INVESTIGATING SITE 119-19 THROUGH LITHIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to examine precontact site 119-19 and answer the question how does occupation of Site 119-19 in the Connecticut River Valley show the transition from the Broad Spear Tradition to the Narrow Point Tradition during the Terminal Archaic and Early Woodland Periods? Site 119-19 is located in Rocky Hill Connecticut, which is near the center of the state next to the Connecticut River. The site has been previously used as farmland, but no further known development has disturbed the site. The site was initially discovered through shovel testing (50cm x 50cm) and then further excavated using unit excavation (1m x 1m). The unit excavations recovered almost three thousand lithic artifacts. The unit excavations also showed that the soil stratigraphy was relatively intact. Artifact distribution was assessed through soil profiles, artifact provenience and density, and raw material variation. Looking at where the artifacts are falling in the soil stratigraphy and depths of the artifacts one should be able to ascertain whether or not the site function changed over multiple occupations or if it stayed the same. The analysis of site 119-19 will also provide insight into settlement patterns in southern New England by examining raw material usage. Two distinct loci were identified at the site with the most dominant raw material being an exotic material for the area. The raw material used at Site 119-19 is primarily non-local material. By identifying where the likely source of the material is, one can then make assumptions on the ranging pattern of the group that used/created the site. The town of Rocky Hill has limited data available on precontact sites within the Terminal Archaic/Early Woodland period. This research will hopefully help fill in gaps of inland settlement patterns during the Terminal Archaic/Early Woodland period in the north-central lowlands of Connecticut.