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DIG FINDINGS?Archaeologist Dale Greenwell, left, along with archaeology students Chick Jordan, center, and A1 Brunson study artifacts found during an archaeological survey at Hancock County?s Port Bienville Industrial Park. (Staff Photo-Leslie Williams)
Prehistoric... CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
He had not during the first day of the survey found enough evidence to warrant an excavation, and had speculated the survey would never reach the excavation stage due to previous destruction.
?There are three phases of a survey,? explained Greenwell, ?the walkover stage, the sub surface investigation and an' extended-search in areas that show positive results in preliminary stages.?
Greenwell said pillaging by the public ruled out the walkover stage. ?They had already combed the area throughly,? he remarked.
Most of the surveying has been sub surface investigation, approximately four to six inches below the surface.
Sub surface investigation consists of soil borings at dimensions of 10 centimeters in depth and greater.
Since the begining of the survey, Greenwell, assisted by archaeology students A1 Brunson and Chick Jordan, both of Biloxi, have found cooking balls, pieces of pottery, the jaw bone of a dog or fox, a flint knife, pecking tools and other remains.
The findings come from both the Marksville culture and the Poverty Point culture, said Greenwell.
The Marksville lived at the Port j Bienville site during the 16th century,? Greenwell revealed.
?They were a horticultural people living in farmlets and belonged to the burial mound period,? he added.
?This 25-acre site is significant?^
because we know very little about the Poverty Point Culture,? intoned the archaeologist.
?If we find the Poverty Point village area undisturbed we. may then study their culture,? he commented.
Greenwell described the degree of distinction of the 25-acre site as the main problem confronting him since the dig began.
The archaeologist has continually reiterated, ?We know it?s here, it?s just if it?s been destroyed or not by bulldozers and amateur collectors.? ?My purpose is to determine if there is significant cultural data in this area,? he proclaimed.
Port and Harbor Commission Director Wilson Webre visited the archaeological site Monday and offered to provide any assistance needed.
?If you need any additional equipment we?ll provide it,? said Webre.
Greenwell believes the Poverty Point village is located below the Marksville culture on the northern end of the 25 acre site.
The archaeologist desribed the little that is known of the Poverty Point culture as follows:
?The Poverty Point people lived over a wide area of the Mississippi Valley ?The largest center of their culture was in Epps La., which is the Povertj Point site.
?They had a large population anc ;> large settlements, having smallei satelite settlements extending hun dreds of miles in all directions.


Archeology 008
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