Although Coralville Reservoir is outside the Missouri Basin, the Missouri Basin Project of the River Basin Surveys was able to conduct the surveys. and the more intensive analysis of Mott (1938) has provided some basis for a preliminary account of the problem. Coralville Dam and Reservoir have been constructed under the provisions of Section 4 of the Flood Control Act of June 28, 1938.
Currently, a reappraisal of previous work by Dr. Robert Tidnick of the University of Iowa School of Medicine has added materially to the factual inventory. Preliminary examination of the reservoir by River Basin Studies located 9 archaeological sites; A further 10 sites were recorded by interested amateurs (Wlieeler, 1949, p. 4). There are 20 identifiable mounds present, following a series, NE-SW, below the tight spine of the ridge.
Except for the latter, all tall ones show signs of disturbance, usually in the form of a pit at the tip of the structure. Although most of the uncontrolled excavation can be attributed to the last century, there are some signs of more recent excavation.
THE CROSHECK SITE (13JH2)
Of the total gToup, 19 are conical in shape, ranging from 18 to 30 feet in diameter, with a maximum height of about 3 feet. Although other elements of the defined complex are not present, the 13JH2 points appear to fall well within the range of . The complex remains unstratified and undated, but a relationship with early complexes of the plains has been suggested (ibid., p. 32).
It seems likely that 13JH2 was characterized by a long continuity of occupation, possibly extending from the Archaic to the Oneota horizon. A single hickory tree grows on the extreme southern border of the hill area; the decayed stump of another occurs directly north, on the opposite periphery. There is no local evidence regarding the exact origin of the bully, but recent cultivation has noticeably disturbed adjacent areas.
An earlier, more extensive cave was visible beneath the ruins of the picnic, providing evidence of the site's original disturbance. They are quite similar, if slightly more refined in execution, to the dominant product derived from site 13JII202.
MOUND NO. 4
Further, it seems probable, since no old surface of earth exists, that an area, at least contemporaneously with the present superstructure, was stripped of its topsoil before the construction of the mound. Superstructural layer B, since it is not sharply bounded by A, was probably formed at the same time. It is not a frequent feature in the area, and the construction pattern is considerably more complex than in the present example.
MOUND NO. 6
The presence of conical mounds of a primary-secondary or laminated structure has been noted in Jo Daviess Co., 111. A chalky, leached constituent, similar to that mentioned above, was recognized centrally in the mounded. On the surface of this layer was a linear grouping and three isolated examples of planar, water-borne limestone slabs (pi.
Conical body, porous red paste, sand tempered, cast hollow non-concentric with the longitudinal axis of the body. 6 is similar to 13JH3, but with the additional presence of limestone slabs placed on the subsurface. The mound was sampled via a 20-foot trench oriented to be parallel to the apparent long axis of the structure.
A second ditch, originating from a sterile platform to the south-east, crosses the first, forming an L-shaped excavation (Fig. 19, h). It seems likely that the latter was removed before the construction of layer B.
ANALYSIS AND RECAPITULATION (13JH3 AND 13JH4)
179 Given the paucity and haphazard nature of most Coralville mound data, it seems most practical to consider the sites. The lack of complexity characteristic of the mounds excavated at sites 13JH3 and 13JH4 may be significant. Illinois, but is present in both regions, and occurs somewhat complexly in the conical mounds of the Portage Group (ibid., p.
In Jo Daviess County, the Chapman group contains the simplest and most characteristic of the conical hills. Seven of the 9 features outlined for the conical mounds of the Coralville Reservoir appear in the 16-feature summary of the Chapman group. Certain similarities, in keeping with the generalized nature of the structures involved (1-3, above), are likely to be of limited comparative value.
The former are largely unstratified (ibid., p. 72) and with some evidence of sod removal as a temporary construction. As a cursory assessment, Bennett seems to have differentiated Hopewell influences more sharply, hence the apparently close relationship between the Iowa and Jo Daviess pottery.
THE HARAPAT LANE SITE (13JH201)
This group of three low conical mounds (13JH8), varying from 24 to 30 feet in diameter, is oriented in an east-west direction along the crest of the bluff north of the wide lower lands of the upper or. 34;consists of two low conical mounds, 33 feet and 36 feet in diameter, and, about 300 feet to the west, a pair of low conical mounds, 20 feet. As mentioned above, an additional series of sites, both hill groups and occupation areas, have been reported by interested amateurs (fig. 10).
The stratigraphic pattern, visible in the sectioned roadway and in the five test pits, is basically the same over the entire site. The post and pit pattern is only visible in layer A and must certainly date from at or near the original surface. It is likely that the entire pile pattern was not recovered from the limited excavation area.
However, the exposed portion forms a roughly linear series with a distinct cluster around a larger pit, defined by Feature 1. Since excavations were limited, however, and since the accumulation of surface in the stock lane was very random, the site cannot be unambiguously labeled as nonpottery or parapottery in orientation. If one considers the totality of the materials excavated and collected on the surface, it is clear that large stem points are in the majority.
The smaller series of stemless points is, in part, identical to groups 1-3 from Site 13JH2 and to Nebo Hillmaterials. Plabiting structures have not been widely reported in the literature related to Woodland problems. According to the circumstances, and in the absence of a com-. complete data recovery, the model excavated at 13JH201 cannot be unequivocally described as a house structure, but a complete house plan from below Mound No. 16, p. 51) has features that are suggestively similar.
Consequently, and although the large stemless spikes may indicate an earlier date, Woodland affiliation seems likely.
WOODPECKER CAVE (13JH202)
Rodent disturbance is extreme, but does not extend beyond the top two-thirds of the deposit. There is a gradual quantitative increase in ceramic materials, extending from the lower part of layer B to the immediate subsurface of the deposit. Rowe indicates that there is great variation in the decoration of Wisconsin EtRgy Mound pottery.
In the case of 13JH202, it is perhaps significant that the Weaver-like rim sherds are relatively late in relation to the ceramic sequence. Projectile points.- The relationship or association between specific point types and temporal and regional pottery assemblages in Iowa is currently unknown. Projectile points or point-like knives occur only in the upper parts of the deposit.
It seems likely, given other associated data, that all three can be attributed to the latest horizon of the deposit. Knife-scrapers.— Knife or scraper forms are discontinuously distributed throughout the ceramic horizon of the assemblage. Although relatively abundant, hammers are limited to the lower half of the ceramic assemblage.
European materials are concentrated in the upper part of the deposit, with one exception at the 2.5-3.0 foot level. The area is a peninsula to a high limestone escarpment that forms the eastern edge of the Crosheck River Plain. It is also possible that the final breaking of the pitcher can be attributed to the same cause.
Marked variation in the surface condition of the sherds suggests exposure to heat, hence the suggestion of damage. The upper levels of the peat have clearly been subject to flooding and redeposition. No testing was done, but artifacts appear to originate from the surface of the loess, just below the sod line.
In full awareness of the patent limitations of the data, the following generalizations are available: Features characteristic of the Oneota aspect are not unequivocally present in any of the excavated materials.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
MOLLUSCAN REMAINS
MUSSEL
SHELLS
LAND SNAIL SHELLS
MAMMAL REMAINS
Due to the nature of the material, exact species determination was impractical, which is why placement is only at genus level.
HUMAN KEMAINS
VEGETAL REMAINS
The dog, the raccoon, the cottontail rabbit, the woodchuck and the gopher are well represented, but only the dog needs to be equated with the native occupation, and that unequivocally. As noted elsewhere, the deposits are partly badly disturbed by burrowing animals, which are therefore readily responsible for the rodents in the collection. Vegetable samples were limited to the upper part of the deposit only, hickory and butternut forming a majority of the sample.
At the time of excavation, varieties of both trees formed the important ground cover on and adjacent to the site. As the occupation area was heavily penetrated by burrowing animals, it seems likely that most, if not all, of the plant material is intrusive.
