Table Of ContentANTHROPOLOGICAL PAPERS
MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
NO. 36
THE NAOMIKONG POINT SITE AND THE DIMENSIONS
OF LAUREL IN THE LAKE SUPERIOR REGION
BY
DONALD E. JANZEN
ANN ARBOR
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, 1968
© 1968 by the Regents of the University of Michigan
The Museum of Anthropology
All rights reserved
ISBN (print): 978-0-932206-34-3
ISBN (ebook): 978-1-951519-34-6
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PREFACE
ON
August 12, 1967, an archaeological crew from the University
of Michigan Museum of Anthropology returned to Ann Arbor.
They were bearded, dirty, and tired. This was the final chapter
in two seasons of excavations at the Naomikong Point site on the
south shore of Lake Superior. By July 8, 1968, the enormous
quantity of material which had been recovered at Naomikong
Point was washed, catalogued, and analyzed, and the site report
was written.
The gap between the dirty archaeologist and the final manu
script is filled with a large number of hard-working people whose
efforts hastened the completion of the task. While only my name
is attached to this manuscript I would like to acknowledge these
individuals and express my thanks for their services. The fol
lowing students at the University of Michigan were enrolled in
the Museum Techniques Program and provided invaluable assist
ance; Jan Carline, Peter Doren, Michael Gilmartin, Anita
Fahringer, Jane Hartough, Jane Hollander, Roberta Lev, Melinda
Main, Collean McLean, Andrea Moore, Elaine Pearson, Richard
Redding, Diane Saltz, Elizabeth Taylor, Lyn Wiley, and Mary
Lynn Woodruff. Miss Bea Bigony washed and catalogued the ma
terial from the 1966 excavations, Mrs. Vickie Rosenblum and
Mr. Jan Carline analyzed the flint chippage and Mr. Dan Caister
analyzed the historic material. Mr. Burton Barnard of Wayne
state University drew the site map and Mr. George Stuber direct
ed the photographic work.
I wish to thank the members of my Doctoral committee for
directing me in my research and for valuable criticism of the
manuscript. My chairman Dr. James E. Fitting, and Dr. James
B. Griffin, of the Museum of Anthropology, were particularly
helpful in this respect. I take full responsibility, however, for
any errors or shortcomings.
Frances Steketee typed the rough draft and final copy of the
dissertation. This one simple sentence hardly does justice to
the important role played by Miss Steketee. Mrs. Joanne Bailis
edited the manuscript and Misses Elizabeth Keller and Barbara
Becker proofread the final copy. Finally, I wish to thank Martha,
my Wife, whose patience and support is deeply appreciated.
This research was supported by the National Science Founda
tion Grant (GS-1486).
iii
Contents
I. Introduction. • • • • • . • . • . • • • • • . • . . . . . . . • • • • • •• 1
II. University of Michigan Excavations at the Naomikong
Point Site . . • . . . . • • • • . • • • • • • . . . • . . . • • • • • • •• 15
III. Description of Archaeological Material. . . . . • • • • • . •• 35
IV. Interpretation of Archaeological Material • . • • • . . • • .. 73
V. Northern Middle Woodland Relationships. . . . . • • . • . •. 95
Appendix
I. Chi-Square Tables for Ceramic Attribute Associations .. 111
II. Correlation Coefficients Over .80 for Artifact and
Non-artifact Relationships .•....••.•......••.•.. 115
References ••..••••.••••••••••.••••••.•••••••• 117
v
I
INTRODUCTION
HISTORY OF INVESTIGATIONS
N
AOMIKONG Point and Menekaunee Point are twin points of
land on the south shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Penin
sula of Michigan. They are located in section 9 (T.47N, R.5W)
of Bay Mills Township in Chippewa County. Although these are
two distinct points, they are situated at the end of a larger point
and the entire area is commonly called Naomikong Point (Fig. 1
and 2). The presence of an archaeological site in this region
has been known for many years by both professional archaeolo
gists and local amateurs. The earliest reference to Naomikong
Point as an archaeological site appears in W. B. Hinsdale's
Archaeological Atlas of Michigan (1931). Emerson F. Greenman
surveyed the area east of Naomikong Point in the vicinity of Iro
quois Island in 1939 and visited the site at that time. No exca
vations were conducted and only a few sherds were collected
from the beach (Greenman, personal communication).
In 1963 the site was reintroduced to archaeologists by Mr.
Charles S. Taylor of Newberry, Michigan. Recognizing the poten
tial of the site, he contacted George I. Quimby of the Chicago
Natural History Museum regarding possible excavation. The next
fall Taylor took Quimby to the area and showed him collections
from the site. This stimulated new interest, and in the spring of
1965 Quimby and James E. Fitting of the University of Michigan
Museum of Anthropology planned a joint survey of the site. On
the evening of June 18, 1965, James E. Fitting and I, represent
ing the University of Michigan, met with George Quimby and
James Getz of the Chicago Natural History Museum in Paradise,
Michigan to review plans for the survey. It was necessary to
apply for permission to dig a test trench since the site is within
the Hiawatha National Forest and federal laws prohibit excavation
without a permit. Unfortunately the application had not been
processed by the time of this meeting, and it was therefore de
cided to limit the survey to a surface collection from the beach,
and an underwater collection from the lake. The next day the
survey team proceeded to the site accompanied by a group of
1
