Microartifact analysis of a Dallas Phase house floor

This thesis examines microartifacts from a late Mississippian Dallas Phase house floor at the Loy Site (40JE10). This examination was undertaken to learn whether the organization of interior space can be better defined with the addition of microartifacts to the more traditional macroartifact analysis. First, the potential of microartifacts to enhance our knowledge of the prehistoric use of space is suggested in a review of previous actualistic, experimental, and ethnoarchaeological research. Then, macro- and microartifact spatial distributions are analyzed. Results of the analysis offer a more dynamic view of the use of space than would have been possible looking at only the macro scale material. Three areas of activity are proposed; a central area focusing on the hearth, a refuse disposal area beneath the benches lining the walls, and a lithic manufacturing area in the southern corner behind a door partition. The techniques needed to collect, process, and analyze microartifacts are developed through refined field sampling, conventional sedimentological protocol, and the development of a computer program to operationalize a basic statistic to produce a representative microartifact sample.