Journal of the Iowa Archeological Society
Volume 47, 2000
Joe B. Thompson, Editor
Repair and reuse of ceramic vessels are commonplace occurrences in both past and present pottery using societies. These activities serve to both extend the use-life of pottery items as well as to adapt them to use-contexts other than those for which they were originally intended. Despite the importance of pottery in defining the prehistoric Oneota tradition of the Upper Midwest little formal attention has previously been given to this topic. This paper investigates the nature and context of these activities within the Oneota tradition in order to provide further information about the manner in which pottery was used in Oneota groups.
The excavation and comparison of two examples of mid-nineteenth century soft-mud brick kilns located in southern Mahaska County, Iowa, provided the opportunity to study the history and archaeological remains of rural brick production sites. This article examines the historical and regional context of the excavated kilns, describes kiln features, and documents the archaeological signature of the brickmaking process. Results suggest that excavation and comparison of brick kiln sites can reveal variation in the technology of brick production as well as change over time within this industry.
Phase II archaeological investigations weere conducted at 13WS224 in conjunction with proposed U.S. 218 four-lane project NHS-218-3(16)--19-92, also known as PIN 84-92040-1, in Washington County, Iowa. Site 13WS224, the Brown Brothers Tile Factory, is a late nineteenth-early twentieth century agricultural tile manufacturing site. It was operated from 1882-1904, at which time it was dismantled and moved to the nearby town of Crawfordsville. Archaeological investigations indicate that the site was subsequently subjected to bulldozing over a period of 50 years, and little remains intact, with the exception of segments of five walls, interpreted as part of a round downdraft kiln. The site did not exhibit sufficient integrity to warrant further investigation.
From the date of the earliest French voyages of discovery in the middle of the seventeenth century until the dispossession of the native tribes during the early nineteenth century, Iowa formed part of a borderland region where French, Spanish, Anglo-American and Indian culture areas and spheres of power converged and overlapped. Archeological sites from this period represent an important data set for studying the Upper Mississippi Valley Borderlands cultural complex. This essay presents an overview of the historic context of Iowa and adjacent areas within the framework of the early European exploration and settlement of the Upper Mississippi Valley. It summarizes the extant scholarly literature and emphasizes the importance of archival data in identifying and interpreting early contact period archeological sites.
Publications
Book Reviews
Pfieffer, Michael A. "Smoke" and Joe B. Thompson, Eds.
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Journal of the Iowa Archeological Society
Webpage by Heidi M. Thunhorst, September 3, 2002.