As mentioned, the Utlaut site is situated on the floodplain of the river. The area, though, is in reality an old beach of the Missouri, formed when the river swung south of its present course and came near Grand Pass. Because the soil was almost pure sand, all of it was screened.
The initial test was an east-west trench comprising five alternating squares ([Fig. 2]). Burial materials were found between stakes 35W and 55W north and south of the 0 line ([Fig. 2]). Remains of five burials were recovered. While a few bones were treated as a separate burial in the field (Burial 5), they were found to be related to Burial 2 on completion of the analysis. The bones in burials 1 through 5 were in very poor condition, and because of cultivation many are missing.
BURIAL DESCRIPTIONS
The osteological analysis of the skeletal remains found in [Appendix I] is by the junior author and Clark Larsen. The descriptions to follow will focus on the cultural nature of the burials.
Burial 1. This is an adult male. The body was extended and oriented on a northeast-southwest axis with the head northeast. Although a vessel was found in the same square as the burial, it is thought that it belongs to Burial 4. One projectile point was found just east of the neck. Due north by about one foot was a biface chopper/scraper. These artifacts may be associated with this burial (Figs. [2] and [3]).
Figure 1. Floodplain of the Missouri River with locations of 23SA4 Gumbo Point site, 23SA162W Utlaut site, and 23SA162 Cole Lake Sand Ridge site.
Figure 2. Test excavations at the Utlaut site, 23SA162W, with Detail “A” showing the burials.
BURIAL 6 Pot BURIAL 2 Child’s skull Pot Shell Spoon BURIAL 3 Scraper BURIAL 4 Pot Biface BURIAL Projectile point Bundled bones