180:, it was originally discovered and excavated by George Quimby. The earthwork itself is about 25 to 30 meters in diameter, and is near a bluff with an overview of the Muskegon. Excavations and surveys suggest and attribute a possible Algonkian speaking small-scale society to the formation of the site. Archaeologists are yet to grasp a full understanding of the South Flats and other similar earthworks spread across the state of Michigan, which date between about 1350 A.D. – 1650 A.D.
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that perfectly aligns with the excavations done by both Quimby and the GVSU crew in 2006, there are a handful of anomalies with no correlation to the previous excavations. Four magnetic high responses, possibly related to the structure itself, are confirmed by a strong GPR reflection contained within
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acquired the territory, which proceeded to make the region accessible for recreational use. Off-road vehicle use and foot paths for hunters in the historical territory deteriorated the earthwork and efforts to prevent further destruction of the structure took place in the form of barriers to prevent
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A GPR timeslice provided needed confirmation of the scale and placement of the earthwork enclosure, which could not be identified in previous excavations, marked between 35 and 40 meters in diameter for its exterior limits, making it one of the smallest recorded enclosures in the state of
Michigan.
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Archaeologists are yet to gather clear answers about the meaning and use of the South Flats earthwork site, although there are various hypotheses of the purpose it served. Notorious to
Michigan enclosures, activities took place within the confines of the earthwork; physical evidence at South Flats
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indicate the existence of additional archaeological features located both inside and outside of the structure that were not discovered during the 2006 excavations, and similar to the findings of those excavations the density of the features is rather low. These newly found possible features of the
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George Quimby was the first archaeologists to excavate the South Flats earthwork, it was part of the exhibit work he conducted for the
Centennial Organization of Muskegon, Michigan in the summer of 1937. The excavation consisted of six units labeled as A to F, yielding minimal cultural material
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Upon finalizing shovel tests and further excavations of Quimby's 6 units, the crew identified a higher percentage of prehistoric activity inside of the earthwork (87% positive yield of cultural material) than outside of it (37% positive yield). Among the items recovered were lithic and ceramic
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of the
Muskegon River within the transition zone of the Canadian and Carolinian biotic provinces. Movement in the lower floodplain is made difficult by the drainage of uplands via springs and creeks. It also lays between a drainage made by Spring Creek on the Southwest end and the Northeastern
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Although not confirmed by ground excavation, the magnetometer response and GPR reflections confirm the location and existence of these anomalies, which share similar magnetic signatures to those obtained by the geophysical surveys on the already recorded features from the 2006 excavation.
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began archaeological explorations of the area with the intention of expanding on the original excavations by Quimby, to disturb as little as possible the archaeological site, and further research into the debate of earthwork enclosures and their prehistoric purpose. The crew conducted
196:. According to Donald et al., this likely helped in preservation efforts., although a few small-scale developmental changes(hunting blinds and stations) there was no large noticeable changes to the property. This organization held control of the land up and until the 1970s when the
218:. Vegetation present in the region is dominated by oak and pine forest, with an abundance of cedar swamps, possibly similar to vegetation present in the pre-settlement period. Soil in the site is of Rubicon series.
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Similar dated ages indicate asynchronous use during same occupation period, the most recent end of the datings, 1650 AD, aligns the site to be from the Late
Woodland and French exploration of the
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Lack of fish and plant use are associated with a possible winter season occupation, yet can be argued against due to the difficulty of moving dirt in an exposed landscape during winter time.
495:, this being peculiar as amongst Michigan prehistoric populations they were widely used and relied on; indicates plant use as not a focus, supported by no traces of maize or tobacco.
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showed very light usage of the facility, neither proving nor disproving said practices at this site. Analysis of floral remains no use or consumption of nuts, seeds, fruits, and
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were done in 2010 to further explore what lies beneath the surface of the site without further destruction of the structure and landscape, these surveys were done through GPR (
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1 meter of the subsurface in the geophysical survey grid, making it an area of interest for future excavation as these anomalies are present on and outside of the enclosure.
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remains composed of potsherds, stone tools, various fauna, and charcoal residue, with two separate features unearthed in the interior which contained some of these remains.
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Patterns of male activity are present, with supporting evidence in the absence of domesticated plant remains, which is generalized as the specialty of prehistoric women.
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Ceramics: Five diagnostic rim sherds from ceramic vessels from outside and inside the earthwork enclosure, all grit tempered, and one single pipe bowl remnant
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281:. The surveys are significant as this was the only time GPR and magnetometry methods were used at an earthwork site in Michigan.
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Lack and near absence of seeds, nuts, and other edible plants are significant as they can indicate short term usage of the site
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Evidence is suggestive of meat-related activity/use in the interior portion and more densely focused around the pit features
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Significant since shell tempering was prominent in some
Michigan ceramic during the occupation period of the South Flats
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The earthwork at South Flats sits atop a high bluff, which is bisected by a small spring, with oversight of the lower
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along the west end of the 25 meter bluff as well as on the interior and exterior of the earthen enclosure itself.
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574:(2). Taylor & Francis, Ltd. on behalf of the Midwest Archaeological Conference, Inc. – via JSTOR.
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Fauna: Most of these remains were within the boundaries of the pit features inside the earthwork
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618:(3). Michigan Academy of Science Arts & Letters – via Gale Literature Resource Center.
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Further research is needed to contextualize the South Flats site and its prehistoric functions.
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gained possession of the earthwork in 1929 when they purchased the
Muskegon State Game Area in
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Intertribal usage and trading, as other earthwork sites have been found to have been possible
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evidence. Quimby's results led him to two conclusions on the functionality of the site: a
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608:"Intepreting the South Flats Earthwork (20MU2): insights gained from geophysical surveys"
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Lack of zinc places aligns this piece with pre-Columbian copper making in North
America
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Lack of acorn creates interest as an oak forest is bound to have large quantities of it
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No fish or bird remains recorded even though they were resources in the near vicinity
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is one of less than 10 intact earthworks. Located in
Western Michigan alongside the
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Charcoal: two samples of charcoal were radiocarbon dated, one from each feature
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and/or ceremonial grounds for hunter-gatherers and horticulturalists.
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2 small notched flake points found among the interior earthwork units
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Gaff, Donald; Sherrod, Laura; Brashler, Janet G. (2013).
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1 point found outside the earthwork associated to the
356:points recovered from across the site dated to the
100:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
414:Carbonized wood makes up a large portion of the
243:During summer of 2006 a group of personnel from
346:5 triangularly shaped points from Late Woodland
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453:Copper: One single copper piece recovered
562:Gaff, Donald; Brashler, Janet G. (2011).
160:Learn how and when to remove this message
198:Michigan Department of Natural Resources
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439:Suggesting acorn was not a part of the
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568:Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology
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646:Native American history of Michigan
564:"The South Flats Earthwork, 20MU2"
408:Flora: Hand-collected and through
374:46.9% of sherds white igneous grit
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498:Three hypotheses are introduced:
343:unearthed from the re-excavation
312:Three right outside its perimeter
661:Archaeological sites in Michigan
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470:Feature 2 sample: 1440-1650 AD
174:South Flats earthwork enclosure
85:needs additional citations for
467:Feature 1 sample: 1400-1640 AD
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325:Artifact and feature analysis
245:Grand Valley State University
109:"South Flats earthwork site"
666:Prehistory of North America
422:vegetation of this location
309:One along the northern edge
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377:68% found inside enclosure
302:enclosure are as follows:
651:Muskegon County, Michigan
239:Re-excavating South Flats
194:Muskegon County, Michigan
636:Earthworks (engineering)
275:Ground Penetrating Radar
216:Mosquito Creek Drainage
35:, as no other articles
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235:ceremonial location.
205:Environmental setting
612:Michigan Academician
441:subsistence strategy
306:Two contained inside
190:South Flats Gun Club
94:improve this article
641:History of Michigan
475:western Great Lakes
271:geophysical surveys
671:Algonquian culture
265:Geophysical survey
54:for suggestions.
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337:projectile points
269:Two non-invasive
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335:Lithics: 13
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279:magnetometry
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184:Site history
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150:October 2022
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92:Please help
87:verification
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59:October 2022
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656:Excavations
486:Conclusions
384:recognized
222:Excavations
630:Categories
520:References
433:recovered
416:assemblage
289:Alongside
211:floodplain
120:newspapers
50:; try the
37:link to it
410:flotation
40:. Please
429:and one
341:bifaces
285:Results
256:Results
134:scholar
366:Kramer
354:Lamoka
339:and 6
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427:acorn
141:JSTOR
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