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.