Excavations at the Moundville Site (1Tu500) for Two Craft Pavilions

The Indian Village at Moundville Archaeological Park is being expanded by the addition of two craft pavilions. The addition of these educational facilities was made possible through generous donations by John and Delia Roberts. Prior to the construction of the two structures, an archaeological mitigation plan was conducted in the summers of 1995 and 1996 by The University of Alabama Museums, Office of Archaeological Services. Two rectangular blocks were excavated where the craft pavilions would be built. Excavations revealed 55 culturally derived features. The most prominent features were two bastions, one in each excavation block. It is likely that both the bastions were built during the middle Moundville I phase. Several postholes were uncovered, although none form clear evidence of residential structures. Three shallow elongate-shaped pits were identified and are suspected to be burials. Seven basin-shaped pits and one irregular-shaped pit were also identified, their function unknown. The remaining features include two midden-filled depressions and three clay deposits. Most of the features uncovered during excavations appear to date to the Moundville I, although one of the pits and the three clay deposits have been dated to Moundville II. While excavations at the craft pavilions did not yield extensive cultural deposits, especially in the way of artifacts, it did reveal features associated with the palisade, further defining the projected palisade wall.

Ryba, Elizabeth A.
1997 Archaeological Excavations at the John and Delia Roberts Craft Pavilions, Moundville Archaeological Park.