed in the wall.
According to the profiles of the four walls, they were nearly uniform in
depth, that is, no marked difference was present to warrant drawing all
four. The east wall was used because of the sunken area, on the R9 line.
During the afternoon we had a shower of rain though we worked on through
it.
We finished work at nightfall and then filled the square. It was nearly
9:00 P.M. when we finished. We arrived home after 11:00 P.M.
Highlights of the trip were when we found the burial which was quite a
bit of excitement for James Vorus; the boat ride to the car in the
darkness; and when we all got to the nearest store we each had three
king size cold drinks.
In regard to the sunken area in the square which has shown up in the
midden and in the burial in the subsoil, perhaps (this) has some
connection with the New Madrid earthquake. This site is in the Sunken
Lands. There was also the absence of the two strata profile in the
midden. Perhaps future work will reveal the reason for the change.