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Cumberland Island National Seashore; Archaeological Mitigation of NPS 9 and 9 CAM 6, Analysis of Prehistoric and Historic Ceramics and Bottles

Author(s)
Report Number
5108
Year of Publication
1990
Abstract

In compliance with Section 106 of the Historic Preservation Act of 1966, archeological salvage of eroding prehistoric sites 9-CAM-5 and 9-CAM-6 was initiated. Problem domains included: 1) time, space, and subsistence economy of prehistoric populations, 2) reconstruction of sociocultural characteristics of the historic occupations of Nathanael Greene and the Carnegies, and 3) verification or refutation of the location of the Spanish mission of San Pedro de Mocamo. Evidence gathered from surface collections, maps, and test excavations support earlier predictions that the mission has been lost to wave action and is no longer an entity. Radio-metric studies suggest that 9-CAM-6 is a late prehistoric occupation that was most likely occupied during the Spanish period and is the site of the Indian village of Tacatacuru. However, field studies show that as much as 53% of this prehistoric village has eroded into the water. Excavations at Garden Point and Dungeness Crossing, both portions of 9-CAM 5, reveal that it is an early occupation (500 BC) that may have been utilized throughout the prehistoric period. It is possible that 9-CAM-5 and 6 are actually one extensive site, portions of which were utilized at different times. The unexpected paucity of cultural material dictated only limited testing at Garden Point and Dungeness Crossing. Vandalism, land alterations, and historic mining of the shell middens have destroyed the majority of both historic and prehistoric occupations at these two places. Excellent maps were made of all tested areas.