The Pac Man archaeological site (23SL370) was a combined
field school and rescue archaeological site excavated by St. Louis Community College -
Florissant Valley during the summer of 1983. The site was visited in the 1970s by
David Evans of the University of Missouri - Columbia. A low mound was being bulldozed
from the crest of the hill and he examined the mound to determine if it warranted
excavation. He also visited other sites in the general area.
Sadly, no work was carried out before the mound was removed.
Joe Harl, an archaeologist working with the University of Missouri - St. Louis during
the 1980s, revisited the hilltop and lower terrace. He supervised several seasons of
excavation on the Spanish Village Site (23SL69) which was situated on a terrace
below the Pac Man hilltop.
Several trashpit features were discovered by the SLCC crew excavating on the hilltop.
Fieldwork at the site was supervised by Professor Michael Fuller.
Two radiocarbon samples were dated. One sample dated 170 +/- 320 BC belongs to the Middle Woodland
Period. the second radiocarbon date is AD 670 +/- 90 and belongs to the Late Woodland Period.
The Late Woodland C-14 date came from a trash pit
containing cordmarked pottery sherds, a chert microlith
tool, small burnt pieces of mammal bone, burnt limestone, fragments of a burnt basket,
and carbonized seeds. Dr. Leonard Blake identified the carbonized seeds as
Maygrass (Phalaris caroliniana), goosefoot (Chenopodium sp.) and hickory nut (Carya sp.).
The Middle Woodland Period C-14 date came from a trashpit that contained a few
pottery sherds, small pieces of daub (dried or fired clay from a wall packing), and
pieces of carbonized hickory shell (Carya sp.).
Pac Man site (23SL370) from a distance
with the archaeology crew (and their sifter) on the top of the hill. The site name
refers to the heavy earth equipment that removed the site to cover a landfill.
St. Louis Community College Students working
at the Pac Man Site (23SL370).
SLCC students excavating at the Pac Man Site.
Professor Michael Fuller, early in his carrer with a
cross sectioned filled trashpit.
Trashpit with sherds and limestone visible.
Dozens of cordmarked sherds belonging to
a Late Woodland Period jar that would have been approximately 50 cm. in height and
30 cm. in diameter.