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Shell Midden (13VB6) sites in Van Buren County (Iowa Site Files). In ad- was approximately 9 meters long and 3 meters
dition to the concentration at 13VB6, three ad- wide. The artifacts recovered included stone
In 1869 workers digging a hole for a large post ditional sites have been reported as shell mounds hunting tools, drills, wood and hide-working
to anchor a ferry boat’s guide rope discovered or middens. These large quantities of discarded tools, grinding stones, pottery fragments, miner-
a prehistoric shell midden (13VB6) along the shells combined with remains of turtles and fish als used as pigments, and several shell middens
river’s edge in Lacey-Keosauqua State Park (Artz suggest an increasing utilization of resources representing thousands of mussel shells (Fulmer
2004:470). When the site was investigated in obtained from the Des Moines River. et al. 1977:39). Two rock-lined basins, several
1961 the shell mound was described as being concentrations of burned limestone, a refuse pit,
four feet thick. Subsequent investigations yielded The Lambert Site (13VB82) and a burial in a pit covered with limestone slabs
Late Woodland pottery fragments and bones of were also encountered. This diverse assortment
deer, bear, wolf, dog, and turtle in association Late in 1976 excavations were undertaken by of materials and features indicates that a variety
with the shell (Till 1979; Green 2002, Iowa Site Darrel Fulmer, of the Office of the State Ar- of activities were conducted at this site and that
Files). chaeologist, at a Woodland site near the town either the occupation lasted for an extended
of Selma. At this site features were encoun- period of time or that the location was often
Woodland period ceramics and fresh water mus- tered which suggested that a possible house reused (Fulmer et al. 1977:46).
sel shells have been found in association at 12 structure was present. This elliptical structure
Cross section of the midden excavation at the
Lambert Site, 13VB82. From Fulmer et al. 1977.
The University of Iowa Off ice of the State Archaeologist 15
