Constructing Cultural Chronology in the North Carolina Coastal Plain: Stratigraphic Investigations at Barber Creek (31pt259)

Abstract

Barber Creek is a stratified prehistoric site located on a relict sand dune in eastern North Carolina. Previous research has determined multiple components are present at Barber Creek, however, two previous analyses into the chronological sequence identified varying numbers of occupation zones. The purpose of this study was to reconstruct the stratigraphic and cultural chronology of the central portion of Barber Creek and compare the results to the previous investigations from other portions of the site. This study identified three occupation zones buried in approximately one meter of aeolian sands. These occupation zones date to the Early Archaic, Middle to Late Archaic, and Early to Middle Woodland periods. The results of this research are consistent with the two previous analyses and solidify the occurrence of three occupation zones at Barber Creek. Interestingly, the previous stratigraphic analyses conducted on Barber Creek have lacked Middle/Late Archaic period diagnostic artifacts. A stemmed biface was identified during this study and is the closest evidence for the presence of a Middle/Late Archaic period at Barber Creek. After more than a decade of research, we have established a strong understanding of the stratigraphic and chronological sequence of Barber Creek however much can still be learned about who could have utilized the site and for what purposes throughout the three occupation components.