SITE EXPLORATION AND EXCAVATION
The Smithport Landing Site is located in Township 13 N, Range 12 W, sections 23 and 26, on land owned at present by Edward Lafitte of Carmel, but at the time of our excavation by Guy Sample of Shreveport. When first visited in 1934, much of the site was in cultivation; now it is in pasturage or woodlands. Evidences of occupation were found on portions of four hills, heaviest on hills 2 and 3 ([Fig. 2]). Larger than most sites in this area, we estimated that a total of 40 to 50 acres was occupied. We first explored Hill 1, a low hill which sloped gently to the bottom lands and had been in cultivation for a long time. The topsoil was thin and sheet erosion exposed a number of pottery sherds, projectile points, and other stone objects. It is possible that this was a separate site, since it is set apart by a wide stream bed from the other occupied hills, but the artifact types were not different. The area of occupation covered about five acres.
Hill 2 is higher, about 20 feet above the old lake bed, and slopes rather sharply southward to the lowlands. The top is gently rounded and had been put into cultivation only a few years before our first visit. The topsoil was very dark and many large pottery sherds were found; in fact, this hill showed the heaviest occupation of the site, over an area of 20 to 30 acres. The burials ([Fig. 3]) which are described later occurred on the crest of this hill, immediately overlooking the old lake.
Hills 3 and 4 run north-south and slope down to a small stream which separates them. The occupation areas, chiefly along the slopes to the stream, are estimated at five to ten acres on each hill, although we were uncertain about Hill 4 because it was partly wooded. There were two tenant houses in a nearby deserted field. On the back part of Hill 2 and east of the main tenant house, very black soil, found over a radius of 12-15 feet, contained large sherds, numerous animal bones or bone fragments, and ashes ([Fig. 2]). Two test pits showed that the black refuse soil was two to three feet in depth and ashes indicated extensive cooking. Our notes show no evidence of a house floor or post molds, although we did not trench the area.
Fig. 2. Sketch of Smithport landing Site, not to scale. Note occupational areas on four hills, burial area and heavy midden on Hill 2.