Schwerdt Site


The Schwerdt Site is located on the Kalamazoo River in Allegan County, Michigan. It is classified as a single-component Berrien Phase site dating to the late prehistoric period. The Berrien Phase is associated with the late Woodland but also has some Upper Mississippian influences.

History of archaeological investigations

The site was identified through an archaeological survey by Western Michigan University in 1976. Excavations were conducted under the auspices of Western Michigan University in 1977 and 1979.

Results of 1977 and 1979 excavations

The excavations yielded features, prehistoric artifacts, animal bone, and plant remains.

Features

A total of 46 features were uncovered at the site, of which 35 were distinctive deep roasting pits. The remains of American Lotus roots were found in 14 of the roasting pits, usually in conjunction with sturgeon bone. Similar pits have been found at two nearby sites on the Kalamazoo River, Elam and Allegan Dam.

Animal bone

Most of the bone found was from the lake sturgeon. There were also two black bear craniums found near the tops of two features, both with their mandibles removed. A bear cranium was found under similar conditions at the Bell Site in Wisconsin, and the researchers at that site suggested it may be evidence of the prehistoric to early historic practice of bear ceremonialism.

Artifacts

Artifacts recovered from the site included prehistoric pottery and lithcs. The majority of the stone tools were small triangular Madison points. Madison points are commonly associated with late prehistoric occupations in the Eastern United States.

Pottery types

Almost all of the pottery found at the site belonged to the late prehistoric Berrien Phase as described at the Moccasin Bluff site, a site on the St. Joseph River in Berrien County, Michigan about south of Schwerdt.
The pottery types identified / defined at Schwerdt closely match the types reported at Moccasin Bluff:
Schwerdt has been interpreted as a single component 15th century seasonal encampment. It has been radiocarbon-dated to c. 1445-1450 A.D. There are no permanent structures and no indication of any agricultural activity. The presence of sturgeon bone and American lotus root suggests spring-early summer occupation, based on the annual spring sturgeon migration. Based on this information, it has been suggested that the site represents one stop on a seasonal round that would also include a semi-permanent, agricultural village.