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Stratigraphy and Radiocarbon Chronology of Modoc Rock Shelter, Illinois

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Steven R. Ahler
Steven R. Ahler*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801
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Abstract

Excavations at Modoc Rock Shelter, Illinois (11R5), between 1952 and 1956 documented the antiquity and cultural sequence of the Archaic period in the midcontinental United States. Some researchers questioned the site's stratigraphic integrity because of apparent inconsistencies between the radiocarbon assays and associated artifacts. Excavations in 1980, 1984, and 1987 documented stratigraphic sequences and produced assays of over 40 additional radiocarbon samples from controlled stratigraphic contexts. This report describes the stratigraphic sequences at Modoc Rock Shelter and presents critical evaluations of the radiocarbon assays. This information is used to summarize the depositional and occupational history of the site. Two related stratigraphic sequences are present, one in the Main Shelter and a separate, physically uncorrelated sequence in the West Shelter. Each sequence includes occupations dating to the Early, Middle, and Late Archaic periods, with age ranges between 9000 and 4000 B.P. Questions about the site's stratigraphic integrity, artifact sequences, and analytical procedures are resolved.

Resumen

Resumen

Las excavaciones en Modoc Rock Shelter, Illinois (11R5), entre 1952 y 1956 documentaban la antigüedad y la serie cultural del período Arcáico en el medio del continente de los Estados Unidos. Unos escudriñadores desconfiaron la integridad estratigráfica del sitio a causa de ciertas contradicciones entre los ensayos de radiocarbón y artefactos associados. Las excavaciones en 1980, 1984 y 1987 documentaron las series estratigráficas y produjeron los ensayos de más de 40 muestras radiocarbónicas adicionales de controlados contextos estratigráficos. Este informe describe las series estratigráficas en Modoc Rock Shelter y presenta las evaluaciones exactas de los ensayos de radiocarbón. Se usa esta informatión para resumir la historia depositional y ocupacional del sitio. Se encuentran dos conexas series estratigráficas: una en el Main Shelter, y una otra desunida en el West Shelter que es una serie que no tiene correlatión física. Cada serie incluye ocupaciones fechadas en los períodos Arcáicos primeros, medianos y últimos con espacios de edad entre 9000 y 4000 A.P. Están resueltas las preguntas de la integridad estratigráfica, las secuencias de artefactos y los procedimientos analíticos del sitio.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 58 , Issue 3 , July 1993 , pp. 462 - 489
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1993

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References

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