Document Type

Project

Publication Date

Spring 2000

Keywords

Archaeological excavation, Shell midden site

Abstract

Excavation of a shell midden in Puget Sound, Washington, (45-SK-144) revealed tan-colored lenses full of shell fragments with an ashy feel, alternating with black lenses with abundant charcoal. Magnetic susceptibility tests. Curie tests, particle size and constituent analysis were performed to compare the two types of lenses and to determine the origin of the tan-colored samples. Sorting of the Strongylocentrotus spp. framents, while the black samples had a greater abundance of charcoal, bone, Saxidomus spp., and Mytilus edulis. The tan-colored lenses contained far less charcoal, but had higher magnetic susceptibility values (X0) than the black samples and contained magnetite, indicating that they are a product of burning. The differences between samples indicate tan samples were burned for longer durations or with greater intensity than black samples. Differences in shell types and clear boundaries between layers suggests they were burned at different times and possibly for different reasons.

Department

Anthropology

Subjects - Topical (LCSH)

Kitchen-middens--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Indians of North America--Washington (State)--Puget Sound--Antiquities; Excavations (Archaeology)--Washington (State)--Puget Sound

Geographic Coverage

Puget Sound (Wash.)

Genre/Form

student projects; term papers

Type

Text

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

Rights Statement

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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