Northeast Subsistence-Settlement Change: A.D. 700 –1300

Figure 3.9. Architectural and nonarchitectural remains at Fort Hill.
had a greater number and a greater variety of architectural
and nonarchitectural remains (Figure 3.9). While
Fort Hills I and II each had 31 dwellings, Fort Hill I had
more architectural remains in the form of 16 postenclosed
storage features, 2 of which were attached to
dwellings. Fort Hill II had only 2 post-enclosed features,
neither of which were attached to dwellings. Fort
Hill I had more hearths (n=53) and more pits (n=53) of
unidentified function than Fort Hill II. Of the 32 definite
and 3 possible burials at Fort Hill, 23 definite and
2 possible burials were associated with Fort Hill I. The
majority of burials represented infants and children,
though a few adult burials were also encountered. Fort
Hills I and II also each had a single feature that might
have represented ceremonial posts (Figure 3.10).
Cresson (1942:22) suggested that, overall, these data
indicate that Fort Hill II was inhabited for a much
shorter period of time relative to Fort Hill I.
Figure 3.10. Possible ceremonial post at Fort Hill I
(photograph courtesy of The State Museum of
Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
Commission).
Chapter 3 Modeling Village Community Organization Using Data From the Somerset County Relief Excavations 57