Artifact from Florence Indian Mound
FLORENCE – “When the new building is finished in a year, we want to make sure that no historically important artifacts are covered up by the structure,” says Hunter Johnson, Director of Tennessee Valley Archaeological Research.
Hunter Johnson – Archeaologist
Johnson and his crew are working on a site survey at the Florence Indian Mound Museum. Their task is to catalog just what’s underneath the footprint-area of the new home for the Museum’s artifacts. based in Huntsville, his company surveys lots of sites around the Southeast. And given the vast variety of sites in Alabama, Johnson keeps his crew in pretty constant work.
Travis Rael – University of Alabama Huntsville
The site, which was most importantly occupied by the “Middle Woodland Culture”, is one of the older sites in Alabama and matches the time frame of the Moundville Indians, just south of Tuscaloosa. Johnson noted that another news report recently got the time frame incorrect. The artifacts date back to the period of 100 B.C.E. to about 250 B.C.E.
Those in Johnson’s crew are Master’s Degree Candidate, Travis Rael from The University of Alabama Huntsville and U.N.A. Graduate, Nick Simpson.
Nick Simpson – Architectural Technician
The 3 are digging in several locations around the nes structure’s footprint. Indeed, they have found some interesting stuff. It does not appear, however, that there’s anything notable, save a smattering of of pottery pieces and some flints. So far, so good for the new building.
