Akers Ferry 2005
Archeologists from the National Park Service’s
Midwest Archeological Center conducted shovel tests,
limited test excavations, and mapping of site 23SH23,
a National Register site, in the areas proposed for
construction of the visitors’ center, waste water
leach field and waster water drain line from April
12-19, 2005.
Shovel testing and test excavations revealed evidence
of deeply buried (minimum of 1 meter) cultural deposits,
possibly as early as Early Holocene in age. While the
majority of the material remains were confined to the
upper 70 cm of the profile, debitage, fired rock, and
a biface were recovered from below 70 cm. Over 1100
artifacts were recovered from the test excavations.
These include debitage, fired rock, cores, bifaces,
retouched flakes, a hammerstone, and projectile points.
The projectile points recovered are late Holocene in
age and probably represent Emergent Mississippian occupation.
Four lithic artifacts, and associated sediments, were
submitted for blood residue analysis. The analysis
produced positive reaction on one late Holocene projectile
point base to bovine antiserum. The age and context
would most likely indicate bison. Bison remains have
been recovered from late Holocene and post-Columbian
deposits in the state. The associated sediment reacted
positively to rabbit antiserum.
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