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Understanding Cache Variability: A Deliberately Burned Early Paleoindian Tool Assemblage from the Crowfield Site, Southwestern Ontario, Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

D. Brian Deller ,
Christopher J. Ellis  and
James R. Keron
D. Brian Deller
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C2
Christopher J. Ellis
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C2
James R. Keron
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C2
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Abstract

The Crowfield site, excavated in 1981–82, would be a small typical Early Paleoindian campsite except for the added presence of a plough-truncated pit feature containing 182+ burned and destroyed stone artifacts. This paper reports on the latest insights into the feature contents based on continuing attempts to cross-mend fragments, as well as detailed analyses of the spatial distribution of artifact pieces within the feature itself. These results reinforce earlier conclusions that the items were burned where found, represent a cache of still functional tools and preforms, and were purposefully destroyed. They confirm that the site represents the best evidence to date for sacred ritual by eastern North American fluted point users. Contrasts with other reported early sacred and secular caches are documented that highlight the uniqueness of the assemblage. It is argued that these contrasts indicate the Crowfield feature assemblage more closely approximates a transported, functioning tool kit, as opposed to the surplus, seasonal and insurance gear, or offerings, that dominate other early caches.

Résumé

Résumé

El sitio de Crowfield, excavado en los años 1981–82, sería un pequeño y típico campamento de la etapa Paleoindio Temprano, si no fuera por la presencia de un pozo truncado por el arado con más de 182 artefactos líticos quemados y destruidos. En este artículo presentamos lo que hemos aprendido de los contenidos del pozo hasta la fecha, gracias a continuos intentos de juntar fragmentos, así como a análisis detallados de la distribución espacial de las piezas de artefactos dentro del pozo. Estos análisis apoyan nuestra conclusión previa de que los implementos fueron quemados donde se encontraron, representan un escondite de implementos y preformas aún útiles, que fueron destruidos intencionalmente. Esto confirma que el sitio representa la única evidencia definitiva de ritos sagrados entre la gente que usaba las puntas acanaladas en la parte este de América del Norte. Contrastes con otros escondites tempranos, sagrados y seculares, subrayan la naturaleza única de este conjunto. Sostenemos que estos contrastes indican que el conjunto del pozo de Crowfield se asemeja más a un equipo transportado y funcional que a las ofrendas o las materias sobrantes, estacionales o escondidas para seguridad que eran dominantes en otros escondites.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 74 , Issue 2 , April 2009 , pp. 371 - 397
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 2009

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