1994 Morell-Sheets: An Albee Phase Habitation, Montgomery County, Indiana.

Abstract

Mitigation of a 25% sample of a portion of the Morell-Sheets site that will be destroyed by the construction of Bridge No. 88, Montgomery County, Indiana revealed a virtually single component Albee Phase habitation site. Portions of the site were plow disturbed but intact cultural deposits were recovered at the base of the plowzone and in a paleosol. Data recovered included a specialized lithic assemblage, a unique ceramic assemblage and very few bone tools. Features were primarily midden deposits and fire-cracked rock-filled pits. Floral analysis revealed the inhabitants were practicing horticulture supplemented with gathering of wild plants, fruits and nuts. The faunal inventory revealed that deer and turtle were being exploited along with beaver, wapiti, other small mammals and fresh water mussels. The site appears to have been occupied intermittently during the warm parts of the year. Radiocarbon dates from the site place the occupation during the Late Woodland period, from approximately AD 800 to 1200.