A Case Study of Cache Pit Construction, Use, and Abandonment from the Upper Great Lakes, USA

ABSTRACT

Archaeological investigations on sandy, well-drained terraces of the Grand River in southwestern Michigan revealed a large number of shallow surface depressions, marking the locations of former cache pits, i.e., subterranean storage features. Our paper documents these pits, one of the largest arrays of cache pits reported for the Upper Great Lakes. Excavations into 29 cache pits revealed that they had been backfilled with generally artifact-poor sands. Prior to backfilling, the cache pits had been burned, leaving behind a black, charcoal-rich, charred horizon at their base, below the fill. This type of intentional burning has not previously been reported. Intentional re-use of cache pits was rare, if it occurred at all. Subsequently, pedogenesis has formed tongue-like soil horizons below the surface depressions. Radiocarbon dates from the cache pits, along with diagnostic artifacts, place the use of these features to the Late Precontact period, particularly the mid- to late 15th century a.d.

KEYWORDS:

• subterranean features
• hunter-gatherers
• Late Prehistory
• residential mobility
• pre-agricultural economy
• anthropogenic soil formation
• risk management
• pit taphonomy

Acknowledgements

Funding was provided by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration, in support of the US-31/M-231 Bypass project. Commonwealth Heritage Group, Inc. served as the primary contractor for the investigations. Jim Robertson (MDOT) and Dean Anderson (State Archaeologist, retired) provided invaluable guidance during the course of the investigations. The Spoonville Gun Club granted access to the property. Kelly Hagenmaier authored the individual feature descriptions and assisted in data compilation and the spatial analysis. Kathryn Egan-Bruhy and Kathryn Parker, with the assistance of Jen Clark, analyzed the paleobotanical remains. Terry Martin (Illinois State Museum, retired) contributed the faunal analysis. Jammi Ladwig and Linda Scott Cummings (PaleoResearch, Inc.) conducted the analysis of phytolith/starch grain samples, with the assistance of R. A. Varney. Analyses of the organic residues were conducted by Mary Malainey (Brandon University). Chris Espenshade provided thought provoking comments and edits to the technical report. William Lovis (Michigan State University, emeritus) provided insightful analysis of the radiocarbon dates, along with comments on earlier drafts of the paper. We also thank Megan Howey (University of New Hampshire), William Lovis, and Sean B. Dunham (Chippewa National Forest) for their insightful comments and helpful suggestions on an earlier draft of the paper. In the end, any errors remain ours.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael J. Hambacher

Michael J. Hambacher (Ph.D. 1992, Michigan State University) is a private archaeological consultant at Archaeological Research and Consulting Services. His principal research interests are hunter-gatherer archaeology, the archaeology of the Midwestern and Upper Great Lakes of the U.S. and North America, prehistoric lithics, and ceramics

Randall J. Schaetzl

Randall J. Schaetzl (Ph.D. 1987, University of Illinois) is a Professor of Geography at Michigan State University. His principle research interests include soils, geomorphology, and Quaternary geology.