23PL2 - Deister Site

The Deister Site is a terrace level village site situated along Line Creek. The pottery and stone tools from the site belong to the technological/artistic tradition that is described as "Hopewell."


Click here to see digital images of the stone tools ....Click here to see digital images of the pottery

The Deister site was partially excavated during 1969 by John May. I visited the site during his excavation and he gladly discussed his excavation methods and discoveries. He had carefully excavated a large feature that he interpreted as a Middle Woodland Period house associated with 100+ kernals and 1 corn cob. J. Mett Shippee, instrumental in the protection of the site during his lifetime, walked the Deister site with me and discussed its significance. He was very proud of its preservation but worried about the future of the Renner Site.

Uncalibrated radiocarbon date for the site include 70 BC +/- 100 (GAK-702), AD 430 +/- 85 (N-966), AD 270 +/-100 (N-967), AD 270 +/- 105 (N-968), AD 280 +/-105 (N0969), AD 660 +/-100 (N-1055), and AD 450 +/- 100 (N-1056). The site was placed on National Register of Historic Place during 1970. Initially the site was preserved as Line Creek Park by the Kansas City Board of Parks and Recreation. A geodesic dome covered a wonderful museum that interpreted the site's history to school groups and the public. The Deister site was a model of site protection and interpretation. Sadly, the Kansas City Board of Parks and Recreation decided to demolish the museum and use the land for two other purposes: a recreational center and a small gauge railroad (including a large shed). The fate of the artifacts once on display in the museum is clouded. I have attempted to relocate them for photography, but with no success. It is no longer a model of site protect and interpretation.


The museum at the Deister Site was wonderful and did not detract from the natural landscape.



J. Mett Shippee standing at the edge of the fenced portion of the site.


Deister site in pristine condition during 1977.


Deister site excavation area surrounded by fence (in foreground) and museum (in background).



Bibliography

Chapman, Carl
1980 The Archaeology of Missouri, II. University of Missouri Press, Columbia.

Johnson, Alfred E.
1979 Kansas City Hopewell. Hopewell Archaeology. Kent State University Press.

Shippee, J. Mett
1967 Archaeological Remains in the area of Kansas City: The Woodland Period. Missouri Archaeological Society Research Series 5

 

A warm thanks to Neathery Batsell Fuller for her advice on the content of the webpage.


Webpage constructed 14 November 2005
Webpage updated 25 January 2006