Three Mississippi County sites were buried by a combination of 1812 New Madrid earthquake sand and 1915 ditch spoil that together sealed intact Mississippi period cultural deposits. The sites were located on the exterior of a ca. 3000 B.P. cut-off ofMoreThree Mississippi County sites were buried by a combination of 1812 New Madrid earthquake sand and 1915 ditch spoil that together sealed intact Mississippi period cultural deposits.
The sites were located on the exterior of a ca. 3000 B.P. cut-off of the Left Hand Chute of the Little River formerly known as “John’s Lake.” The Kochtitzky Ditch site (3MS599) produced abundant data regarding Middle Mississippian domestic organization, ceramic and lithic technology, subsistence, and mortuary practices. Excavations at the Perry Dixon (3MS600) and the John’s Lake (3MS601) sites were restricted to the project corridor and thus produced fewer data, but they represent transitional Early Mississippian to early Middle Mississippian occupations.