27 chapters
2 hour read
Selected Chapters
27 chapters
THE HARROUN SITE
THE HARROUN SITE
A Fulton Aspect Component of the Caddoan Area, Upshur County, Texas By Edward B. Jelks and Curtis D. Tunnell This report was prepared in accordance with a Memorandum of Agreement between The University of Texas and the National Park Service providing for salvage excavations in advance of construction at Ferrell’s Bridge Reservoir, Texas. Department of Anthropology The University of Texas • Austin, Texas • 1959...
18 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Foreword
Foreword
Excavation and analysis of the Harroun Site were carried out in 1957, 1958, and 1959 as a part of the nationwide Inter-Agency Archeological Salvage Project. Mound A was excavated by the National Park Service in 1957; Mounds B, C, and D were excavated by The University of Texas in 1958 and 1959 under the terms of a Memorandum of Agreement between the National Park Service and The University of Texas providing for archeological salvage at Ferrell’s Bridge Reservoir. This report was prepared in acc
41 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Letter of Transmittal
Letter of Transmittal
The University of Texas Austin, Texas April 16, 1959 Mr. Hugh M. Miller Regional Director National Park Service P. O. Box 1728 Santa Fe, New Mexico Dear Mr. Miller: Three copies of the report, The Harroun Site: A Fulton Aspect Component, Ferrell’s Bridge Reservoir , by Edward B. Jelks and Curtis D. Tunnell, are enclosed herewith. This report is submitted in partial fulfillment of the provisions of Contract No. 14-10-333-422, Article 1d, between the National Park Service and The University of Tex
33 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Letter of Acceptance
Letter of Acceptance
Department of the Interior National Park Service Region Three Santa Fe, New Mexico May 1, 1959 Dr. T. N. Campbell, Director Texas Archeological Salvage Project University of Texas Austin 12, Texas Dear Dr. Campbell: Thank you for the three copies of the report, The Harroun Site: A Fulton Aspect Component, Ferrell’s Bridge Reservoir , by Edward B. Jelks and Curtis D. Tunnell. Please convey our thanks to Messrs. Jelks and Tunnell for this excellent report prepared under Contract No. 14-10-333-422.
37 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Introduction
Introduction
The Harroun Site (University of Texas Site No. 41UR10), in the extreme northeastern corner of Upshur County, Texas, is one of several sites excavated in the Ferrell’s Bridge Reservoir area as a part of the Inter-Agency Archeological Salvage Project. The site, which consisted of four small mounds on the south floodplain of Cypress Creek, was located and recorded by E. Mott Davis and Bernard Golden in October, 1957. It promised to produce valuable archeological data, and since it was scheduled to
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENT
Ferrell’s Bridge Reservoir is located in the northwestern part of the Gulf Coastal Plain (Fenneman, 1938: 109-110), which is characterized topographically by rounded hills sculptured from the superficial clays and sands of the region. The subsoil—a sandy clay in various shades of yellow, orange, and red—is capped by a thin mantle of gray sand which evidently derived by differential erosion from the sandy clay. The exposed geological formations recognized in the general region are clays and sands
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
SITE DESCRIPTION
SITE DESCRIPTION
The Harroun Site was situated on the south floodplain of Cypress Creek on the outside of a large bend ( Fig. 1 ). The only occupational features visible on the surface were four small mounds, round to slightly oval in shape, with rounded tops. They were designated Mounds A, B, C, and D. A long, narrow lake, evidently surviving from an old cut-off channel of Cypress Creek, lay beside the creek channel in the northwestern part of the site. Mound A, located 75 feet south of the creek and 350 feet e
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
GEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
GEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
The geology at the Harroun Site may be summarized in tabular form as follows: Zone II. A stratum of sand forming the surface of the floodplain, varying from about 5 to 12 feet thick. Zone II was divided into three parts, IIa, IIb, and IIc. Zone IIc. Humus-stained topsoil, the superficial portion of the Zone II sand member, 0.6 to 1.1 feet thick. Zone IIb. Grayish to whitish sand with irregular-shaped patches of brownish sand. The brown patches probably represent subsurface staining of the gray-w
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Excavation and Recording Methods
Excavation and Recording Methods
The same general procedure was followed in excavating each of the four mounds at the Harroun Site. A stake was placed near the center of the mound and a grid of 5-foot squares was established which tied in with the centrally located stake. Then each quadrant of the mound was excavated separately. Beginning at the top of the mound, an entire quadrant was taken down by regular vertical intervals, usually of 0.5 feet each. The floor of the excavation was cleaned and examined after each level was re
5 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
STRUCTURE OF MOUND A
STRUCTURE OF MOUND A
The profiles revealed that the bulk of the mound fill comprised a single structural member composed of dark gray, humus stained, sandy, midden soil ( Fig. 3 ). It reached a maximum height of 1.4 feet above the surface of the surrounding floodplain and extended down to an average depth of 1.4 feet below the floodplain surface. The fill of Mound A contained many tiny fragments of mussel shell, bone, charcoal, and stone chips, as well as a few potsherds, projectile points, and other artifacts. Some
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
OCCUPATIONAL FEATURES
OCCUPATIONAL FEATURES
Besides the mound itself, two occupational features were found in the Mound A area: (1) an area of burned soil within the mound fill (Feature No. 1), and (2) a sub-mound burial (Burial No. 1). Each is described separately below. This was an elongated area of heavily burned, sandy clay lying within the matrix of the mound fill ( Fig. 3 ). Since the northern end of Feature No. 1 was not completely excavated, the exact dimensions were not determined; but the maximum length was evidently between 9 a
5 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION
Mound A was erected on an alluvial terrace of Big Cypress Creek for the purpose of covering a grave. Prior to construction of the mound approximately a foot of humic topsoil was dug away from the surface of the terrace at the selected spot. A shallow grave was then dug in the excavated area, the body was placed in the grave along with two pottery vessels and an arrow point, and the mound was formed over the grave. When the basal portion of the mound was in place, the work was halted temporarily
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
STRUCTURE OF MOUND B
STRUCTURE OF MOUND B
The excavations in Mound B revealed clearly its internal structure ( Fig. 3 ). An old soil surface, unmistakably defined by a dark humic zone, underlay the entire mound at an average elevation of 99 feet, or approximately the same elevation as the modern surface of the floodplain. This evidently represents the surface humic zone (Zone IIc) of the floodplain at the time the mound was built. Yellow-brown sand (Zone IIb) extended below the buried humic zone to an undetermined depth. Zones IIb and I
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
OCCUPATIONAL FEATURES
OCCUPATIONAL FEATURES
Besides the two possible borrow pits mentioned above, the only occupational feature found at Mound B was House No. 3. This house was erected on the surface of the floodplain before the mound was built. The purpose of the mound apparently was to bury the remains of the house after it had burned. Beneath the house floor zone, which was described in the preceding section, were found 59 post molds measuring from 0.25 to 1.3 feet in diameter and extending from 0.3 to 2.5 feet below the floor ( Fig. 5
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION
House No. 3, a circular, wattle-and-daub structure with a southeastern entranceway, was built on the surface of the Cypress Creek floodplain. There were probably four interior roof support posts, two or more interior platforms for sleeping or storage, and a centrally located, prepared hearth with a clay base. Possibly, a low embankment of sand was thrown against the wall around the exterior of the house. The period of occupation at the house is unknown, but the scarcity of artifacts suggests tha
4 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
STRUCTURE OF MOUND C
STRUCTURE OF MOUND C
Profiles of Mound C revealed remnants of an old stabilized surface with a well developed soil profile (including a superficial humic zone) lying immediately beneath the mound fill ( Fig. 7 ). The elevation of the old surface averaged approximately 99.4 feet which is also the average elevation of the modern floodplain surface around the mound: therefore it appears certain that the first of the two houses was built directly on the floodplain surface and that there has been no appreciable change in
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
OCCUPATIONAL FEATURES
OCCUPATIONAL FEATURES
The only occupational features discovered at Mound C were the two house patterns. The lower house floor at Mound C, designated House No. 1, rested directly on the old surface of the floodplain ( Fig. 7 ). The floor zone was a circular lens of dark gray—almost black—sand with a greasy texture. It averaged 0.4 feet in thickness and measured some 18 feet across. This floor zone contained numerous bits of charcoal and burned clay daub, a few stone chips, mussel shells and garbage bones, and a small
4 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION
Excavation of Mound C revealed that a circular house (House No. 1) was built on the south bank of the Harroun Site lake, was occupied for an unknown period of time, then was burned—perhaps intentionally. After a thin layer of sand had been strewn over the burned ruins, a second, smaller house (House No. 2) was erected on the remains of the earlier house. House No. 2 was likewise destroyed by fire, after which the remains of both houses were buried under a mound of sand. Both houses probably had
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
STRUCTURE OF MOUND D
STRUCTURE OF MOUND D
The structure of Mound D was clearly indicated by the vertical cross sections ( Fig. 7 ). An old humus-stained surface underlying the marginal portions of the mound was sharply defined at an average elevation of 98.0 feet. No artifacts or cultural refuse were found in the floodplain below this surface. Prior to construction of the mound a shallow, circular pit had been excavated in the surface of the floodplain to an average depth of 1.5 feet. The sides of the pit sloped sharply downward, and th
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
OCCUPATIONAL FEATURES
OCCUPATIONAL FEATURES
House No. 4 was the only occupational feature discovered at Mound D. This house was circular in shape, with an exterior wall formed of upright poles, wattle, and clay daub. Post molds indicated that there were at least 27 of the upright poles in the exterior wall ( Fig. 10 ). They were 0.3 to 0.6 feet in diameter at the base and were set about two feet apart on an average. An interior hearth near the center of the house was probably circular in shape and an estimated three to four feet in diamet
52 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION
Investigation of Mound D revealed that the following sequence of events had taken place. A round, Caddoan type of house (House No. 4) with an extended entranceway on the west side was built in a shallow, excavated pit on the south bank of Cypress Creek. Architecturally the house was quite similar to those at Mounds B and C. Sand was probably banked against the outside wall of the house to a height of somewhat more than a foot. After an unknown period of time the house was destroyed by fire, and
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CERAMICS
CERAMICS
In addition to the two vessels from the burial at Mound A, ceramic specimens comprise a total of 562 sherds. The paste of these sherds is characteristically sherd tempered, occasionally with the addition of small quantities of sand and/or bone particles. There is no shell tempering. Study of the sherds indicates that bottles, jars with outcurved rims, carinated bowls, and possibly other forms are represented. Exterior surface treatment includes brushing, smoothing, polishing, and red filming; sm
15 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
STONE ARTIFACTS
STONE ARTIFACTS
The 46 lithic artifacts include dart points, arrow points, bifacial blades, worked nodules, pitted stones, and other objects. All the chipped stone implements are made of local quartzites and cherts which occur as very small nodules in the older stream terraces near the Harroun Site. The sandstone and hematite employed for the other stone artifacts were most likely collected from local sources also. Of the 19 dart points recovered, 15 have contracting stems, 3 have expanding stems, and one has a
7 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
PROVENIENCE OF THE ARTIFACTS
PROVENIENCE OF THE ARTIFACTS
The provenience of the artifacts at the Harroun Site is summarized in Table 1 . It is clear that the artifacts associated with each house, with the fill of each mound, and with the upper part of the floodplain deposits are quite similar, in the main, throughout the site. Or put another way, each major type or category of artifacts is more or less evenly distributed over the site. This supports the conclusion that the burial, the four houses, the four mounds, and most of the artifacts in the uppe
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Summary and Discussion
Summary and Discussion
Excavations at the Harroun Site in Upshur County, Texas, revealed abundant evidence of a Fulton Aspect occupation related to four small mounds on the floodplain of Cypress Creek. An earlier pre-mound occupation was indicated by the presence of a few scattered artifacts and stone chips buried as deeply as four feet below the surface of the floodplain. Remains of the pre-mound occupation are very sparse, however, and it is not possible to make an accurate statement of its character. The predominan
11 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Conclusions
Conclusions
The following conclusions have been reached regarding the Harroun Site. 1. Principal occupation was by Fulton Aspect people closely related to—or identical to—people of the Titus Focus. There is an excellent possibility that this is a relatively early Titus Focus site. 2. The four houses probably were used for ceremonial purposes; ultimately each was “cremated” and buried beneath a mound of sand. 3. Mound A was for the purpose of covering Burial No. 1. 4. If the above conclusions are correct, th
57 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
References Cited
References Cited
Baerreis, David A. , Joan E. Freeman , and James V. Wright , 1958. The Contracting Stem Projectile Point in Eastern Oklahoma. Bull. Okla. Ant. Soc. , 6: 61-82. Bell, Robert E. , 1958. Guide to the Identification of American Indian Projectile Points. Special Bull., Okla. Ant. Soc. , No. 1. Blair, Frank W. , 1950. The Biotic Provinces of Texas. Texas Journal of Science , 2, No. 1: 93-117. Davis, E. Mott , 1958. The Whelan Site, a Late Caddoan Component in the Ferrell’s Bridge Reservoir, Northeaste
4 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter