In company of J. L. Henson, we staked out square 38R9 of which over half was in the seep ditch. With such a small crew we decided on that small part of a square to excavate.
We recorded the datum depths on the NW and SW corners—the others being in the ditch—and removed the plow zone. At the bottom of the plow zone there were strips that measured approximately two inches, running in a straight line. With lots of concern we finally figured that it was where the bottom of the plow had sloped off toward the ditch, and we wanted to level the next surface, so the established depth of the plow zone for this square was set at DD 6.5 though at one edge it was not that deep. There was not anything that we could report for that level, and we went six inches lower to DD (Datum Depth) 7.0. In this area a pit showed up for when we scraped off the level at DD 7.0 we had the outline of a pit.
We cross sectioned the pit to obtain a profile, and it extended six inches below the top of the subsoil. The profile drawn shows the pit starting at DD 7.0 which is where we first discovered it. Subsoil was on an average of DD 7.6.
The outline of the pit was not as distinct as shown on the Feature form but that is closest lines that we could obtain of it. I packaged the pit material and classed it as belonging to the level from DD 6.5 to 7.0. See feature form 2 for details.
38R5, Sunday, April 28, 1957
Accompanied by J. L. Henson, Chas. Scheel and John Jr., we began work on the site. For the last few weeks we have removed our stakes after each day’s work because of the farming expected on the site. This causes an extra amount of work each trip that could have been used so badly in the excavation.
After removing the plowzone, the square was scraped off, and there was no pattern or postmold to be seen. We removed all potsherds, bone, and stone F. S. (Field Specimen) 83 DD 6.5 to 7.0, and again scraped off the soil, and again there was no pattern. We also found a projectile point in the above mentioned level F. S. 84. We removed the next 6 in. of the square collecting potsherds, etc., F. S. 85. Also in this level the soil changed from the strong midden rich brown in color to that color of the subsoil, which is of a light sandy brown to yellow. This soil presented a problem, it was of a mottled color, the same as found through the subsoil. There is so little difference between this soil and the absolute sterile soil. This soil has been checked the entire length of the site in the new seep ditch, which is over 6 ft. deep and there is no doubt of its being sterile. This situation is of great concern because of the burials that have been found in what appears to be the subsoil. There is positively no connection between this burial and the dark brown midden in the soil above. There is no sign of a pit leading to the burial, but there is a difference in pottery styles, texture, even the feel of the material found in what appears to be the subsoil, and in that found in association with the dark brown midden.
Mr. Scheel, working in the square with me, commented on the change of color, and I asked him what he would think if I told him there was a burial below where he was working. He asked me how I knew, and I told him of the legs being in the last square we worked, and he said it would be Woodland, as there was no connection with the Mississippi midden above the soil we were then working in. We were being pressed for time at this part of the square so we narrowed the square to 5 × 10 ft. and when we reached the burial, we also reached water. The river at this time was over the banks and seemed to boil up in the square; this presented a real problem. We debated as to whether we should quit the square and fill it up or do the best we could. We thought of filling in the 10′ × 10′ square and reopening it a year later but decided that we would finish since we had lots of decisive facts and we needed the rest to complete forms. We gathered up boards to stand on to keep from sinking in the sand, and the condition of the bone was so poor, being wet, it was just impossible for us to remove it. Though I did get the skull taped up before trying to remove it, the other bones were so soft they crumbled when handled, so the skull was all the bone that I could remove in one piece. There were three pottery vessels with this burial, a bottle, which was upside down, a bowl beside the head (it too was upside down) and a jar by the right arm which was right side up.
While working in square 37R5 this burial was partly in it (37R5) and there weren’t feet present (see photo 34). The absence of feet has occurred before and it is a trait that may be distinctive.
While removing the skull of this burial, which was on the line (R6), the arm of another burial, in square 38R6, was found. It was not removed, but was left for future investigation since the conditions are the same as the above mentioned burial. The soil color in the levels below the midden is of great concern in this area; there seems to be a discoloration in what appears to be the top part of the subsoil. There will be a thorough check made of the soil.