Journal of the Iowa Archeological Society
Volume 12, Number 1; July 1962
Marshall McKusick, Editor
This non-technical report illustrates archeological specimens from the Crawford Farm site, an old Sauk village near Rock Island, Illinois, and dating about 1790-1810 A.D. The Indians bought guns, bottles, brass pots and ornaments as well as a variety of other items from trading posts. Native crafts include bone carving, stone chipping, and grinding, as well as reworking lead, brass and iron. The fur trade did not immediately destroy native crafts. Instead it seems to have encouraged artistic expression in new mediums. Illustrations are based on specimens in the Davenport Public Museum from the Slack Collection. A complete study of the site based on recent excavations is in preparation by Elaine Bluhm, University of Illinois (Marshall B. McKusick).
Volume 12, Number 2; October 1962
Marshall McKusick, Editor
Seven soil profiles were studied from Indian mounds in Effigy Mounds National Monument, northeastern Iowa. The purpose of the research was to determine morphological, physical, and chemical evidences of soil development. Indian mounds were selected because they represented datable benchmarks of soil genesis processes which could be compared with older undisturbed soils in the immediate area of the mounds. As a result of this study, it was concluded that topsoils formed under deciduous forest vegetation in northeastern Iowa attain a maximum degree of expression in a period of 1000 years or less and remain relatively constant in composition with increasing age. A subsidiary aspect of the study yielded several archeological interpretations. Since the time of mound construction, the mounds investigated have remained under a deciduous oak-hickory forest (rather than grassland) environment. Erosion of the mounds has been negligible. In building the mounds, the topsoil was removed. It was then replaced and additional topsoil from the immediate vicinity was added to form the mound structure. Analysis of mound soils indicated a high acidity sufficient to dissolve skeletal remains. Of greatest interest is the fact that the mounds show a differential soil development which can be attributed to relative age. Thus it is possible to demonstrate that the mounds studied were built sequentially over time and not simultaneously. This introduces soil analysis under certain conditions as a new technique of relative dating. The sequence can be tied to relatively few radiocarbon dates. Many mounds do not have radiocarbon inclusions, or such material is not readily available without extensive excavation. Relative dates within an absolute chronology are thus of considerable value (Marshall B. McKusick).
Volume 12, Numbers 3-4; June 1963
Marshall McKusick, Editor
This brief manual explains to collectors how they can identify and determine the approximate age of projectile points found in Iowa. The sorting key is largely based upon published type collections from excavated sites. Information is still limited because of inadequate samples from many areas of the state, and conclusions presented here are subject to change based upon further research. Discussions are included which answer the questions collectors most frequently ask.
Journal of the Iowa Archeological Society
Webpage by Heidi M. Thunhorst, September 3, 2002.