The Carson Mound Complex in Mississippi - MAA Summer Dig 2009

MAA 2009 Summer Dig at the Carson Mound Complex near Clarksdale, Mississippi

I had the good fortune recently to participate in one of the Mississippi Archaeological Association's (MAA) summer digs. This one was at the Carson Mound Complex near Clarksdale, Mississippi. I left early Saturday morning and headed north towards the Mississippi Delta and the "Home of the Blues".

The picture above is one of the mounds in the complex. This site originally consisted of over 80 mounds which were built by Native Americans between 1000 and 1500 A.D. This makes this one of the largest ceremonial centers that existed in the Mississippi Valley. Archaeologist have classified this time in Native American history as the Mississippian Period. It was characterized by mound building, agriculture and a complex social structure. During the last 100 years farming has destroyed most of the mounds. Carson Mounds was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Most of the remaining mounds on the site are now owned by the Archaeological Conservancy.

When I arrived at the site I was met by archaeologist John Connaway and Dr. Jay Johnson. John is an archaeologist with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and Dr. Johnson is the director of the Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Mississippi. I had met both on previous digs in the state.

In the picture above Dr. Johnson is on the right, John Connaway is in the center and bio-archaeologist Jenna James is seated. Jenna is a graduate student at the University of Mississippi. Bryan Haley was also at the dig. He is a research associate and coordinator of remote sensing application at Ole Miss. Bryan is also a member of the new PBS series "Time Team America".

The top left photograph above shows John talking with Christian Roesler and Katie King, from Memphis, about this important archaeological site. The colored flags were placed by John in the center of old post forms and other structures. Wooden posts were used in building houses and other structures by the Native Americans who lived at the site. In the bottom left photo John is excavating a trash pit that contained a variety of artifacts and deer bones. The picture at the right shows Dr. Johnson and Christian screening material from this pit.

Above left are examples of the shell tempered pottery found at this site. The shard in the lower center picture has line decorations. The picture on the right shows two pieces of the types of stone used to make tools by the early inhabitants.

I spent most of the day at the site in an excavation pit with Jenna, Bryan and Katie and enjoyed every minute of it. The results of these archaeological excavations will be published sometime in the future. I would like to thank archaeologist John Connaway and Dr. Jay Johnson for allowing me to participate in this very important archaeological dig.