I have a broad range of archaeological experience in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the University of Toledo, Ohio, and a Ph.D. from the University at Albany, SUNY. Over my 40 year academic and professional career, I've directed more than 250 projects involving Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 archaeological investigations for bridge replacements, housing developments, water and sewer projects, solar fields, and mines. I have also authored more than 60 conference papers, 30 professional articles, and a monograph. I am an active member of twelve professional organizations, including the New York Archaeological Council. My academic specialties and interests include precontact ceramics, Northeast and Great Lakes prehistory and ethnohistory, the St. Lawrence Iroquoians, military sites and political economy.
Since 2016, Bayesian modeling of high-precision AMS dates has increasingly altered and corrected ... more Since 2016, Bayesian modeling of high-precision AMS dates has increasingly altered and corrected the Iroquoian chronology of northern New York. Since our synthesis of those models in 2019, I've been able to model seven more dates, some from previously modelled sites and others from a site not previously assayed. Now modelling 50 dates using the new IntCal20 calibration, the data do not significantly alter the 2019 conclusion that the Iroquoian occupation of northern New York dates between c. 1450 and 1520 (68% confidence) or 1430 to 1540 (95% confidence). The new models do, however, add increasing support for a revision of the village site sequences. The implications of these data are discussed.
This paper, written for a publication in 2015 that was never published, summarizes the state of o... more This paper, written for a publication in 2015 that was never published, summarizes the state of our knowledge concerning the Iroquoian occupation of northern New York. Long a curiosity, these sites have at times been considered as part of the Onondaga-Oneida development, as aligned with the St. Lawrence Iroquoians, and more recently, as an independent entity with multiple origins and a unique culture history. Current research continues to add knowledge to that culture history, as well as to questions of settlement and subsistence, political relationships and trade. Their fate during the St. Lawrence valley diaspora of the 16th century is a topic of continuing research. At present, it appears that population pressure and hostility set events in motion during the 15th century to cause population movements out of northern New York. Rather than having a common fate, populations in northern New York appear to have gone in multiple directions to join neighboring Iroquoian groups.
Recent Bayesian modeling of new high-precision AMS dates has caused a revision of the Iroquoian c... more Recent Bayesian modeling of new high-precision AMS dates has caused a revision of the Iroquoian chronology of northern New York. The Iroquoian occupation is now estimated to date between AD 1425-1520, with no good evidence for developmental precursors in the region. The more than 50 village components in the region must now fit into almost half the temporal span as previously believed. All the settlement clusters now seem to have been contemporary and dual village settlement for some of the clusters now seems likely. For the ceramic seriation to remain true, one of the cluster sequences must be chronologically reversed, having significant implications for its culture history. Finally, while their dispersal from northern New York remains complex, it must be rethought considering the new chronology.
The Bulletin (Journal of the New York State Archaeological Association)
In his unpublished notes referred to collectively as Antiquities of Onondaga, William Beauchamp d... more In his unpublished notes referred to collectively as Antiquities of Onondaga, William Beauchamp describes four copper beads derived from two Iroquoian sites in northern New York. Of some of the beads, he comments that they are "definitiely Europoean", while others he is less certain. While we have no further provenience information except that they were excavated by local avocationals, their validation would be the first good evidence of European trade goods in northern New York. Locating the beads in the New York State Museum collections, however, XRF and microscopic analysis confirms that they are of native copper origin. It remains the case that there is no verifiable evidence of European trade goods among the precontact Iroquoian people of northern New York.
Twenty-eight new high-precision AMS radiocarbon dates have been obtained for thirteen late pre-co... more Twenty-eight new high-precision AMS radiocarbon dates have been obtained for thirteen late pre-contact Iroquoian sites in northern New York state. The new dates have altered our understanding of site chronology and the pace of cultural change in this region. Using Bayesian modelling, we can now confirm the temporal placement of this cultural manifestation between A.D. 1440-1520. Refined chronologies within individual village clusters have generally confirmed site sequences derived from ceramic seriation, but many anomalous sequences have also been found that question the reliance on these now outdated models. It is also now clear that all the village clusters are contemporary, and that the northern New York Iroquoians are not indigenous to the region. In fact, they very likely have more than one origin, in addition to a complex dispersal.
The results of Bayesian analysis using 43 new high-precision AMS radiocarbon dates on maize, faun... more The results of Bayesian analysis using 43 new high-precision AMS radiocarbon dates on maize, faunal remains, and ceramic residues from 18 precontact Iroquoian village sites in Northern New York are presented. Once thought to span AD 1350-1500, the period of occupation suggested by the modeling is approximately AD 1450-1510. This late placement now makes clear that Iroquoians arrived in the region approximately 100 years later than previously thought. This result halves the time in which population growth and significant changes in settlement occurred. The new chronology allows us to better match these events within a broader Northeast temporal framework.
The research presented here evaluates the applicability of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (... more The research presented here evaluates the applicability of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) for characterizing steatite. We present compositional data from an assemblage of 100 steatite beads and pipes deriving from 11 Northern Iroquoian sites in southern Ontario and New York State. Percentages of major elemental constituents and principal components analysis define two compositional groups and various non-steatite artifacts. Our results suggest that EDXRF is an expedient means of characterizing steatite based on major oxides and trace elements. The results support the assertion that individual Iroquoian communities were involved in distinct interaction networks that linked groups in southern Ontario and the St. Lawrence Valley region.
Isotopic analysis of dog (Canis lupus familiaris) bone recovered from archaeological sites as pro... more Isotopic analysis of dog (Canis lupus familiaris) bone recovered from archaeological sites as proxies for human bone is becoming common in North America. Chronological placement of the dogs is often determined through radiocarbon dating of dog bone. The Great Lakes, their tributaries, and nearby lakes and streams were important fisheries for Native Americans prior to and after sustained European presence in the region. Carbon entering the food web in freshwater systems is often not in full isotopic equilibrium with the atmosphere, giving rise to spuriously old radiocarbon ages in fish, other aquatic organisms, and their consumers. These freshwater reservoir offsets (FROs) have been noted on human and dog bone in several areas of the world. Here we report the results of multi-tracer Bayesian dietary modeling using δ 15 N and δ 13 C values on dog bone collagen from mid-fifteenth to mid-sixteenth-century Iroquoian village sites at the headwaters of the St. Lawrence River, New York, USA. Results indicate that fish was an important component of dog diets. A comparison of radiocarbon dates on dog bone with dates on deer bone or maize from the same sites indicate FROs ranging from 97 ± 24 to 220 ± 39 14 Cyr with a weighted mean of 132 ± 8 14 Cyr. These results suggest that dog bone should not be used for radiocarbon dating in the absence of modeling to determine fish consumption and that previously reported radiocarbon dates on human bone from the larger region are likely to have FROs given the known importance of fish in regional human diets.
In the late prehistoric period, the St. Lawrence Valley was home to several distinct yet related ... more In the late prehistoric period, the St. Lawrence Valley was home to several distinct yet related village clusters occupied by Iroquoian cultures. Among them were villages in what is now northern New York. Like so many of these settlements, most were plowed down, looted and destroyed by development with little documentation. Collections reside in various museums across the eastern US. Brief researches by the New York State Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Heye Foundation and SUNY Buffalo resulted in some knowledge gained about these enigmatic occupations. Since 1994, I have been conducting my own research on two villages in this area. Research at the St. Lawrence site resulted in my doctoral dissertation and remains ongoing. Research at the Sanford Corners site began in 2014, and is ongoing. This brief article summarizes that research to date.
Between ca. A.D. 1350-1550, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties in New York State were home to no... more Between ca. A.D. 1350-1550, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties in New York State were home to no less than three communities of people who produced an Iroquoian material culture. Reconnaissance survey since the mid-nineteenth century has resulted in the documentation of over 60 Iroquoian components in this region. Despite this dense concentration of sites, little archaeology has been done to illuminate the relationship of this manifestation with greater Saint Lawrence Iroquoia. Two facts are known: this group arrived in the area around 1350, and disappeared by 1550. With these two facts, and some more or less reliable comparative techniques, several have postulated on the relationships and fate of these Saint Lawrence Iroquoians. This study brings further comparison of ceramic attribute affinities to bear on the question of their fate at the end of the prehistoric period.
Royalties from each jSTOR download help the Eastern States Archaeological Federation.
This paper is a summary of investigations at the site of Col. Zebulon Pike's 1812-1813 winter cam... more This paper is a summary of investigations at the site of Col. Zebulon Pike's 1812-1813 winter camp "Cantonment Saranac," located in Plattsburgh, NY. The site, which had become lost to history, was rediscovered through a combination of systematic shovel testing and metal detector survey. Excavations from 2012-2013 uncovered what is believed to be an officer's cabin, one of several preserved at the site. The investigations provide the first archaeological glimpse into what life was like in the early days of the War of 1812.
This is a c. 1997 version of our collected radiocarbon database, widely cited as
Stothers, Da... more This is a c. 1997 version of our collected radiocarbon database, widely cited as
Stothers, David M., Timothy J. Abel and James R. Graves
1997 Radiocarbon Dates from Archaeological Sites in the Western Lower Great Lakes Region and Beyond. In UTLA Manuscripts 1972-2000. The Western Lake Erie Archaeological Research Program, The University of Toledo.
Uploaded without edit, and referencing Phase associations as they existed at the time. The corrections are done with CALIB 3.0 and have not been updated. Fractionations and corrected dates are listed, and so are some proveniences and dated materials. I believe these are all conventional dates, though there may be more recent AMS dates from Ontario in the database. Unfortunately the Excel DB disappeared long ago. Credit to Anne-Marie Card for scanning the manuscript.
Since 2016, Bayesian modeling of high-precision AMS dates has increasingly altered and corrected ... more Since 2016, Bayesian modeling of high-precision AMS dates has increasingly altered and corrected the Iroquoian chronology of northern New York. Since our synthesis of those models in 2019, I've been able to model seven more dates, some from previously modelled sites and others from a site not previously assayed. Now modelling 50 dates using the new IntCal20 calibration, the data do not significantly alter the 2019 conclusion that the Iroquoian occupation of northern New York dates between c. 1450 and 1520 (68% confidence) or 1430 to 1540 (95% confidence). The new models do, however, add increasing support for a revision of the village site sequences. The implications of these data are discussed.
This paper, written for a publication in 2015 that was never published, summarizes the state of o... more This paper, written for a publication in 2015 that was never published, summarizes the state of our knowledge concerning the Iroquoian occupation of northern New York. Long a curiosity, these sites have at times been considered as part of the Onondaga-Oneida development, as aligned with the St. Lawrence Iroquoians, and more recently, as an independent entity with multiple origins and a unique culture history. Current research continues to add knowledge to that culture history, as well as to questions of settlement and subsistence, political relationships and trade. Their fate during the St. Lawrence valley diaspora of the 16th century is a topic of continuing research. At present, it appears that population pressure and hostility set events in motion during the 15th century to cause population movements out of northern New York. Rather than having a common fate, populations in northern New York appear to have gone in multiple directions to join neighboring Iroquoian groups.
Recent Bayesian modeling of new high-precision AMS dates has caused a revision of the Iroquoian c... more Recent Bayesian modeling of new high-precision AMS dates has caused a revision of the Iroquoian chronology of northern New York. The Iroquoian occupation is now estimated to date between AD 1425-1520, with no good evidence for developmental precursors in the region. The more than 50 village components in the region must now fit into almost half the temporal span as previously believed. All the settlement clusters now seem to have been contemporary and dual village settlement for some of the clusters now seems likely. For the ceramic seriation to remain true, one of the cluster sequences must be chronologically reversed, having significant implications for its culture history. Finally, while their dispersal from northern New York remains complex, it must be rethought considering the new chronology.
The Bulletin (Journal of the New York State Archaeological Association)
In his unpublished notes referred to collectively as Antiquities of Onondaga, William Beauchamp d... more In his unpublished notes referred to collectively as Antiquities of Onondaga, William Beauchamp describes four copper beads derived from two Iroquoian sites in northern New York. Of some of the beads, he comments that they are "definitiely Europoean", while others he is less certain. While we have no further provenience information except that they were excavated by local avocationals, their validation would be the first good evidence of European trade goods in northern New York. Locating the beads in the New York State Museum collections, however, XRF and microscopic analysis confirms that they are of native copper origin. It remains the case that there is no verifiable evidence of European trade goods among the precontact Iroquoian people of northern New York.
Twenty-eight new high-precision AMS radiocarbon dates have been obtained for thirteen late pre-co... more Twenty-eight new high-precision AMS radiocarbon dates have been obtained for thirteen late pre-contact Iroquoian sites in northern New York state. The new dates have altered our understanding of site chronology and the pace of cultural change in this region. Using Bayesian modelling, we can now confirm the temporal placement of this cultural manifestation between A.D. 1440-1520. Refined chronologies within individual village clusters have generally confirmed site sequences derived from ceramic seriation, but many anomalous sequences have also been found that question the reliance on these now outdated models. It is also now clear that all the village clusters are contemporary, and that the northern New York Iroquoians are not indigenous to the region. In fact, they very likely have more than one origin, in addition to a complex dispersal.
The results of Bayesian analysis using 43 new high-precision AMS radiocarbon dates on maize, faun... more The results of Bayesian analysis using 43 new high-precision AMS radiocarbon dates on maize, faunal remains, and ceramic residues from 18 precontact Iroquoian village sites in Northern New York are presented. Once thought to span AD 1350-1500, the period of occupation suggested by the modeling is approximately AD 1450-1510. This late placement now makes clear that Iroquoians arrived in the region approximately 100 years later than previously thought. This result halves the time in which population growth and significant changes in settlement occurred. The new chronology allows us to better match these events within a broader Northeast temporal framework.
The research presented here evaluates the applicability of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (... more The research presented here evaluates the applicability of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) for characterizing steatite. We present compositional data from an assemblage of 100 steatite beads and pipes deriving from 11 Northern Iroquoian sites in southern Ontario and New York State. Percentages of major elemental constituents and principal components analysis define two compositional groups and various non-steatite artifacts. Our results suggest that EDXRF is an expedient means of characterizing steatite based on major oxides and trace elements. The results support the assertion that individual Iroquoian communities were involved in distinct interaction networks that linked groups in southern Ontario and the St. Lawrence Valley region.
Isotopic analysis of dog (Canis lupus familiaris) bone recovered from archaeological sites as pro... more Isotopic analysis of dog (Canis lupus familiaris) bone recovered from archaeological sites as proxies for human bone is becoming common in North America. Chronological placement of the dogs is often determined through radiocarbon dating of dog bone. The Great Lakes, their tributaries, and nearby lakes and streams were important fisheries for Native Americans prior to and after sustained European presence in the region. Carbon entering the food web in freshwater systems is often not in full isotopic equilibrium with the atmosphere, giving rise to spuriously old radiocarbon ages in fish, other aquatic organisms, and their consumers. These freshwater reservoir offsets (FROs) have been noted on human and dog bone in several areas of the world. Here we report the results of multi-tracer Bayesian dietary modeling using δ 15 N and δ 13 C values on dog bone collagen from mid-fifteenth to mid-sixteenth-century Iroquoian village sites at the headwaters of the St. Lawrence River, New York, USA. Results indicate that fish was an important component of dog diets. A comparison of radiocarbon dates on dog bone with dates on deer bone or maize from the same sites indicate FROs ranging from 97 ± 24 to 220 ± 39 14 Cyr with a weighted mean of 132 ± 8 14 Cyr. These results suggest that dog bone should not be used for radiocarbon dating in the absence of modeling to determine fish consumption and that previously reported radiocarbon dates on human bone from the larger region are likely to have FROs given the known importance of fish in regional human diets.
In the late prehistoric period, the St. Lawrence Valley was home to several distinct yet related ... more In the late prehistoric period, the St. Lawrence Valley was home to several distinct yet related village clusters occupied by Iroquoian cultures. Among them were villages in what is now northern New York. Like so many of these settlements, most were plowed down, looted and destroyed by development with little documentation. Collections reside in various museums across the eastern US. Brief researches by the New York State Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Heye Foundation and SUNY Buffalo resulted in some knowledge gained about these enigmatic occupations. Since 1994, I have been conducting my own research on two villages in this area. Research at the St. Lawrence site resulted in my doctoral dissertation and remains ongoing. Research at the Sanford Corners site began in 2014, and is ongoing. This brief article summarizes that research to date.
Between ca. A.D. 1350-1550, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties in New York State were home to no... more Between ca. A.D. 1350-1550, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties in New York State were home to no less than three communities of people who produced an Iroquoian material culture. Reconnaissance survey since the mid-nineteenth century has resulted in the documentation of over 60 Iroquoian components in this region. Despite this dense concentration of sites, little archaeology has been done to illuminate the relationship of this manifestation with greater Saint Lawrence Iroquoia. Two facts are known: this group arrived in the area around 1350, and disappeared by 1550. With these two facts, and some more or less reliable comparative techniques, several have postulated on the relationships and fate of these Saint Lawrence Iroquoians. This study brings further comparison of ceramic attribute affinities to bear on the question of their fate at the end of the prehistoric period.
Royalties from each jSTOR download help the Eastern States Archaeological Federation.
This paper is a summary of investigations at the site of Col. Zebulon Pike's 1812-1813 winter cam... more This paper is a summary of investigations at the site of Col. Zebulon Pike's 1812-1813 winter camp "Cantonment Saranac," located in Plattsburgh, NY. The site, which had become lost to history, was rediscovered through a combination of systematic shovel testing and metal detector survey. Excavations from 2012-2013 uncovered what is believed to be an officer's cabin, one of several preserved at the site. The investigations provide the first archaeological glimpse into what life was like in the early days of the War of 1812.
This is a c. 1997 version of our collected radiocarbon database, widely cited as
Stothers, Da... more This is a c. 1997 version of our collected radiocarbon database, widely cited as
Stothers, David M., Timothy J. Abel and James R. Graves
1997 Radiocarbon Dates from Archaeological Sites in the Western Lower Great Lakes Region and Beyond. In UTLA Manuscripts 1972-2000. The Western Lake Erie Archaeological Research Program, The University of Toledo.
Uploaded without edit, and referencing Phase associations as they existed at the time. The corrections are done with CALIB 3.0 and have not been updated. Fractionations and corrected dates are listed, and so are some proveniences and dated materials. I believe these are all conventional dates, though there may be more recent AMS dates from Ontario in the database. Unfortunately the Excel DB disappeared long ago. Credit to Anne-Marie Card for scanning the manuscript.
The Bear Fort site (33SA8) is located in northcentral Ohio on a blufftop overlooking the Sandusky... more The Bear Fort site (33SA8) is located in northcentral Ohio on a blufftop overlooking the Sandusky River. The site consists of prehistoric through protohistoric Sandusky tradition components that support the established radiocarbon-dated ceramic sequence and represents four of the five phases of the Late Woodland period. The cultural assemblages document the Eiden, transitional Eiden/Wolf Fort Meigs and early Indian Hills phase occupations of the Sandusky tradition. The Sandusky tradition cultural manifestation is equated with the ethnohistorically documented central Algonquian Totontaratonhronon, one of five groups perhaps comprising a "Fire Nation"/Assistaeronon confederacy.
Royalties from each jSTOR download help the Eastern States Archaeological Federation.
The local interpretation of research by geologists into the history of Lake Erie has added a new ... more The local interpretation of research by geologists into the history of Lake Erie has added a new dimension to the study of human prehistory in the lands surrounding the present lake basin. In this paper, we synthesize the post-glacial history of Lake Erie as currently understood. We then explore the implications of this information for the prehistory and archaeology of the southwestern Lake Erie shoreline and its environs. Particular attention is given to the cultural and geographic history of the areas surrounding Maumee and Sandusky Bays, in northwestern Ohio, where information is being lost to erosion and development at an alarming rate.
Royalties from each jSTOR download help the Eastern States Archaeological Federation.
Through two decades of research and documentation within the southwestern Lake Erie drainage regi... more Through two decades of research and documentation within the southwestern Lake Erie drainage region, a continuously growing body of data has led to an emerging processual synthesis of chronology, cultural assemblages, settlement-subsistence systems, mortuary systems, and trade and exchange systems through most of prehistoric time. This paper devotes itself to the documentation of the cultural history from 3000 B.C. to 1 A.D. in this region. Set within a framework of successive Late Archaic, Transitional, and Early Woodland time periods, in situ continuity is believed to be demonstrated between these time periods by a continuous tradition of settlement-subsistence systems, mortuary systems, and trade and exchange systems, as well as artifact assemblages and an unbroken radiocarbon chronology. In particular, this paper focuses upon a number of issues critical to the further understanding of developments which took place during this period of prehistory. The most perplexing of these issues include the temporal modeling of the inception and spread of early ceramics, and the emergence and function of mortuary ceremonialism and extensive trade and exchange networks. These phenomena characterize the Late Archaic to Early Woodland transition. The implications for current and future research on this and other periods of prehistory are also explored.
Royalties from each jSTOR download help the Eastern States Archaeological Federation.
The Pearson Complex (33SA9), located northeast of Fremont, in north-central Ohio, is the the site... more The Pearson Complex (33SA9), located northeast of Fremont, in north-central Ohio, is the the site of three sequential habitation sites, respectively belonging to the Eiden (ca. 1000-1200 A. D.), Wolf (ca. 1200-1400 A. D.), and Fort Meigs (ca. 1400-1550 A. D.) phases of the Sandusky Tradition, the prehistoric ancestors of the historically known Assistaeronon/Totontaratonhronon. Recent analysis of the cultural materials from each of these three components has provided a temporal placement for Pearson North (ca. 1100-1200 A. D.), Pearson South (ca. 1300-1350 A. D.), and Pearson Middle (ca. 1525-1550 A. D.). Two cemetery areas located on the Pearson Complex site have also provided valuable biocultural data. Analysis of the position of the Pearson Complex in the late prehistory of northwestern Ohio and southeastern Michigan has suggested that one community group occupied these components through time, moving between two principal settlement areas. Comparison of the Pearson Complex with other Sandusky Tradition sites has also suggested a settlement-subsistence pattern characterized in early phases by base camp occupation and winter dispersal to small extractive camps. Later phase settlement-subsistence patterns are characterized by ever consolidating semi-permanent villages. Village sequencing, relocation, and territorial shifting through time suggests a westward movement/migration of Sandusky Tradition populations, culminating in a single, large, protohistoric chiefdomship town located at the western end of Lake Erie.
Royalties from each jSTOR download help the Eastern States Archaeological Federation.
As early as 1603, Champlain's diaries document that Native American Lower Ottawa River Algonquian... more As early as 1603, Champlain's diaries document that Native American Lower Ottawa River Algonquian (Onontchataronon?) informants outlined to him, in considerable detail, their knowledge of and familiarity with the western Lower Great Lakes. Again in 1626, it is documented that Petite Nation Algonquians from the Ottawa River Valley traveled west of Niagara Falls into Neutral Territory, located north of eastern Lake Erie, in order to hunt beaver. Three protohistoric "Fire Nation" (Assistaeronon/Totontaratonhronon) sites, located in the southwestern Lake Erie littoral region, have disclosed evidence of early historic European trade connections.This early historic documentation, in conjunction with independent late temporal placement of these archeological components, suggests that early historic European-derived trade items may have been obtained indirectly by the Neutral Iroquois and the Assistaeronon/Totontaratonhronon from Algonquian ethnic groups who occupied the middle St. Lawrence River Valley. Historic documentation further suggests that this aboriginal trade may have been well-established along a hitherto undocumented route in 1603, and was probably derived from late prehistoric trade connections.
Royalties from each jSTOR download help the Eastern States Archaeological Federation.
This paper presents the results of an experimental study into the usefulness of X-ray florescence... more This paper presents the results of an experimental study into the usefulness of X-ray florescence (XRF) in identifying the composition of metal artifacts found at aboriginal sites in northwestern Ohio. In the late 1990s, we subjected 96 samples to XRF and documented our results. We then compared our data to that collected by more precise spectrographic methods to assess the effectiveness of the XRF method for this application. While not precise enough to source native coppers, we conclude that XRF is a cheap, nondestructive method for differentiating native copper from its European counterparts at sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Late Woodland sites.
This article is an update to an article published under the same title by the senior author, in M... more This article is an update to an article published under the same title by the senior author, in Man in the Northeast (1982). It is an attempt to resynthesize, reintegrate, and interpret new data and theoretical concepts pertaining to the first 8,000 years of human occupation in the western Lake Erie drainage basin. While the nature of the database has changed little, these new interpretations are derived from a much greater database than what existed in 1982, as well as new regional overview interpretations which have appeared in the literature of the past ten years. A new interpretation of the Western Lake Erie Basin Early Archaic sequence is also proposed, which abandons the traditional tri-partite taxonomy in favor of a bi-partite taxonomy. It is proposed that this interpretation better fits the archaeological phenomena as observed during the first 5,000 years of the Archaic sequence in this region of the Northeast.
Between 1997 and 1998, the Public Archaeology Facility, at Binghamton University, was contracted ... more Between 1997 and 1998, the Public Archaeology Facility, at Binghamton University, was contracted by the New York State Education Department on behalf of the Department of Transportation to conduct investigations of the Plus site (SUBi-1736; NYSM #10494), located in the Town of Dryden, Tompkins County, New York. The site occupies an inland setting in the Virgil/Fall Creek watershed, lying on a glacial gravel hill adjacent to Willow Glen Cemetery along NY Route 13. Site examination and data recovery excavations in threatened areas of the site revealed a cluster of Late Woodland cultural features including hearths, a storage/refuse pit, and postmolds. The artifactual materials from these cultural features suggest the Plus site functioned as an Iroquois remote camp occupied during the late 14th century. The Plus site represents the first Iroquois remote campsite in central New York to receive intensive subsurface investigation.
The research presented here evaluates the applicability of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (... more The research presented here evaluates the applicability of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) for characterizing steatite. We present compositional data from an assemblage of 100 steatite beads and pipes deriving from 11 Northern Iroquoian sites in southern Ontario and New York State. Percentages of major elemental constituents and principal components analysis define two compositional groups and various non-steatite artifacts. Our results suggest that EDXRF is an expedient means of characterizing steatite based on major oxides and trace elements. The results support the assertion that individual Iroquoian communities were involved in distinct interaction networks that linked groups in southern Ontario and the St. Lawrence Valley region. By Travis Jones et al. JAS 2018
For nearly a century, the upstate region has been an orphan of archaeological research in New Yor... more For nearly a century, the upstate region has been an orphan of archaeological research in New York state. Since the beginning, professional interest in the prehistory of the region has been sporadic, and largely confined to the research of single time periods. At times, cultural complexes of the region have been characterized by the appellation of phases from central New York; at other times phases have been extended from across the St. Lawrence River in Ontario. At this point in time, there is no chronology for the region that is independent of models developed for neighboring regions. This paper will discuss a brief history of research in the upstate region. It is the opinion of the authors that future research here would best be served by developing an independent chronology that conceptually divorces the region from these neighboring frameworks.
Royalties from each jSTOR download help the Eastern States Archaeological Federation.
Timothy J. Abel, PhD was hired by the landowner to conduct a Phase 1 archaeological survey of the... more Timothy J. Abel, PhD was hired by the landowner to conduct a Phase 1 archaeological survey of the approximately 1.8 ac property pursuant to a permit application to the Adirondack Park Authority. The survey included standard background and literature research in addition to systematic shovel testing and a random metal detector sweep on roughly 15 m interval transects. No artifacts older than 50 years were found.
Timothy J. Abel, PhD conducted supplemental Phase 1b metal detection survey of proposed developme... more Timothy J. Abel, PhD conducted supplemental Phase 1b metal detection survey of proposed development in the the Village of Clayton, NY. Based on archival research, the development area is within the battlespace of the Battle of French Creek Bay, Nov. 1-2, 1813. Survey at 15, 10 and 5 meter interval encountered dozens of hist, most of which were modern trash and 19th century farm-related. Four artifacts, including a 32-pdr iron solid shot were recovered that may relate to the battle.
Timothy J. Abel, PhD was hired by the landowner to conduct a Phase 1 archaeological survey of the... more Timothy J. Abel, PhD was hired by the landowner to conduct a Phase 1 archaeological survey of their ~3 ac lot within the Fort Crown Point National Register Historic District. A walkover survey identified a likely cellar hole within the project area which background investigation identified as the former Sherwood/Murdock farmstead, established around the turn of the 19th century. Shovel testing at 15 and 7.5 m interval produced an assemblage of early 19th through 20th century residential artifacts. Metal detecting produced farm and residential hardware likely associated with the farmstead, but no earlier evidence for 18th century military activity.
Timothy J. Abel, PhD was hired by the landowner to complete a Phase 1 archaeological survey of ro... more Timothy J. Abel, PhD was hired by the landowner to complete a Phase 1 archaeological survey of roughly 3 acres as requested by the Adirondack Park Agency. Shovel testing was conducted at 15 m interval throughout the APE. 100% metal detecting was also conducted in areas where conducive, resulting in about 70% coverage. Only a wrought nail and a .62 cal round ball were found. No further investigation was recommended.
A routine Phase 1 archaeological survey for a proposed dairy farm operation discovered the likely... more A routine Phase 1 archaeological survey for a proposed dairy farm operation discovered the likely location of a lost Iroquoian Village. The Fulton Site was first described by archaeologists more than 100 years ago, based on reports of finds by a local farmer. The location of the site was never clearly defined and mention of it was never made again. Shovel testing for the project recovered Iroquoian pottery that may just be related to the site.
An archaeological survey for a 10 ac two-lot subdivision in the Town of Shawangunk, Ulster County... more An archaeological survey for a 10 ac two-lot subdivision in the Town of Shawangunk, Ulster County, intersected with potential archaeological resources related to the Second Esopus War of 1663. Land including the project area is widely accepted as the location of the Munsee "New Fort" destroyed by the Dutch in 1663. 1972 archaeological excavations of the neighboring property, however, failed to recover any 17th century artifacts or features. Systematic shovel testing and metal detection of the area of potential effect for this project revealed a light density midden of farming and hunting-related artifacts along Old Fort Road and a modified farm lane, but no artifacts of potential association with 17th occupation were found. As part of the background research, however, LIDAR imagery picked up what appears to be a ditch enclosure west of the APE. With permission of the land owner, we spent a few hours there with metal detectors and located an array of typical modern and historic farm artifacts. Of special interest, however, we did locate a .62" lead round ball. This is the size of round that would have been used in 66 caliber side arms of the 17th century, and may be evidence that the fort is located here. Further investigation is certainly warranted.
In response to a request for supplemental Phase 1 archaeological survey of the Sewer District 4 p... more In response to a request for supplemental Phase 1 archaeological survey of the Sewer District 4 project in the Town of LeRay, fieldwork was undertaken on 10/30/13 to excavate an additional 66 shovel tests. The shovel tests were placed based on an agreement with interested Native American parties and excavated systematically with consent of the property owners where that consent could be obtained (refer to attachments for exact placements). We encountered historic debris in a number of the shovel tests, all of which was minimal and all of which was noted and discarded. Prehistoric artifacts were recovered from two contiguous shovel tests (L26 and 27) located at 24625 Sanford Corners Road. This location is within the historically-documented boundaries of the Sanford Corners aboriginal site (UB964) and not at all surprising. The artifacts, four pieces of pottery and one piece of worked LeRay chert, were found in mixed topsoil horizons much like the other materials found during the Phase 1 survey. They are further indication that a site does still exist within the area. The likelihood that this site contains features of archaeological significance remains high, though no such features were noted in the survey. Based on these findings, it is my recommendation that special care be taken when installing the sewer line within the Sanford Corners Site boundaries to limit excavation to only that required to install such lines.
Archaeological investigations of a private lot within the Sackets Harbor Battlefield National Reg... more Archaeological investigations of a private lot within the Sackets Harbor Battlefield National Register District. Background research suggests that the lot contained portions of Smith Cantonment, a square barrack structure built in the summer of 1814. Close-interval shovel testing revealed a broadly-distributed topsoil midden, but few 1812-era artifacts- mostly later 19th century debris from the extant historical residence. No features were detected. Metal detecting recovered several 1812-era and diagnostic artifacts. No further investigation was recommended based on the level of the current effort.
Monitoring and data recovery documented portions of a 14th century St. Lawrence Iroquoian village... more Monitoring and data recovery documented portions of a 14th century St. Lawrence Iroquoian village site thought long lost to residential and agricultural development.
Project area crossed the location of a War of 1812 skirmish and purported "Algonkian" village, ho... more Project area crossed the location of a War of 1812 skirmish and purported "Algonkian" village, however, the survey found evidence of neither within the project area.
Phase 1b/2 investigations pursuant to proposed water, sewer and streetscape construction. Three s... more Phase 1b/2 investigations pursuant to proposed water, sewer and streetscape construction. Three sites identified related to the War of 1812, Pre-railroad and possible commerce documented. All three recommended eligible for listing on the NR.
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Stothers, David M., Timothy J. Abel and James R. Graves
1997 Radiocarbon Dates from Archaeological Sites in the Western Lower Great Lakes Region and Beyond. In UTLA Manuscripts 1972-2000. The Western Lake Erie Archaeological Research Program, The University of Toledo.
Uploaded without edit, and referencing Phase associations as they existed at the time. The corrections are done with CALIB 3.0 and have not been updated. Fractionations and corrected dates are listed, and so are some proveniences and dated materials. I believe these are all conventional dates, though there may be more recent AMS dates from Ontario in the database. Unfortunately the Excel DB disappeared long ago. Credit to Anne-Marie Card for scanning the manuscript.
Royalties from each jSTOR download help the Eastern States Archaeological Federation.
Stothers, David M., Timothy J. Abel and James R. Graves
1997 Radiocarbon Dates from Archaeological Sites in the Western Lower Great Lakes Region and Beyond. In UTLA Manuscripts 1972-2000. The Western Lake Erie Archaeological Research Program, The University of Toledo.
Uploaded without edit, and referencing Phase associations as they existed at the time. The corrections are done with CALIB 3.0 and have not been updated. Fractionations and corrected dates are listed, and so are some proveniences and dated materials. I believe these are all conventional dates, though there may be more recent AMS dates from Ontario in the database. Unfortunately the Excel DB disappeared long ago. Credit to Anne-Marie Card for scanning the manuscript.
Royalties from each jSTOR download help the Eastern States Archaeological Federation.
Royalties from each jSTOR download help the Eastern States Archaeological Federation.
Royalties from each jSTOR download help the Eastern States Archaeological Federation.
Royalties from each jSTOR download help the Eastern States Archaeological Federation.
Royalties from each jSTOR download help the Eastern States Archaeological Federation.
Royalties from each jSTOR download help the Eastern States Archaeological Federation.