%0 Journal Article %J Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology %D 2009 %T With Mica We Mourn: Fort Ancient Mortuary Practices at Clark Rockshelter, Kentucky %A MacDonald, D. H. %A Manzano, B. %A J. C. Lothrop %A Cremeens, D. L. %A Parker, K. C. %A Shreckengost, B. %K Fort Ancient %K mica %K Mortuary %X

Excavations in 2005-2006 at Clark Rocksheiter (15FD110) in eastern Kentucky yielded a unique Fort Ancient mortuary feature containing extremely fragmented human remains of two individuals, a child and an adult. The sandstone-slab burial pit at Clark Rockshelter also contained abundant mica, faunal and botanical remains, pottery, bone tools (bowl and bone pin/awl), as well as four beads (including one of marginella shell). Only approximately five percent of the skeletons are represented at the site because they were secondary reburial of cremated remains. Three radiocarbon dates, as well as the structure and content of the burial feature,  indicate interment of the Fort Ancient individuals together between approximately Cal ad 1100-1300. While the Clark Rocksheiter individuals were members of Fort Ancient culture, the presence of mica and a marines hell bead in the Clark Rocksheter burial indicates trade with North Carolina Pisgah phase cultures.

%B Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology %V 34 %P 249-278 %G eng %U http://www.jstor.org/stable/41495333