23SL2296 - Dampier Site

One of the most significant archaeological sites in the St. Louis area is the Dampier Site (23SL2296); it situated in the floodplain of the municipality of Chesterfield, Missouri.

This website is designed for use by school children, amateur archaeologists and professional archaeologists.

Two side-notched arrowpoints that measure approximately 2 cm in height when unbroken. This variety of projectile point is called a Reed point and is commonly found at Mississippian sites in Missouri and Illinois.

Shell tempered rimsherds with broad incised decoration

Shell tempered bodysherd with broad incised decoration; probably the shoulder to a gourd shaped bottle.

Shell tempered rimsherds to two bowls

Shell tempered rimsherd of a large storage jar or cookpot.

Pecked, small hammerstone out of felsite, an igneous stone not local to St. Louis County.

Pecked stone with a depression; often considered a nutting stone.

Two pieces of hematite, natural iron ore

Cut an modified dog bone

Shell beads

Shell bead

Cut piece of shell that is tentatively identified as marine shell.

Top of a hooded water bottle ini the form of a dog

Archaeologists trowelling the floor of a house at the Dampier

Measuring the profile of a sectioned house

The same house after 2 weeks of excavation showing wall trenches and interior pit features.

The same house after 2 weeks of excavation showing wall trenches and interior pit features.

Wall trenches of a square shaped house and interior pit features.

Archaeologists excavating adjacent to two wall trench houses (under the plastic tarps).

Archaeologists Joe Harl and Terry Norris check the screen sifter for small bones and artifacts at the excavation units at the Dampier Site.

Incised shell tempered rimsherd.

Stan Dampier (left) discovered the Dampier Site and Joe Harl (right) is in charge of the rescue excavation of the site.

Special thanks to Stan Dampier and Joe Harl for discussing the site with me and allowing me to photograph the artifacts illustrated on this webpage. Many thanks to Mark Leach for his ongoing work with preserving and interpreting the archaeological heritage of Chesterfield, MO.

Webpage constructed 31 July 2009
Webpage revised 14 August 2009