Determination of period of cultural occupation at the Harriet Johnson Site (FS# 05-891)

Abstract

This paper uses lithic analysis, floral analysis, and radiocarbon dating to determine the period of cultural occupation at the Harriet Johnson Site located in the Superior National Forest (SNF) of northeastern Minnesota and partially excavated in the summers of 2004 and 2005. Statistical analysis of the artifact assemblage currently on loan from the SNF and housed at the Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center indicated the range of local lithic raw materials present, tool types, and levels of cultural occupations. The working hypothesis is that this site has a Shield Archaic component as well as a possible Paleoindian component. Statistical analysis of the total lithics recovered using Microsoft Access has helped to provide a means to determine favored raw materials as well as cultural levels. Radiocarbon dating of the feature will also help to determine the occupation of this site. Cultural period may not be able to be determined from this assemblage, but analysis can point to the most probable occupation. Compiling this data into a site report will provide archaeologists in the area with a valuable resource. A description of a Shield Archaic occupation would help future researchers in the area further define this cultural complex.