Early Ceramic Period Sites in Northeastern Nebraska

Authors

• Raymond S. Price, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

First Advisor

John L. Champe

Date of this Version

1956

Document Type

Thesis

Citation

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate College in the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Arts

Major: Anthropology

Under the supervision of Professor John L. Champe

Lincoln, Nebraska, 1956

Abstract

The Central Plains has become an increasingly important  area of archeological research during the last half century.  The major culture complexes have been identified, the chronological sequences of these cultures have been determined, and  the general framework or Central Plains prehistory has been  outlined. Three main time periods are recognized for the Central Plains on the basis of a combined stratigraphic and  dendrochronological study (Ohampe, 1946). These three general  time divisions are, identified as beginning with the oldest: the Lithic, the Ceramic, and the Historic Periods. The Ceramic Period is further divided into the Early, Middle, and  Late divisions. The Late Ceramic Period includes such manifestations as Dismal River, Lower Loup, and Oneota. The  Middle Ceramic Period is characterized by an intense occupation of the Central Plains by the well known Upper Republican  and Nebraska cultures. During the Early Ceramic Period the Central Plains were seemingly occupied by peoples whose artifact inventory and culture pattern falls within the Woodland Pattern.

The problems of Woodland archeological remains have  received considerable attention from Plains archeologists in recent years. Three Woodland Foci have been identified in  Nebraska and named the Valley Focus (Hill and Kivett, 1940),  the Loseke Creek Fooue (Kivett, 1952), and the Keith Focus  (Kivett, 1953). Other Woodland manifestations, less well  known, have been regarded as representing additional variants  of this archeological pattern in the Central Plains (Hill and Kivett, 1940; Spaulding, 1949; Champe, 1946).

The purpose of the present study is to describe the  archeological remains from twenty-two Woodland sites located  in northeastern Nebraska, and to relate these manifestations to the general framework of Central Plains prehistory. The material to be discussed is presented under three main headings. The archeological data from the sites are presented under the first heading, and the components represented are  identified. These data are summarized under the second heading and their relationships to the previously identified Woodland complexes in the Central Plains are discussed. Finally, a number of conclusions regarding the Woodland pattern in northeastern Nebraska will be offered.