The study of Neolithic and Copper Age stamp seals has not been one of the focal points of European prehistoric investigations ever since these began in the middle of the nineteenth century. Bearing this in mind, it may prove useful to turn our attention to the problems of Neolithic and Copper Age European seals, and to summarize what I consider to be the most important conclusions. This involves a study of these seals based on the most recent discoveries as well as on those of earlier excavations. Perhaps it is inconsistent to maintain that the time is ripe for a real study of this art. Yet, the rapid advance of South-East European prehistoric archeology demands the detailed investigation of stamp seals, while the full publication of Neolithic stamp seals of mainland Greece would require a general study of similar finds of the related parts of the Balkans. In fact, the Neolithic stamp seals of Greece are more closely related to those of the Balkans and the Carpathian Basin than to the Early Bronze Age seals succeeding them in Greece.The region with which we are concerned covers modern mainland Greece, the
PBS&J, an Atkins company, was contracted by the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority to conduct National Register of Historic Places eligibility testing of site 41SM385, a prehistoric campsite on a small rise above the floodplain of Indian Creek in western Smith County, Texas. Testing investigations were conducted during March and September 2009. The site was subjected to a systematic program of shovel testing, mechanical trenching, and hand excavation in an effort to identify cultural features or living surfaces and optimize recovery of diagnostic faunal, floral, and artifactual remains. The recovered cultural artifacts indicate that site 41SM385 represents a probable Woodland and Caddo-aged occupation on a small rise on the creek floodplain. The Woodland component is based on recovered small Gary and Kent projectile points characteristic of Woodland culture of the region. The Caddo component is based on ceramic sherds of probable Early or Middle Caddo origin identified at the site. Radiocarbon dating of four ceramic sherds supports these assessments with three sherds dating to the Early to Middle Caddo periods and one sherd dating to the Woodland period. The lack of identified cultural features suggests that the Woodland component probably represents a series of ephemeral usages of the location, probably as short-term campsites. The Caddo-aged artifacts at the site probably represent a series of ephemeral usage of the location, either as a resource procurement locus ancillary to nearby site 41SM404 or as a short-term campsite. The testing program failed to locate living surfaces or cultural features containing in situ artifactual or organic remains preserved on the site. The absence of cultural features and the paucity of lithic tools or ceramic remains make more-meaningful functional interpretation infeasible. For this reason, the site lacks the data resources that would warrant National Register of Historic Places isting or designation as a State Archeological Landmark. No further work is recommended. l
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.