Thanks to IAS members who have submitted abstracts for the virtual talks that will take place in lieu of our conference this year. I know that many of us would have like to meet in person, and hopefully next year we will have that opportunity. The first presentation will be on Sunday September 12th at 3:00pm.
Sunday September 12th, Lithic Use-Wear Evidence of Middle Woodland Pearl/Shell Bead Production at the Crane Site, Greene County, Illinois
G. Logan Miller (Illinois State University), Kenneth B. Farnsworth (Illinois State Archaeological Survey), Brad H. Koldehoff (Illinois Department of Transportation)
Lithic use-wear analysis of chipped stone blades and drills from the Middle Woodland period Crane site offers a view into pearl/shell bead production that is unequaled in eastern North America. Crane is a Middle Woodland residential site in the Macoupin Creek Valley. Surface collections and excavations in 1970s provided an in depth look at the site structure of this residential camp. Over 1,500 chipped stone blades, many of which were retouched into drills, were recovered during these investigations. Microscopic use-wear analysis of 308 blades and 75 drills indicate an emphasis on pearl/shell bead manufacturing at the site. These beads had spiritual, social, and economic value for groups participating in the Hopewell Interaction Spheres. As such, tens of thousands of pearl/shell beads have been recovered from Middle Woodland mounds across the Eastern Woodlands yet no site contained evidence for the intensive manufacture of pearl/shell beads until now.
The meeting link is below:
https://illinois.zoom.us/j/89182210247?pwd=elNUcTFTMGRNZlk3WjMzVnhzcERFdz09
Meeting ID: 891 8221 0247
Password: 706923
Other papers will be on September 19th by Mark Wagner on Fort Kaskaskia and Clare Tolmie on Camp Grant, and October 3rd by Michael Aiuvalasit, topic to be announced. More details to follow…
Also IAS members please note that our Annual Business Meeting will be virtual, on Saturday October 2rd.
