The Eagle Nest Site An Examination of the Stone Tool Technological Organization During the Woodland Period in Central Minnesota

Abstract

The Eagle Nest (21SH85) is a multicomponent Woodland period site located in Sherburne County, Minnesota. The site was first excavated in 2018 during St. Cloud State University’s summer field school. A number of artifacts were recovered as part of the survey, including lithic debitage, pottery, fire-cracked rock, and formal and flake tools. Several potential features were also noted which included hearths, a midden, and a living surface. The primary goal of this research project was to attempt to develop an understanding of the lithic technological organization of the peoples who once occupied the Eagle Nest site by completing a morphological analysis of the lithic artifacts, a raw material analysis, a microwear analysis, and a spatial analysis of the site. Additional goals were aimed at determining the number of components within the site’s boundary and to determine the applicability of microwear analysis in the CRM setting, a field with budgetary and time constraints. The results of the project indicate the Eagle nest was a multicomponent site occupied during the Transitional and Late Woodland periods, with some evidence of an earlier occupation. Peoples occupying the site used a variety of local, non-local, and exotic materials to manufacture both expedient and curated tools. Results indicated both marginal and non-marginal flaking occurred on the site, and there was a heavy reliance on flake tools. The results of the microwear analysis indicate formal tools were frequently hafted with antler and hide working likely occurred on site