Archaeological investigations in the Watauga Reservoir, Carter and Johnson Counties, Tennessee
As a result of a 41 m lake drawdown, archaeological investigations were conducted in the Watauga Reservoir in 1983-1984 to identify prehistoric archaeological sites, to test some of these sites to recover datable remains, and to document reservoir inundation and drawdown impacts on archaeological sites. Reservoir inundation and drawdown impacts were severe on many sites, with erosion, deflation and movement of artifacts noted on sites with slopes steeper than 5/sup 0/. One-hundred and twelve sites and six single artifact loci were exposed in the upper half of the reservoir, and 10 sites were tested. Three features, and their associated artifacts were radiocarbon dated. Diagnostic lithic and ceramic artifacts representing the Paleoindian (10,000 to 8000 B.C.) through Late Prehistoric/Protohistoric (A.D. 1500 to 1600) periods were recovered. Lithic tools were primarily produced from locally available quartzite and chalcedony lithic resources, and projectile point morphologies were generally comparable to previously defined types from East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia and Western North Carolina. Ceramic artifacts were primaily tempered with either quartz, grit, sand, limestone or soapstone aplastic inclusions, and were also generally comparable to previously defined types from the tri-state area. However, greater variability was noted in temper/surface treatment combinations for ceramic artifacts from the Late Prehistoric and Protohistoric periods. The results of the Watauga Project provide a basis for future research in the area, particularly on problems of prehistoric cultural interaction in the adjoining portions of North Carolina and Virginia.
- Research Organization:
- Tennessee Univ., Knoxville (USA). Dept. of Anthropology
- OSTI ID:
- 6986486
- Report Number(s):
- TVA/ONRED/LER-86/53; ON: DE87900080
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. Includes 4 sheets of 24x reduction microfiche; University of Tennessee, Department of Anthropology, Report of Investigations No. 44; Tennessee Valley Authority, Publications in Anthropology No. 46
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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13 HYDRO ENERGY
DRAWDOWN
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
TENNESSEE
WATER RESERVOIRS
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
AGE ESTIMATION
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS
SITE SURVEYS
FEDERAL REGION IV
NORTH AMERICA
SURFACE WATERS
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