Prehistoric Iroquois Settlement,
Excavation at the Clifton Springs Site - Part 3

HEARTHS
All hearths, save one, feature 5, were of a similar appearance, consisting of subsoil which was heat - reddened to a depth of 2 - 4 inches, and usually accompanied by varying quantities of white ash." Feature 5” is of special interest as it is the remains o f a probable outdoor cooking area. The hearth itself measured 3 - 1/2 by 4 feet across, was, basin shaped in cross section, and was filled with white ash. The topsoil overlying and extending 3 - 8 feet beyond the edge of the hearth was ashy, and contained large quantities of fire - cracked rock. Corresponding with this concentration of fire - broken rock was a high concentration of artifacts, including hundreds of potsherds and specimens from all artifact categories discussed below. In addition, the concentration of refuse bone in this area was greater than elsewhere in our excavation. It would seem that this feature was used as a cooking - roasting area, and was thus a focus for food preparation. The occurrence of a line of post molds running through “feature 5” is further indication of a phase of house rebuilding.

PITS
Five storage pits were uncovered during our work. One, “feature 6”, was a small circular pit, 20 inches in diameter by 10 inches deep, with vertical sides and flat bottom. The fill was a homogeneous brown soil, containing a few potsherds, flint chips, and bone fragments. Features 10 - 13 were also straight-sided, flat-bottom pits, but much larger. These ranged in diameter from 37 to 60 inches, and in depth from 36 to 45 inches. Each had essentially the same stratigraphic characteristics: on the bottom was a strata 6 - 10 inches thick of dark brown ashy soil containing bits of charcoal , potsherds, refuse bone and shell, and an occasional non-ceramic artifact. Above this layer, and constituting the bulk of the pit fill, was light sand containing charcoal flecks and an occasional potsherd or flint chip. At the top of the pits was a 2-6 inch layer of dark refuse soil. It seems clear that when these pits were no longer useful for storage, whatever refuse was at hand was thrown into them, and then they were filled with relatively sterile sand. As this fill gradually settled, the resulting depression was filled with accumulating occupational debris. I would guess that feature 6, a small pit, was probably located within a house, and that features 10 - 13 were large outdoor storage facilities, part of a general village storage area.