Test Excavations at the Tankersley Creek Site, A Multicomponent Campsite in Titus County, Texas
Abstract
Test excavations of the Tankersley Creek Site, 41TT108, in Titus County, Texas, uncovered a multi-component campsite ranging in time from the Early La Harpe Aspect to Caddo IV times. Component I was the earliest recognized occupation and was characterized by slightly expanding stem dart points. Component II followed Component I and was recognized by a dominance of Large Gary dart points. Component III appeared to represent an early Caddo I occupation and contained Small Gary points and decorated pottery that is usually affiliated with the Caddo I Period. Interestingly, this component lacked the Alba arrowpoints normally found in sites of this period. Component IV appeared to represent a minor occupation of Caddo III/IV peoples.
The major significance of this site has been in increasing the data base on Archaic components; the site represents one of the few pre-Gary point Archaic sites in northeast Texas. The Caddo I component represents one of the few nonceremonial sites of this period to be examined and appears to indicate that the Caddo I Period started before the introduction of the bow and arrow.