Masters Theses

Date of Award

5-1997

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

Anthropology

Major Professor

Gerald F. Schroedl

Committee Members

Jan F. Simek, Walter E. Klippel

Abstract

The primary goal of this research is to describe the surface collected assemblage at the Chattooga site. Approximately 7,000 artifacts were piece plotted, and 1060 kg of unmodified rocks were located in an area of 7.32 ha (25% of the site). The secondary goal is to answer the question of whether it is possible to determine the relationship between surface collected artifacts and the location of historic Cherokee public and domestic buildings at Chattooga. This was accomplished by the observation of the spatial distribution of individual artifacts and their possible co-occurrence in a given area. A surface mapping computer program (Surfer) and an heuristic spatial device (K-means) were used to examine the clustering of the historic Cherokee artifacts on the surface. The data utilized in these programs was observed as a total assemblage, as individual artifact classes (ceramics, lithics, historic artifacts, etc.), and as a co-occurrence of classes (ceramics and lithic tools, aboriginal lithic pipe and historic artifacts, etc.) to determine structure area signatures in the surface collection for public and domestic occupational areas. The classes are (1) lithic tools (i.e., cores, stone discs, projectile points); (2), ceramic sherds; (3), lithic pipe debitage and finished pipe products; (4), aboriginal clay pipes; (5), Historic artifacts; and (6), unmodified rock. Defining the relationship between the surface collection and the location of structures at Chattooga should prove useful in studying historic Lower town Cherokee sites as well as other historic Cherokee sites in the region.

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