Analysis of fish remains from the Krause Site (47LC41) in La Crosse County, WI

Abstract

During the 2000 excavations at the Krause site (47LC41) in Onalaska, WI, archaeologists from the University of Wisconsin--La Crosse and the Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center (MVAC) uncovered an earth oven feature. Oneota features are common regionally, but this feature (number 275) is different from other Oneota features. Most Oneota features in the La Crosse area are garbage or storage pits and can only offer a secondary context. Feature 275 is a stone-lined earth oven where the contents are believed to be in their primary context. Feature 275 is also unusual because of twenty different zones that appear to be separate areas of activity and use. The analysis of fish remains in this feature offers unique insights into the diet and subsistence of the Oneota people who were a pre-European agricultural society.