The summer started with a walking tour of the Blueberry site as a component of this year’s FAS meeting in Avon Park.  Field work over the summer facilitated the completion of the test pit/shovel test grid across the known portion of the Blueberry site contained within the 101 acre landscape we initially sought to investigate. 

     This process began in September of 2005, has proceeded part time since then, and has resulted in a very clear understanding of this site’s representation in space and through time.  This information clarifies areas of the site with the highest concentration of artifacts and provides an explanatory model allowing for comparisons between geomorphologic characteristics of the landscape and cultural behavior. 

     In other words, as the evidence generated from this field work is analyzed in the lab, this data will provide insight into when and how people utilized the landscape through time.  This comparison will be complemented by stratigraphic context to paint a comprehensive picture of the human occupation at the site.  Further, the analysis of individual artifacts and artifact categories will provide details as to how and why technology (such as stone/lithic and bone tools and pottery) augmented their cultural behavior.  

     This summer progress was also made in Test Unit four where over 40 features have been identified since June (see above  photo).  Currently, we are in the process of documenting and removing these features.  As was the case with TU3 (the adjoining unit to the south) the vast majority of features are post molds, and a few are pits and hearths.  This fall we will continue working in TU4 and plan to open an adjoining unit to the west to follow the pattern of post molds identified previously.  Likewise, the test pit grid has identified at least two areas with high potential for early archaic occupation at the site. 

     We plan to revisit these areas and establish block units to evaluate this component of the site.