Archaeological investigations at Pipestave Hollow, Mt. Sinai Harbor, Long Island: A preliminary report

Abstract

Argues that it is important to estimate site size, density, and seasonality in order to develop population estimates for the coastal Late Archaic. Mt. Sinai Harbor, on the north shore of Long Island, is ringed by shell midden accumulations. Pipestave Hollow may be the largest and least disturbed of the Squibnocket Complex sites. Test pits revealed shellfish midden extended 200 meters along the eastern edge of the hollow and a deltaic deposit. The width ranges up to 100 m, with a total site area of c. 2.5 acres. In the Hopkins Landing locus of the site, "aboriginal cooking pits" were found seaward of the high tide mark, indicating sea level encroachment. Most of the site is on well-drained, rising ground. The refuse mantle varies from 5-40cm, averaging 20cm. At the Hopkins Landing Locus, 17 2m2 units were excavated (were more dug later?). The midden was apparently dug as a single level, and all midden and feature fill was screened through 5mm mesh. Over 500kg of shell debris, "which included many small fish, bird, and mammal bones...and...flaked stone debitage" (p. 22). Fourteen features were found, but only seven completely excavated. A typical feature was a "shallow, oval basin in the subsoil with a fill of fire- cracked rock, shell, bone fragments, and debitage...Evidently all features served as ovens to bake shellfish" (p.22) and were later used for refuse, or in two cases, (F. 5, 12), for dog burials. No evidence of shelters, and Gramly suggests locus used only in the summer. Gramly lists finds from two features: F. 1 (N2E0): 1462 bay scallops, and lesser amounts of oyster and hard and soft clam; 44g lg mam bone, 25g fish, 15g bird, 12g small mam, reptile, 2g turtle, one raccoon tooth, three teeth and mandible of year-old deer, debitage (487), points (11), bifaces (14), scrapers (1); one human tooth, one bird bone needle, hematite. F. 4 ((N10W5 and N8W5): 2237 oysters, plus lesser amounts of scallop, clams, and whelk (3); 380g lg mam, 117g small mam/reptile, 24g fish, 17g bird, 26g turtle, 2 teeth and mandible of dog, 6 deer teeth, 2 rodent incisors, 1 taccoon teeth, debitage (2173), points (17), bifaces (35), scrapers (18), three bone points and three bones with butchering marks, antler flaker, and "engraved limb bone section". Currently, oyster and scallop are uncommon in the harbor. No net weights. Almost all lithic material is sugar quartz, points are stemmed, triangular, and weakly side-notched Squibnocket complex forms. One point in F. 1 is Laurentian-like. In F. 2, were two whelk shell pendants. A single C-14 date of 3965 +/-140 B.P. (GX- 3540) was obtained from F. 1. At the Pappalizio Property Locus, Early and Middle Woodland remains were more common than Archaic ones. Seven 2m2 units were dug, and four pairs of basin shaped features and three postholes were found. Shell (dominated by clam), bone, and Lagoon, Levanna, and Fox Creek points were found, as well as some grit-tempered sherds. Charred nuts were also found in the basins. Some PA jasper and Trenton argillite also found.