Overall, the investigations determined that the Herrick Hollow sites ranged in size from 45 to 622m2. Archaeologists recovered over
c omparative analysis of c ultural material
within units

8,000 pieces of lithic debitage, 97 formal tools (projectile points, scrapers, gravers, bifaces), 823 expedient tools (utilized flakes), 81 pieces of fire-cracked rock, 780 fragments of pottery from five ceramic vessels, and numerous botanical samples recovered from six prehistoric features. The sites date from the Late Archaic (4000-2500 B.C.) through the Late Woodland (A.D. 500-1600) periods, although the Early and Late Woodland periods dominate.




Herrick Hollow I

Archaeologists completed 31 units and 31 STPs on and adjacent to the Herrick Hollow I site. STPs identified a single locus of artifacts, which covered approximately 264 m2 (2841 ft2). Excavations sampled about 12% of the site area and recovered 5,226 lithics during excavations of these STPs and units. The lithic assemblage is dominated by debitage which was clustered within 1 m (3.3 ft) of a glacial boulder. The artifact collection also included informal stone tools (utilized flakes, n=33), and formal tools (two scrapers, one graver, and numerous bifaces in various stages of completion). Many of the later stage bifaces were
glacial boulder, a likely flintknapping platform broken, suggesting that these pieces fractured during manufacture, or were flawed and rejected. Several of the bifaces had characteristics similar to Early Woodland Meadowood points and cache blades, and some were Meadowood point fragments. Meadowood points were used during the Early Woodland period (1200-500 B.C.). The absence of thermal features and the clustering of tools around the glacial rock suggest that the site was not used for an overnight encampment. Instead, the site probably represents a single episode of intensive production and finishing of Meadowood blades or points, or an area that was repeatedly revisited for the same purposes.


Herrick Hollow II


soil profile at herrick hollow IIExcavations on the Herrick Hollow II site included 78 units, and 56 STPs. STPs identified five different spatial clusters of artifacts, covering approximately 600 m2 (6456 ft2). Archaeologists sampled 14% of the site and recovered 1410 lithics, 307 pottery fragments (from a single vessel), and 30 fragments of fire-cracked rock (FCR). The site is dominated by Late Woodland period (A.D. 900-1600) diagnostics. However, two loci were associated with the Early Woodland period (1200-500 B.C.). The lithic assemblage indicates that shaped or prepared cores were brought to the site and reduced to finished bifaces.
hearth feature at herrick hollow IIThe finished bifaces may have been used at the site or removed to another activity area, possibly at a residential base located elsewhere. Utilized flakes, scrapers and a drill suggest daily maintenance activities. Pottery fragments from a single Owasco corded Herringbone vessel were recovered in association with Feature 1, a basin shaped hearth. Maize from the hearth was AMS dated to 880 +/- 40 BP (Cal A.D. 1030 to 1250 at 2 Sigma - BETA #198654).









basin features
The site contained two other features, both shallow basin shaped pits. An AMS date from carbon in Feature 3 was 1760 +/- 40 BP (Cal A.D. 150 to 390 at 2 Sigma - BETA #198655) but may have been contaminated by recent garden activities. Maize fragments from Feature 4 were AMS dated to 890 +/- 40 BP (Cal A.D. 1030-1240 at 2 Sigma - BETA #198656). The identification of pottery, maize, thermal features, and clusters of tools in activity areas suggest that the area was used as an overnight encampment on several occasions.

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