ROUND SPRING ARCHEOLOGY, 

OZARK NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERW A YS, 

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 

by 

Mark J. Lynott 

Midwest Archeological Center 

Technical Report No. 2 

United States Department of the Interior 

National Park Service 

Midwest Archeological Center 

Lincoln, Nebraska 

1991 
ABSTRACT 

Archeological investigations at 

Round Spring have produced 

evidence for human occupation 

beginning with the Dalton culture. Intermittent prehistoric 

use of the area surrounding 

Round Spring continued until 

about A.D. 1300 when the area 

was abandoned. EuroAmerican occupation at the site 

began in the early nineteenth 

century. Evidence for a farmstead/cabin and a mill are presented. Systematic testing III 

1981 included excavation of 

nine test pits and about 50 

shovel tests. A substantial 

quantity of prehistoric and 

historic artifacts were collected from undisturbed 

contexts. Previous research 

conducted by the University of 

Missouri provides evidence of a 

Mississippian cemetery adjacent to the spring. The archeological resources at Round 

Spring have the potential to 

contribute data to research 

problems relating to the Late 

Archaic, Woodland, Emergent 

Mississippian, Mississippian, 

and nineteenth century EuroAmerican occupation of the 

Upper Current River valley. 

1 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

The 1981 archeological investigations were conducted by 

Forest Frost, Doug Kennedy, Jeff 

Richner, Chris Schoen, and Jim 

Zalesky under the direction of 

the author. Their dedication is 

greatly appreciated, particularly considering the wet and 

cold conditions under which the 

fieldwork was performed. 

Preparation of this report has 

benefitted from the constructive comments and cooperation 

of many individuals. Mary 

Oman and Alan May, American 

Archaeology Division, 

University of Missouri located 

and transferred the collections 

from the pre-1981 investigations to the Midwest 

Archeological Center, making 

them available for inclusion in 

this study. The late Dr. Carl 

Chapman shared his knowledge 

about the site with the author, 

and was particularly helpful in 

providing information on the 

location of excavated human 

remains. Dr. James Price and 

Cynthia Price visited the site 

and shared their knowledge 

about Round Spring archeology 

with the author. Jim Price was 

particularly helpful in describing the nature and extent of the 

erosion that has exposed 

human remains from the edge 

of the sinkhole spring. Alan 

Banks graciously made 

photographs of the shell 

tempered elbow pipe from 

Round Spring available for this 

report. The author also appreciates the opportunity provided 

by Dan Lenihan and the 

National Reservoir Innundation 

Study Team to visit the site 

during their diving studies at 

Round Spring. 

The preparation of this 

manuscript has benefitted from 

useful comments provided by 

Jim Price and Jeff Richner. The 

manuscript was edited by Judy 

Pace and the figures were prepared by Carrol Moxham. 

11 
T ABLE OF CONTENTS 

Abstract ...................................................................................................... i 

Acknowledgements .......................... , .... '" '" ... ... ... ...... ........... ......... ...... ..... 11 

Table of Contents ..... ........... ...... ..... ...... ..... ............................ ..... ...... ......... iii 

List of Tables .......................................................................................... iii 

List of Figures .......................................................................................... 111 

Introduction .......................................................................................... 1 

1981 Field Investigations .................................................................. 5 

Radiocarbon and Thermoluminsecence Dating .............................. 9 

Artifacts ...................................................................................................... 1 1 

Subsistence Data .......................................................................................... 1 9 

Conclusions .......................................................................................... 2 1 

References Cited .......................................................................................... 25 

LIST OF TABLES 

1 . Radiocarbon and Thermoluminescence Dates ........................ 2 9 

2. Provenience of prehistoric artifacts collected in 1981......... 31 

3. Vertebrate faunal remains from 1981 test excavations ... 32 

LIST OF FIGURES 

1. Location of 1981 excavation units, 23SH19 ........................... 34 

2. Location of archeological test units on 

south side of Round Spring .... ..... ..... ........ .................. .............. ..... 3 5 

3. Test excavations in small rockshelter within the Round 

Spring sinkhole .. .............................................. ...... .............................. 3 5 

4. Test units 5 and 6 revealed the remains of an early 

nineteenth century farmstead .............. ............................... ........ 3 6 

5. Profile of historic feature in Test Unit 7, 1981 ...................... 3 6 

6. Selected historic artifacts ......... ............. ............ ............... ............... 3 7 

7. Selected prehistoric chipped stone tools .................. ................ 3 8 

8 . Selected projectile points ............ ...... .......... ..... .................. ....... ...... 3 8 

9 . Selected projectile points ........................... ..... ................................ 3 9 

10. Selected prehistoric ceramics ........................................................ 3 9 

11. Prehistoric shell tempered pipe .............. ............... ...................... 4 0 

iii 
INTRODUCTION 

Round Spring is a large sinkhole spring located on a hillside 

above the Current River in 

Shannon County, Missouri. The 

picturesque spring rises from a 

large circular basin that was 

formed by the collapse of a solution cavity. A small part of 

the cave is still present in the 

form of an arch or grotto, 

through which Round Spring 

discharges into Round Spring 

Branch. Records indicate that 

the flow of Round Spring varies 

greatly, but averaged 

26,000,000 gallons per day 

during a 16-year period 

(Vineyard and Feder 1974). 

The scenic values which make 

Round Spring so attractive to 

contemporary residents and 

visitors have apparently existed for thousands of years. 

Archeological investigations, 

which began in the late 1940s, 

have provided evidence that 

people have been visiting the 

spnng for as much as 10,000 

years. The archeological data 

which has been collected provides evidence that the Round 

Spring site, 23SH19, contains a 

significant archeological record 

of the prehistoric and early 

historic occupation of the area 

now called Shannon County, 

Missouri. 

The earliest written record of 

cultural remams at Round 

Spring occurs in a report on the 

geological resources of Shannon 

County (Williams 1876). This 

report describes Round Spring 

as being 84 feet wide and 45 

feet deep. The report estimates 

the flow of Round Spring at 425 

cubic feet per second, with a 

prospecti ve horsepower of 

about 800. A map accompanying the report shows the location of two mills on the spring 

branch, one labeled "new mill" 

and the other "old mill." This is 

the only written record of these 

historic features, but evidence 

of the "old mill" is preserved in 

the channel and banks of the 

Round Spring Branch. During 

episodes of low water, the base 

of the mill dam can be seen 

immediately above the footbridge which connects the visitor parking lot with Round 

Spring. An 1863 journal, written by a Union army soldier 

describes Round Spring and 

Round Spring Cavern, along 

with the Deathridge Store near 

Old Eminence. The absence of 

any description of mills along 

Round Spring Branch may indicate that neither were standing 

at that time. 
In 1924 Round Spring State 

Park was established by the 

State of Missouri. In 1948, Leo 

Anderson reported to the 

Archaeological Survey of 

Missouri that a prehistoric 

burial had been exposed by 

erosion along the south side of 

Round Spring. The burial was 

in a supine position with the 

left arm extended at a 45 degree angle and the legs spread 

2.5 feet. The right arm of the 

individual was missing. The 

burial was oriented with the 

head to the north, toward the 

spring. The burial was badly 

fragmented, having been found 

under the former location of a 

county road. A series of mussel 

shells were laid around the 

skull of the individual to form a 

crescent, and a bifacial preform 

and shell tempered elbow pipe 

were found laying against the 

skull. The elbow pipe has a face 

incised on the bowl with a 

weeping eye motif (Banks 

1978:33). On the basis of this 

discovery, the Round Spring 

site was designated 23SHl9 by 

the Archaeological Survey of 

Missouri. 

In 1959 workers digging footings for a picnic shelter foundation discovered a cache of 

eight flint preforms (Haslag 

1959). A subsequent visit to 

the site by a team of University 

of Missouri archeologists under 

the direction of Carl Chapman 

resulted in the discovery of a 

second human skeleton eroding 

from the footpath area south of 

the spring. Excavation of the 

burial revealed that it was fully 

extended and had been interred with part of a shell tempered ceramic vessel. The interment was oriented eastwest, with the head to the west. 

The University of Missouri 

team also collected a Dalton 

point from an eroded area near 

the spring. 

Artifacts recovered during excavations near the burial were 

described by Wyatt (1959) and 

included five dart points (one 

corner notched, two stemmed), 

and limestone tempered (n = 

15), shell tempered (n = 5), grit 

tempered (n = 4), sand tempered (n = 1) and clay tempered (n = 1) pottery. In direct 

association with the burial 

were 54 shell tempered sherds 

and four limestone tempered 

sherds. The shell tempered ceramics were believed to be 

from a single medium-si~e jar 

with an approximate seveninch orifice. Artifacts found in 

the area of the biface cache discovery included hematite 

fragments, limestone tempered 

pottery, square cut nails, and 

an iron projectile point made 

from a square cut nail (Wyatt 

1959). The nails and the iron 

projectile point were collected 

from a small ash filled pit, 

about 11 inches below surface 

2 
in the area of the existing picnic shelter. 

In June 1964, Alan Banks of 

Eminence, Missouri reported to 

the University of Missouri that 

erosion had exposed another 

human burial at Round Spring. 

Subsequent excavations by the 

University of Missouri (Bray 

1964) produced evidence that 

this individual had been lDterred in a fully extended and 

prone position. Since the epiphyses had not fused, the individual was believed to be a 

subadult. Artifacts associated 

with the burial included four 

chert projectile points, an end 

scraper, two barrel shaped 

limestone beads, a bone sliver 

awl, and a triangular chert biface. The beads were found in 

the neck area of the individual 

and appear to have been interred as ornaments. Since the 

burial had been dug into midden fill, the remaining artifacts 

were not believed to be directly associated with the individual. 

A major flood in 1966 exposed 

another human burial around 

the southern rim of Round 

Spring (Henning 1966). The 

burial was found in a prone 

position with head and shoulders to the west. The lower 

extremities had been eroded 

away in the flood, but the body 

had apparently been extended. 

No grave goods were found 

with the burial, but excavations 

near the burial produced a dart 

point, an end scraper, a blade, 

several limestone tempered 

potsherds, and a lump of 

burned limestone. A substantial amount of chipped stone 

tools and debris, and shell and 

limestone tempered ceramics 

were collected from the surface 

of the eroded area. 

In 1972, the University of 

Missouri conducted survey and 

testing at major developments 

within the Ozark National 

Scenic Riverways. Major problems related to changes in project personnel greatly diminished the quality of the data 

available in the published report (Garrison et al. 1976). 

During the 1972 research, two 

6 ft x 6 ft test units were excavated near the location of the 

former State Park store. The 

test units encountered a trash 

pit filled with early nineteenth 

century cultural remains, including refined earthenware 

ceramics and gunflints. This 

material has been described 

and illustrated by Garrison et 

al. (1976), but maps of the 

features and the location of the 

test units are not available. A 

site designation of 23SH70 was 

assigned to the historic component investigated during this 

project. 

In 1978, the National Reservoir 

Innundation Study Team vis3 
ited Round Spring and Alley 

Spring for the purpose of conducting tests on the effect of 

innundation on artifacts. As 

part of the study, the diving 

team explored the bottom of 

the Round Spring sinkhole and 

the grotto which connects the 

spring with the spring branch. 

While no artifacts were found 

on the bottom of the sinkhole, a 

number of prehistoric artifacts 

were found 10 the grotto. 

These included Maramec 

Springs Cordmarked ceramics, 

flakes, cores, biface fragments, 

an adze, and a comer notched 

projectile point. The materials 

appear to be associated with 

the Maramec Springs occupation of the area and have been 

fully described and illustrated 

in Carrell, May, and Garrison 

(1980). 

On the basis of these studies, it 

is clear that potentially significant archeological remains are 

present at Round Spring. 

Unfortunately, the absence of a 

base map and adequate documentation about many of the 

these projects made it difficult 

to assess the condition, content 

and size of the Round Spring 

site. The 1981 investigations 

were designed to develop a 

base map of the site, and evaluate the condition, content, and 

potential signficance of the site. 

4 
1981 FIELD INVESTIGATIONS 

In May, 1981 a crew of six 

from the Midwest Archeological 

Center conducted test excavations at Round Spring. Nine 

test units and 78 shovel tests 

were excavated during a twoweek period. The field investigations during this time were 

intermittent, being interrupted 

by the need to conduct survey 

work at other locations, frequent rainfall, and local flooding. 

Shovel testing focused on the 

hillside and terraces north and 

east of Round Spring, and 

overlooking the Current River. 

A series of five transects, with 

shovel tests spaced at 10m 

intervals along each transect, 

was executed. Transects were 

spaced at about 10 m intervals. 

Individual shovel tests were 

about 30 cm in diameter, and 

were excavated to 30 cm below 

surface. Matrix from the 

shovel tests was not screened, 

but was carefully trowelled 

back into each hole. 

The location of the five shovel 

test transects is shown In 

Figure 1. Shovel testing revealed that archeological remains are present along the 

entire hillside north and east of 

Round Spring. Soils were generally deep and loamy on the 

southern and eastern ends of 

the area covered by shovel 

testing. The shovel tests excavated on the higher ground encountered shallow clay soils 

and a considerable number of 

rocks. 

Shovel testing was conducted in 

an area designated as site 

23SH70 by Garrison et al. 

(1976). The shovel testing 

conducted in 1981 revealed 

that a continuous scatter of 

prehistoric artifacts occurs 

from Round Spring to the edge 

of the second terrace above the 

Current River. The early to 

mid-nineteenth century component identified by Garrison 

et al. (1976) is confined to the 

area immediately east of Round 

Spring and north of the former 

Missouri State Park Concession 

Building. 

Test units were designed in two 

sizes: SO cm x SO cm, and 1 m 

x 1 m. Each unit was excavated 

in arbitrary 10 cm levels. 

Matrix from the test units was 

screened through 1I4-inch 

mesh hardware cloth. Selective 

samples of matrix (usually 

about four to five liters) were 

collected and later water 

screened through 1/16-inch 
mesh cloth. Excavations were 

made with shovels and trowels, 

and stratigraphic profiles were 

prepared for each unit. Soil 

samples for potential chemical 

and structural analysis were 

collected from major strata. 

Due to the frequent periods of 

inclement weather, sterile geological strata were not reached 

in any of the test units. 

Test units one, two, three, four, 

and nine were excavated in the 

area south of Round Spring and 

above the spring branch 

(Figure 2). The area has been 

extensively eroded by floods, 

and the upper 30 cm of all of 

these units appears to have 

been truncated and redeposited 

at some time in the past. The 

upper stratum in all of these 

units contained abundant trail 

gravel and historic artifacts in 

associations with prehistoric 

artifacts. This area was 

designated Area A, during the 

1959 field work conducted by 

the University of Missouri 

(Wyatt 1959). It is also the 

area from which human 

remains were exposed by 

erosion in 1948, 1959, 1964, 

and 1966. Below the disturbed 

zone in this area, there is a rich 

organic midden horizon. The 

black loamy matrix extends to 

varying depths and contains a 

rich archeological assemblage 

relating to the Maramec 

Springs and Emergent 

Mississippian occupations of 

the site. Along the southeast 

edge of the sinkhole is a small 

rock shelter. Test Unit 8, a 

small 50 cm x 50 cm unit, was 

excavated at the dripline of 

the shelter (Figure 3). The fill 

within the shelter was similar 

in composition and content to 

the midden deposit found along 

the south rim of the sinkhole. 

Test units 5 and 6 were positioned in an area which data 

from shovel testing indicated 

might contain habitation debris 

from the early to mid-nineteenth century (Figure 4). 

Unfortunately, construction of 

an asphalt road and other activities relating to the State 

Park disturbed this area extensively. Soils in this area are 

more rocky and compact than 

those near the lip of the sinkhole spring. While historic artifacts are abundant in the upper 

30 cm of each of these two 

units, prehistoric artifacts extend to at least 50 cm below 

surface in this area. 

Test Unit 7 was located near 

the edge of the T -2 landform 

immediately north of the point 

where Round Spring Branch 

enters the Current River floodplain. An old road-cut running 

roughly east-west, is present to 

the south of Test Unit 7. The 

soil in this area is a deep sandy 

loam, and the test unit produced abundant prehistoric and 

historic artifacts in mixed con6 
texts to about 40 cm below 

surface. At this point a large 

pit containing burned limestone 

slabs, charcoal, and historic and 

prehistoric artifacts was encountered. The feature extended into the north and east 

walls of the test unit, but appeared to be rectangular in 

shape. Burned limestone slabs 

lined the south and west sides 

of the pit which measured 90 

cm East-West, and 60 cm 

North-South. The feature 

extended to about 70 cm below 

surface, where an abrupt and 

flat bottom to the pit was 

encountered (Figure 5). The fill 

of the pit contained both 

prehistoric and historic 

remains. It appears that the 

feature is an historic pit which 

was dug through a relatively 

rich prehistoric deposit. 

The 1981 test excavations produced evidence that the 

archeological deposit on the 

south side of the sinkhole 

spring is quite deep. The basal 

stratum exposed during testing 

is a tan silt loam. Immediately 

above the tan silt loam is a 

black loamy stratum, with a 

soil pH of 8.3 and a relatively 

high content of organic matter. 

This midden stratum extends 

from about 40 cm to nearly 70 

cm below surface. It is likely 

that erosion resulting from 

major floods has truncated the 

midden in most areas on the 

south side of the spring. The 

uppermost stratum in the area 

south of the spring is a brown 

sandy loam with considerable 

gravel content. This latter 

stratum appears to be largely 

reworked archeological 

deposits and fill from erosional 

episodes. 

The soils on the hillside to the 

east and northeast of Round 

Spring are comprised of loams 

and clay loams. The uppermost 

soils are brown loam deposits 

which extend about 35 cm below surface. Below this point 

the clay content of the matrix 

increases and soil color becomes lighter. Soils in this 

area contain little organic matter and are slightly acidic. At 

the base of the hillside on the 

second terrace of the Current 

River, the soils are deep sandy 

loams. These strata contain 

relatively little organic matter 

and are slightly acidic. On the 

basis of topography, it seems 

likely that soils on the terrace 

are alluvial in nature, while 

those higher on the hillside are 

colluvial in origin. 

The 1981 test excavations at 

Round Spring have shown that 

the area has been intensively 

used during both the prehistoric and historic periods. 

Archeological remains cover 

more than 17,000 square meters from the Spring Branch on 

the south, to the sinkhole 

spring on the west, to the edge 

7 
of T-2 along the Current River 

on the east, and to a point 

about 30 m north of the existing National Park Service vault 

toilet. Prehistoric artifacts are 

present across this entire area. 

Early to mid-nineteenth century remains are concentrated 

along the Spring Branch where 

the remains of at least one, and 

possibly two mills are present. 

Other historic remaIns from 

that time period are also present in the area adjacent to 

1981 test units 5 and 6, where 

evidence of domestic activities 

has been collected. Historic 

remains from the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries 

are likely present at several 

places within the site. The location of features and 1981 test 

units are shown in Figure 1. 

8 
RADIOCARBON AND THERMOLUMINESCENCE DATING 

Four radiocarbon and six thermoluminescence samples have 

been submitted for dating. The 

purpose of using the two dating 

techniques was to obtain age 

estimates which might accurately estimate the date of the 

Woodland and Emergent 

Mississippian/Mississippian occupation near the spring. The 

use of radiocarbon dating 

techniques made it possible to 

date burial features and thermoluminescence techniques 

permitted direct dating of prehistoric ceramics. Use of the 

two techniques in combination 

reduces the chance of accepting 

an erroneous date. This latter 

consideration was judged to be 

of considerable importance, because all of the radiocarbon 

samples which were submitted 

had been stored in paper bags 

for over twenty years. 

Initially, two samples of human 

bone were submitted to the 

Radiocarbon Laboratory, 

University of Texas for dating. 

These samples were selected 

from remains collected by Leo 

Anderson in 1948 (TX-4093), 

and Carl Chapman (TX-4094) in 

1959. Both of the samples 

were believed to be about the 

same age, yet the sample collected In 1948 (TX-4093) 

yielded a date of only 300 

years B.P. It was decided that 

additional samples from the 

same contexts should be dated 

to provide additional evidence 

for evaluating the age of the 

two burials. A sample of charcoal believed to be associated 

with the burial uncovered in 

1959 was submitted, along 

with another bone sample from 

the burial collected in 1948. 

While the charcoal (Beta-3193) 

produced a modern date, the 

second sample of human bone 

(Beta-3194) produced a date 

which is in accord with the date 

from the burial uncovered in 

1959. Both of the burials 

which have been dated by radiocarbon are associated with 

the Mississippian culture, and 

have produced dates between 

A.D. 1200 and A.D. 1250 (Table 

1 ). 

The thermoluminescence samples were all collected during 

the 1981 investigations at the 

site. The samples were collected while trowelling and 

shovelling the test units. 

Samples were collected beginning at 20 cm below surface, 

with all samples being 

promptly placed in a zip-lock 

plastic bag and sealed. A soil 

sample from the area adjacent 
to the ceramic sample was also 

taken and sealed in a zip-lock 

plastic bag. The ceramics and 

soil were given corresponding 

sample numbers and bagged 

together in a larger plastic bag. 

These were placed in a paper 

bag and stored out of direct 

sunshine. The ceramics were 

removed briefly, one to three 

minutes, from the bags in the 

laboratory to examine temper 

and surface treatment. A total 

of six thermoluminescence 

samples were submitted to the 

Center for Archaeometry, 

Washington University (Table 

1). 

Two different types of ceramics 

were submitted for thermoluminescence dating. Four samples of limestone tempered 

(plain or smoothed) ceramics 

characteristic of the Maramec 

Springs culture were dated and 

yielded ages ranging from A.D. 

700 to A.D. 1070. Two samples 

of shell tempered ceramics, 

characteristic of the Emergent 

Mississippian and Mississippian 

cultures yielded dates of A.D. 

810 and A.D. 890. On the basis 

of the six samples submitted 

for thermoluminescence dating, 

the age differences between 

the limestone and shell tempered wares is not significant. 

The general contemporaneity of 

shell tempered and limestone 

tempered ceramics has been 

recorded at several other sites 

in the Current River drainage, 

most notably the Owls Bend 

and Shawnee Creek sites. 

The available radiocarbon and 

thermoluminescence dates 

from the Round Spring site 

provide evidence that both 

Maramec Springs and Emergent 

Mississippian people were occupying the area around the 

spring on an intermittent basis 

during the period between A.D. 

700 and A.D. 1100. Then about 

A.D. 1200, a number of people 

associated with the 

Mississippian culture were interred in the same area which 

had been used as a habitation 

area by Woodland and 

Emergent Mississippian peoples. A summary of the radiocarbon and thermoluminescence dates and their contexts 

is presented in Table 1. 

10 
ARTIFACTS 

A wide range of artifacts has 

been collected from the Round 

Spring site during numerous 

episodes of research. The materials described in this section 

are curated at the Midwest 

Archeological Center and have 

been obtained from excavations 

conducted by the University of 

Missouri in 1959 and the 

Midwest Archeological Center 

in 1981. A small amount of 

material from the research reported by Garrison et al. (1976) 

is included, but the majority of 

material described by Garrison 

et al. (1976) has not been 

transferred to the Center. 

Other artifacts from the Round 

Spring site were collected by 

National Park Service staff and 

private citizens following major 

episodes of flooding and erosion along the spnng and 

spring branch. 

Historic Artifacts 

Historic artifacts occur across 

the entire extent of the Round 

Spring site. This is largely due 

to the intensive activities associated with the Round Spring 

State Park and Ozark National 

Scenic Riverways. Two areas 

investigated in 1981 produced 

evidence of earlier historic activity. During the 1981 investigations, a fairly large quantity 

of early twentieth century 

material was found in association with a feature in Test Pit 7. 

An extensive collection of early 

nineteenth century artifacts 

was reported by Garrison et al. 

(1976), but the precise location 

of this component of the site is 

unclear. Testing in 1981 indicates that this was apparently 

in the vicinity of test pits 5 and 

6, where evidence of an early 

historic farmstead was 

recorded. It is also important 

to note that evidence of two 

nineteenth century mills along 

the spring branch occurs in 

documentary sources (Williams 

1876). Physical evidence of at 

least one mill dam can be observed in the spring branch 

during periods of low water 

flow. 

The majority of historic artifacts from the Round Spring 

site are related to food storage 

and service or construction of a 

structure. A few objects related to hunting/fishing, personal apparel, and currency exchange have also been collected. Food service and storage artifacts were collected 

primarily from test pits 5 and 6 

in 1981. These materials include crown caps from soft 
drink bottles, glass from bottles, jars and serving dishes, 

and refined earthenware ceramics (Figure 6). Construction 

artifacts consist of nails, window glass, and one piece of ornamental iron hardware. These 

were also collected from test 

pits 5 and 6. The remaining 

historic objects were collected 

primarily from test pits near 

the spring, or near the group 

picnic shelter. 

The historic ceramics from the 

Round Spring site are all refined earthenware, with the exception of a single gray 

stoneware sherd. The ceramics 

are all similar to refined 

earthenware from southeast 

Missouri described by Cynthia 

R. Price (1979). While most of 

the sherds are very small 

fragments, they appear to be 

pieces of plates. Whiteware, 

without any decoration, represents the most common ceramic 

type (n = 78). Decorated ceramics include blue shell-edge 

(n = 5), transfer print (blue = 4, 

red = 1, brown = 1), flow blue 

( n = 5), annular ware (blue = 1, 

mocha = 3, black = 1), hand 

painted polychrome floral (n = 

6), and hand painted (blue floral = 12, burgundy floral = 1 ) 

types. In comparing this 

assemblage to the chronology 

proposed by Cynthia R. Price 

(1979: 31) for the Ozark Border 

area, it appears likely that the 

majority of activity associated 

with these ceramICS occured 

during the period between 

1830 and 1850. Most of the 

decorated earthenware ceramics were collected from test pits 

5 and 6, but a good sample was 

also collected from Test Pit 7. 

Other historic food service and 

storage vessels are made from 

glass. Vessel form cannot be 

determined from the small size 

of most of the glass sherds. 

Fifteen pieces of clear curved 

glass were collected, along with 

one piece of clear square glass, 

and two pieces of green curved 

glass. These are most likely 

fragments of bottles or jars. 

Other glass objects include a 

sherd of embossed milk glass, 

and one sherd of embossed 

clear glass. These are probably 

fragments of serving vessels. 

Seven crown caps from soft 

drink bottles were collected, 

apparently from the State 

Park- era at Round Spring. 

Objects related to construction 

of an historic structure at 

Round Spring include nails, 

window glass and miscellaneous hardware. The hardware 

represented includes a cotter 

pin, a piece of ornamental iron 

trim and both square cut (n = 

64) and wire nails (n = 30). 

Both square cut and wire nails 

were collected from Test Pit 7, 

but only square cut nails were 

collected in the vicinity of test 

pits 5 and 6. Square cut nails 

12 
were manufactured in the 

United States from the late 

eighteenth century until the 

late nineteenth century, while 

wire nail manufacturing machinery was not perfected until 

the 1860s or 1870s (Nelson 

1968). This suggests that a 

structure was present in the 

area of test pits 5 and 6, and it 

was built prior to 1860. A 

somewhat later structure is reflected in the presence of wire 

nails from Test Pit 7. 

A total of 20 sherds of flat 

window glass was collected in 

1981. These were collected 

from test pits 5, 6, and 7. The 

thickness of each glass sherd 

was measured, and a mean or 

average thickness of 1.59 mm 

was calculated. Several studies 

have shown that mean thickness of window glass is temporally diagnostic (Chance and 

Chance 1976, Moir 1982, 

Roenke 1978 and Schoen 

1985). The mean thickness of 

1.59 mm is consistent with the 

1830 to perhaps 1860 temporal 

span of the refined earthenware ceramics and square cut 

nails described above. In addition to the flat glass, four 

sherds of what appears to be 

lamp chimney glass have also 

been recovered from test pits 5 

and 6. 

Artifacts reflecting personal 

apparel are limited from Round 

Spring. Four glass or porcelain 

13 

buttons, and one brass button 

were collected. A single barrel 

shaped glass bead (clear glass, 

15 mm long, 10 mm diameter) 

was also collected. 

Artifacts related to hunting include a Winchester 12 gauge 

shotgun shell, two .22 caliber 

short shot shells, and an iron 

projectile point. The cartridges 

are likely from the twentieth 

century, but the iron projectile 

point is a traditional fishing 

tool in the Current River valley 

(J. Price 1990). The iron projectile point appears to have 

been made from a square cut 

nail, and has been wrought to 

produce a barbed head (Figure 

6). The projectile point is 77 

mm long with a rectangular 

cross section (5 mm x 4 mm). 

This object was collected by the 

University of Missouri in 1959 

from a test excavation in the 

area of the picnic shelter. 

The only other historic artifacts 

collected from the Round 

Spring site are coins. These include an 1899 nickel, 1919 

Lincoln penny, and a 1959 

Lincoln penny. All are related 

to twentieth century activities 

at the site. 
Prehistoric Artifacts 

The prehistoric artifacts from 

the Round Spring site consist of 

chipped stone tools and debris, 

ground stone tools, ceramics, 

faunal remains, macrobotanical 

remains, fire-cracked rock, and 

burned soil. In addition to 

these, limestone beads, a bone 

awl, and mollusc shells have 

been reported by previous investigators (Bray 1964). The 

material described here is curated at the Midwest 

Archeological Center. This 

consists largely of artifacts collected during the 1981 testing 

program plus collections from 

the 1959 University of Missouri 

investigations. Additional materials from surface collections 

and the 1966 salvage excavations (Henning 1966) are also 

included. This report does not 

include materials collected 

from the Round Spring grotto 

by the Submerged Cultural 

Resources Unit, because those 

materials have been fully described elsewhere (Carrell, 

May, and Garrison 1980). 

Prehistoric artifacts collected in 

1981 are presented in Table 2. 

Chipped stone tools and debris 

represent the most abundant 

artifact class found at the 

Round Spring site. A total of 

1,131 flakes, 799 proximal 

flakes, and 4,133 pieces of nondiagnostic shatter was collected 

during the 1981 investigations. 

The laboratory portion of this 

study included examination of 

186 chipped stone tools and 

two ground stone tools, most of 

which were collected in 1981. 

These chipped stone materials 

are made primarily from local 

cherts, but 1.1 percent of the 

sample is made from white 

quartzite. Chipped stone tools 

and debris occur across the entire extent of the Round Spring 

site, but are most numerous in 

the area near the spring. 

The diagnostic chipped stone 

debris (flakes and proximal 

flakes) are dominated by the 

later stages of corelbiface reduction sequence. Only 1.5 

percent of the sample exhibited 

cortex across the entire dorsal 

surface, and only 19 percent of 

the sample exhibit any cortex 

on the dorsal surface. With 

over 80 percent of the flakes 

and proximal flakes lacking any 

dorsal cortex, the lithic debris 

indicates that the primary 

stages of the lithic reduction 

sequence were being conducted 

elsewhere. Examination of 

platform preparation indicates 

that a range of different platform types were in use, with 

the following relative frequencies observed from the 1981 

data sample: 8.5 percent cortex, 

8.5 percent faceted, 71.3 percent plain, 9.5 percent crushed, 

and 2.2 percent lipped and 

faceted. As noted earlier, 

nearly 99 percent of the sam14 
pIe is made from local cherts, 

with the remainder being made 

from white quartzite. 

A wide range of stone tools has 

been collected from the Round 

Spring site (Figure 7). Most of 

these are chipped stone tools 

made from chert or quartzite. 

However, a fragment of 

hematite celt or axe was 

collected following a major 

flood in 1982, and the 1981 investigations produced a circular 

pitted anvil stone. The latter is 

80 mm in diameter and 47 mm 

thick. Two hammerstone fragments were collected during 

the 1966 investigations. The 

remainder of the specimens 

available for study are cores, 

bifaces or unifaces. 

The cores from the Round 

Spring site are limited in number and diversity. Single platform (n = 4) and tested cobbles 

(n = 3) represent the majority 

of the identifiable core types. 

With the exception of a single 

multi-platform core, the remamtng eight specimens are 

core fragments. All of the cores 

are local cherts. The relatively 

limited number of cores, and 

the dominance of single platform and tested cobble types 

indicates that the prImary 

stage of stone tool production 

was not a primary activity at 

Round Spring. 

15 

Sixty-three uni facially retouched tools were examined as 

part of this study. These include 36 retouched pieces: 27 

retouched flakes, three gravers, 

one notch, three end scrapers 

and two chopper/scrapers. The 

retouched pieces and flakes all 

exhibit limited unifacial retouch on either the ventral or 

dorsal surface of one edge. The 

gravers exhibit unifacial retouch which forms a small but 

distinct beak. These tools are a 

regular component of tool kits 

during the Emergent 

Mississippian substage in the 

Upper Current River Valley. 

The chopper/scrapers are large 

flakes with steep retouch from 

deep percussion scars along one 

margin. All of the unifacial 

tools are made from local 

cherts. 

Bifacially chipped stone tools 

from Round Spring include arrow points, dart points, bifaces, 

and two bifacially retouched 

flakes. The latter are similar to 

the unifacially retouched 

flakes, but have been retouched bifacially. Bifaces are 

the most common artifact type 

in the sample, and include 11 

complete specimens and 59 

fragments. While most of the 

bifaces were too fragmentary 

to be more specifically classified (59 percent), the more 

complete specimens are comprised of 28 percent preforms, 

nine percent blanks and four 
percent roughouts. The dominance of well shaped blanks

and preforms provides further

evidence that primary lithic

reduction was of minimal Importance at Round Spring. 

The 48 projectile points which

were examined as part of this

study include 40 dart points

and eight arrow points (Figures

8 and 9). The arrow points include two complete and six

fragmentary specimens, all of

which are small stemmed and

corner notched forms. Several

of these exhibit plano-convex

cross sections and/or unifacial

retouch, attributes which are

diagnostic of the Emergent

Mississippian substage in this

area. The dart points include

eight complete and 20 fragmentary specimens. Most of

the dart points appear to be

corner notched. shallow sidenotched, or expanding stem

forms which occur during both

the Archaic and Woodland

stage. However, ten of the dart

points may be assigned to other

types which permit more specific interpretation of the

chronology of their manufacture. 

The earliest point form represented is the base of a Dalton

point. This point was collected

from Test Pit 3 at a depth of 80

cm below surface. The specimen has the characteristic

lanceolate shape and concave

16 

base with basal thinning. A 

more complete Dalton point 

was collected at the Round 

Spring site by the University of 

Missouri in 1959 (Haslag 1959). 

Based upon dating of Dalton 

points throughout the southeastern United States, it is 

likely that the Round Spring 

site was occupied as early as 

8500 B.C. (Goodyear 1974, 

Morse and Morse 1983). 

A single side-notched dart 

point was collected from the 

1981 test excavations. The side 

notched point is a basal fragment which is similar in form 

to the type Big Sandy (Lewis 

and Kneberg 1961) from the 

Middle Archaic substage in 

Tennessee and Missouri. These 

points date primarily between 

5000 B.C. and 3000 B.C. 

(Chapman 1975). 

Projectile points associated 

with the Late Archaic substage 

are relatively numerous at 

Round Spring. A wide range of 

large basal notched, corner 

notched points, as well as 

straight and expanding stem 

forms is present. Particularly 

notable among these is the frequent use of white quartzite, 

rather than chert. The Late 

Archaic substage in the Upper 

Current River Valley is characterized by the relatively high 

frequency of white quartzite in 

the manufacture of lithic tools 

(Price, Price, and Saucier 1987). 
Points from this stage probably 

date between 3000 B.C. and 

500 B.C. 

Projectile points characteristic 

of the Early Woodland substage 

are relatively uncommon at 

Round Spring. However, two 

contracting stem point bases 

have been collected from the 

site. These points are similar to 

the Gary points described by 

Price (1986) from southeast 

Missouri. One of the points was 

collected from the shovel tests 

east of the spring, while the 

other was exposed by erosion 

between the spring and the 

spring branch. These projectile points probably date between 500 B.C. and A.D. 500. 

Based upon the temporally diagnostic chipped stone tools, 

most of the prehistoric artifacts 

from the site appear to date to 

the Archaic stage. However, 

the numerous large dart points 

may be over-represented in 

this sample due to the continuing erosion of the archeological 

deposit adjacent to the spring. 

It is likely that much of the 

more recent prehistoric deposits in this area has been 

washed away in past flood 

episodes. Fortunately, some of 

the 1981 test units produced 

evidence that some of the 

Woodland and Emergent 

Mississippian occupation is still 

present. These later occupations are best documented by 

17 

the presence of two different 

ceramic industries. 

he prehistoric ceramics from 

Round Spring are comprised of 

shell tempered and limestone 

empered sherds (Figure 10). 

he limestone tempered 

ceramics are the same as those 

described for the Maramec 

pring Focus (McMillan 1965, 

hapman 1980). The shell 

empered ceramIcs are the 

same as Emergent 

ississippian types found 

hrough the Eastern Ozark reion. The context of the two 

ifferent ceramic industries at 

ound Spring are sufficiently 

mixed as to make it impossible 

o determine if they are conemporary. However, at the 

wls Bend site (Lynott 1989, 

ynott, Monk, and Price 1984) 

nd the Shawnee Creek site 

(Price and Price 1986, Lynott 

nd Price 1989) limestone and 

hell tempered ceramics have 

een found in contexts which 

learly indicate that the two 

xisted as contemporaries in 

he Upper Current River 

rainage. 

aramec Springs ceramics are 

empered with finely crushed 

articles of limestone. These 

essels are known primarily 

rom the Meramac, Gasconade 

nd Lower Osage drainages of 

he Ozark Highland region 

Chapman 1980). Vessel forms 

nclude globular to conoidal jars 

T

t

T

S

C

t

M

t

g

d

R

t

t

O

L

a

a

s

b

c

e

t

d

M

t

p

v

f

a

t

(

i
and bowls with conical to round 

bases (McMillan 1965). Vessels 

occur with either a cordmarked 

or smoothed exterior. 

Decoration is rare, but when 

present occurs near the rim or 

one of the lips of the vessel. 

Maramec Springs ceramics are 

associated with the Woodland 

stage m the Upper Current 

River Valley and are found 

from about Owls Bend to the 

headwaters. A total of 75 

limestone tempered sherds was 

examined as part of this study. 

Most of these were collected 

from the area between Round 

Spring and the spring branch 

during either the 1959 investigations or the 1981 investigations. 

The Maramec Springs ceramics 

are comprised of four rimsherds and 71 body sherds. 

Sixty percent of the ceramics 

are cordmarked, with the 

remainder being smoothed. Of 

the rimsherds, two have flat 

lips and two are round. None 

of the rim or body sherds 

exhibit any decoration. All of 

these sherds are typical of 

Maramec Spring Plain or 

Maramec Spring Cordmarked. 

The other prehistoric ceramic 

industry represented In the 

collections from the Round 

Spring site is shell tempered. 

These include 69 body sherds 

and six rimsherds. All are 

tempered with finely crushed 

shell and are macroscopically 

indistinguishable from 

Mississippian ceramics found 

throughout southeast Missouri. 

Two different vessel forms are 

present. The most common is a 

jar, but at least one pan is also 

represented. Unfortunately, 

none of the vessels are sufficiently complete to provide 

detailed descriptions about 

form, but jars apparently occur 

with either slightly everted or 

vertical rims. Rims occur in 

both flat and round forms, 

without any decoration. All but 

one of the shell tempered ceramics are smooth or plain. A 

body sherd from Test Unit 6 

exhibits cross hatched incised 

lines on the exterior. It is also 

worth noting that a shell tempered elbow pipe with a 

weeping eye motif on the bowl 

was associated with one of the 

burials that eroded from the 

site. The pipe is illustrated in 

Banks (1978) and has been reproduced here (Figure 11) 

through the courtesy of Alan 

Banks. 

1 8 
SUBSISTENCE DATA 

During the 1981 investigations, 

bulk samples of soil matrix 

were collected and returned to 

the Midwest Archeological 

Center for fine screemng. This 

approach was designed to 

permit collection of small bones 

and macrobotanical remains 

which might provide a more 

complete record of the subsistence practices of the past residents of the Round Spring site. 

In addition to the fine screen 

samples, some samples of animal bone and macrobotanical 

remains were collected through 

normal screening of test units. 

A total of 135.8 grams of macrobotanical remains was collected in 1981. A scan of these 

materials indicates that the 

sample is comprised entirely of 

charred nut hulls and wood 

charcoal. No charred seeds 

were observed. The high frequency of charred nut hulls is 

consistent with other sites in 

the Current River Valley. Nuts 

were clearly an important food 

item and have been found, 

preservation conditions permitting, in association with all 

habitation sites in this regIOn. 

Vertebrate faunal remains 

from the Round Spring site 

were identified by Susan M. 

Monk and Therese C. Ryder 

(1982). A relatively wide 

range of fish, reptile, amphibian, bird, and mammal remains 

are present (Table 3). 

Approximately 12 percent of 

the sample was either completely or partially charred. 

The species which exhibited 

charring included Odocoileus 

virginianus (n = 8), Vulpes sp. 

(n = 1), Canis spp. (n = 1) and 

Terrapene sp. (n =1). Cut 

marks relating to butchering 

were identified only on three 

elements of Odocoileus virginianus. Rodent gnawing was 

noted on four elements from 

three species: Terrapene ornata (n = 1), Terrapene carolina 

(n ::: 1) and Odocoileus virginianus (n = 2). 

The fish remains from the 

Round Spring site include a 

minimum of 96 elements from 

six different taxa. The most 

common taxa represented are 

the perch family (n = 7), the 

sucker family (n = 5), and the 

genus Ictalurus spp. (n = 7), 

which includes catfish and 

bullheads. Other identifiable 

fish include Moxostoma sp. 

(redhorse), Amia calva 

(bowfin), and Serranidae (bass). 

The majority of elements from 

the fine screen samples can 

only be identified to more generalized taxa which include 

sucker, catfish, and perch. 

These taxa are consistent with 

other fish remains from sites in 

the Upper Current River Valley. 
Reptiles and amphibians are 

represented by six different 

taxa. The only amphibian 

identifed during this study is 

the genus Rana sp. (frog, n = 2). 

Reptile remains from the Round 

Spring site are somewhat more 

diverse, but are comprised entirely of turtles. The turtle taxa 

and number of identifiable 

elements include Emydinae (n = 

1), Terrapene sp. (n = 2), 

Terrapene carolina (n = 2), 

Terrapene ornata (n = 1), and 

Chrysemys sp. (n = I). 

Identifiable bird remains are 

even more limited. Only one 

element each of goose (Goose 

spp.) and turkey (Melagris gallopava) have been identified. 

Mammal remains from the 

Round Spring site are comprised of 45 elements from 

nine taxa. Smaller mammalian 

elements include five squirrel, 

three Plains pocket gopher, two 

New Wodd rat, one cotton rat, 

one muskrat, and one eastern 

cottontail. Medium size mammalian elements include two 

fox and five Canis spp. The 

only larger mammals which 

have been identified include 

one domestic pig and 24 whitetailed deer. 

The majority of fauna identified in this study were collected from the test units nearest the sinkhole. Consequently, 

most of these remains are 

20 

probably related to the prehistoric occupation of the site. The 

subsistence data from the 

Round Spring site provides evidence that a wide range of 

vertebrate animal forms were 

exploited. This practice is consistent with other sites in the 

Upper Current River Valley. 

The character of prehistoric 

Eastern Ozark subsistence 

strategies appears to be linked 

to exploitation of a wide range 

of plants and animals. While 

white-tailed deer probably 

contributed the largest amount 

of meat, the presence of several 

taxa of fish, turtle and bird 

indicates that all animals were 

likely collected. Most of the 

animals identified during this 

study represent aquatic or 

river bottom dwelling creatures. Since this is exactly the 

location of the Round Spring 

site, it appears that most of the 

animals represented were collected from relatively near the 

site. 
CONCLUSIONS 

The presence of archeological 

remains at Round Spring became known in the nineteenth 

century when the Acting State 

Geologist provided a map 

showing the location of an "old 

mill" (Williams 1876). This 

map is important because it 

shows the location of a mill and 

farmstead that were in use in 

1876. More formal recognition 

of the archeological resources 

at Round Spring did not occur 

until 1948, when Leo Anderson 

reported the presence of an 

extended human burial that 

had eroded from the south side 

of the spring. The site was assigned the number 23SH 19 at 

that time. 

Subsequently, erosion has exposed human remains along the 

south side of the spring on 

three other occasions (Haslag 

1959, Bray 1964, Henning 

1966). These episodes of limited research provide evidence 

documenting that Round Spring 

was used as a cemetery during 

the period between A.D. 900 

and A.D. 1300. Testing in 1981 

was designed to produce a base 

map of the archeological resources at Round Spring and to 

evaluate the condition and 

significance of archeological 

remains in this area. 

Current evidence indicates that 

people associated with the 

Dalton culture were the first 

humans to visit Round Spring. 

This is documented by a Dalton 

projectile point collected from 

the surface in 1959 (Haslag 

1959) and the base of another 

Dalton point collected from one 

of the 1981 test units. It appears that occupation associated with the Dalton culture 

was limited with the site likely 

serving as a temporary camp. 

Evidence relating to the Early 

and Middle Archaic indicates 

that occupation during those 

substages was similar to that 

described for the Dalton culture. 

On the basis of projectile points 

collected from the site, it appears that human activities at 

Round Spring increased considerably during the Late Archaic 

substage. Testing has yet to 

reveal any features from this 

period, so the nature of Late 

Archaic activities at Round 

Spring remains unclear. Much 

of the habitation debris Immediately below the midden 

stratum around the rim of the 

sinkhole relates to the Late 

Archaic substage, and the site 

clearly contains significant data 
about Late Archaic life in the 

Upper Current River Valley. 

During the Woodland stage, 

Round Spring was occupied intensively by people associated 

with the Maramec Spring culture. The intensity of the occupation during this period is 

documented by the presence of 

extensive artifacts and a dark 

midden stratum. Most of the 

vertebrate remains from the 

site are probably related to either the Maramec Spring occupation or the Emergent 

Mississippian occupation. 

Despite the intensity of the 

Maramec Springs use of the 

Round Spring, it does not appear that habitation at the site 

was permanent. 

Beginning sometime between 

A.D. 700 and A.D. 900, 

Emergent Mississippian peoples 

began visiting Round Spring. 

Evidence of Emergent 

Mississippian occupation occurs 

in the form of arrow points and 

shell tempered ceramics. 

During this period and continuing until perhaps A.D. 1200, 

Round Spring was apparently 

utilized by both Maramec 

Springs and Emergent 

Mississippian groups. The 

presence of limestone tempered and shell tempered ceramics mixed throughout the 

midden stratum near the 

spring documents the temporal 

overlap of these two groups at 

22 

Round Spring. It is unlikely 

that either group used the site 

as a permanent settlement. 

About A.D. 1200, Round Spring 

was used by one or more 

Mississippian groups as a 

cemetery. Little is known 

about the domestic lives of the 

people occupying Round Spring 

at this time. The radiocarbon 

dates from the human burials 

excavated by the University of 

Missouri (Haslag 1959, Henning 

1966) represent some of the 

last prehistoric dates recorded 

in the Upper Current River 

Valley. The last prehistoric occupation of Round Spring occurred about A.D. 1300. This 

coincides with a widespread 

abandonment of the Upper 

Current Ri ver Valley by 

Emergent Mississippian people 

and the appearance of major 

Mississippian civic ceremonial 

centers in the Mississippi River 

alluvial valley to the southeast. 

It is possible that the extreme 

northwestern portions of the 

Upper Current River Valley 

continued to be used by 

Maramec Springs people, but 

most of the drainage was simply abandoned. 

During the early years of the 

nineteenth century, Round 

Spring must have served as a 

landmark for early settlers in 

the region. The presence of 

habitation debris from a farmstead in the area of test units 5 
and 6, indicates that the area 

was occupied by EuroAmericans about 1820-30. It 

is unclear when the first mill 

was built on Round Spring 

branch, but it predated the 

Civil War. The scenic values 

offered by Round Spring were 

recognized by the Missouri 

legislature, which established 

Round Spring State Park in 

1924. 

From the standpoint of culture 

history, the Round Spring site is 

significant because it contains 

evidence pertaining to the 

Dalton, Late Archaic, Woodland, 

Emergent Mississippian, and 

early nineteenth century EuroAmerican occupations of the 

Upper Current River Valley. 

The information contained 

within the remaining site deposits can contribute to a better 

understanding of these stages 

of the archeological record. The 

site contains valuable data on 

subsistence practices reflected 

in vertebrate faunal remams 

and macrobotanical remains. 

Also of significance is the 

Emergent Mississippian cemetery which has been recorded 

along the south side of the 

sinkhole. Human remains offer 

the opportunity to collect data 

on population demography, 

health, and nutrition. The 

presence of an early nineteenth 

century farmstead and mill at 

the site provides the opportunity to study early efforts at 

23 

industry, as well as homesteading in the region. 

Round Spring is clearly one of 

the more significant archeological sites m Ozark National 

Scenic Riverways. The proximity of significant archeological 

remains to a scenic natural 

feature offers an excellent opportunity to interpret the 

archeology of the Upper 

Current River Valley. Since 

visitors are already visiting this 

archeological site, Round Spring 

offers a significant opportunity 

for public education and interpretation of the archeology of 

the Upper Current River Valley. 

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26 

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Ryder 

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Price 

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Feder 

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Columbia. 

28 
Table 1: Radiocarbon and Thermoluminescence Dates, 23SH19 

Lab # Age Context and Comments 

TX-4093 A.D. 1650 +/- 70 The date is from a sample of 

human bone from a Mississippian 

burial collected in 1948 with an 

associated shell tempered elbow 

pipe. This date seems too recent. 

Beta-3194 dates a sample of bone 

from the same burial. 

TX--4094 A.D. 1240 +/- 150 The date is from a sample of 

human bone collected in 1959 by 

the University of MissouriColumbia. The nature of the 

burial (extended, supine) 

indicated it was associated with 

the Mississippian culture. 

Beta-3193 Modem A charcoal sample collected along 

with human remains (TX-4094) 10 

1959 by the University of 

Missouri-Columbia. 

Beta-3194 A.D. 1200 +/- 90 A sample of human bone collected 

in 1948 from same context as TX4093. Sample accurately dates 

Mississippian interments at Round 

Spring. 

WU-TL-1l2e A.D. 780 +/- 140 A limestone tempered body sherd 

from Test Unit 9, 30 - 40 cm 

below surface. 

WU-TL-1l2f A.D. 810 +/- 160 A shell tempered body sherd from 

Test Unit 3, 35 cm below 

surface. 

WU-TL-1l2g A.D. 890 +/- 140 A shell tempered body sherd from 

Test Unit 9, 40 - 50 cm below 

surface. 

29 
WU-TL-112h A.D. 1070 +/-100 A limestone tempered body sherd 

from Test Unit 8, 60 - 70 cm 

below surface. 

WU-TL-112i A.D. 700 +/- 200 A limestone tempered body sherd 

from Test Unit 8, 70 - 80 cm 

below surface. 

WU-TL-112j A.D. 700 +/- 300 A limestone tempered body sherd 

from Test Unit 8, 50 - 60 cm 

below surface. 

30 
Table 2: Provenience of prehistoric artifacts collected in 1981 

Test Unit 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ST* Total 

flake 51 62 20 29 165 181 251 87 122 162 1131 

proximal flake 22 44 25 24 153 156 148 14 84 129 799 

non-diagnostic 107 141 329 27 699 920 729 315 285 581 4133 

shatter 

core 2 1 1 5 4 1 1 15 

projectile point 3 1 1 1 3 8 3 20 

biface 4 1 2 13 9 6 2 5 12 54 

uniface 5 4 1 1 24 7 4 8 7 61 

ceramic 19 2 4 2 1 5 28 23 84 

ST* = shovel tests 

(jJ 

I--" 
Table 3: Vertebrate Faunal Remains from the 1981 test excavations 

Taxa < grade 3 > grade 3 Total no % Total 

FISH 

Amia calva 1 o 1 0.8 

(bowfin) 

Catostomidae 5 20 25 20.3 

(suckers) 

Moxostoma sp. 2 2 1.6 

(redhorse) 

Ictalurus sp. 7 1 8 6.5 

(catfish, bullheads) 

Serranidae 3 3 2.4 

(bass) 

Perdidae 7 9 16 13.0 

(perch, walleye) 

Misc. fish 11 11 8.9 

REPTILE 

Emydinae 1 1 0.8 

(box/water turtle) 

Terrapene sp. 2 1 3 2.4 

(box turtle) 

Terrapene carolina 2 2 1.6 

(three-toedl 

Carolina box turtle) 

Terapene ornata I 1 0.8 

(ornate box turtle) 

Chrysemys sp. 1 1 0.8 

(painted turtle) 

AMPHIBIAN 

Rana sp. 2 2 1.6 

(frog) 

32 
Table 3: Vertebrate Faunal Remains (continued) 

BIRD 

Goose sp. 1 1 0.8 

(goose) 

Melagris galloyavo 1 1 0.8 

(turkey) 

MAMMALS 

Sciurus sp. 4 1 5 4.1 

(squirrel) 

Geomy:s bursarius 2 1 3 2.4 

(Plains pocket gopher) 

Cricetidae 2 2 1.6 

(New World rat) 

Sigmodon sp. 1 1 0.8 

(Cotton rat) 

S)::lvilagus floridanus 

(eastern cottontail) 

I 1 0.8 

Ondatra zibethicus 1 1 0.8 

(muskrat) 

Canis spp. 5 5 4.1 

(dog, coyote, wolf) 

Vulyus sp. 2 2 1.6 

(fox) 

Sus scrofa 1 1 0.8 

(domestic pig) 

Odocoileus virginianus 24 

(white-tailed deer) 

24 19.5 

TOTAL 89 34 123 

33 
w 

.J::o. 

Figure 1. Location of 1981 excavation units, 23SH19 

6'<9. 

o 

~ VaultT 

~ 

A Mill Dam 

B Possible Mill Location 

C Remnant of Old Wagon Road 

o Foundation 

E Location of Historic Farmstead 

F Location of Mississippian Cemetery 

• Test Pit 

.- Shovel Test Transect 

o 200ft. , ! 

Contour Interval 10 Feet 

N 
Figure 2. Location of archeological test units on south side of 

Round Spring 

35 

Figure 3. Test excavations in small rockshelter within the 

Round Spring sinkhole 
Figure 4. Test units 5 and 6 revealed the remains of an early 

nineteenth century farmstead 

Figure 5. Profile of historic feature in Test Unit 7, 1981 

36 

Brown Sandy Loam 

Tan Sandy Loam 

UNEXCAVATED 

Recent 

Disturbance 

Tan Sandy Loam 

with Abundant@ 

~ Charcoal Flecks a 

Brown Sandy Loam 

~ 

Tan Sandy Loam 

Charred Wood CRock 
(,j.l 

-...J 

Figure 6. Selected historic artifacts 

o Inches 

~ 

~ 

2 
\,N 

00 

Figure 7. Selected prehistoric chipped stone tools Figure 8. Selected projectile points 
\,;J 

1.0 

Figure 9. Selected projectile points Figure 10. Selected prehistoric ceramics 
Figure 11. Prehistoric shell tempered pipe 

40