Summer Island Site


The Summer Island Site, designated 20DE4, is an archaeological site located on the northwest side of Summer Island, in Delta County, Michigan. It is classified as a stratified, multi-component site with Middle Woodland, Upper Mississippian and Early Historic/Protohistoric occupations. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

Site Description

The site lies in a sandy meadow about 20 feet above Summer Harbor on the northwest side of the island, and about "125 feet inland from the best canoe landing area in the entire bay." At the time it was first excavated, cultural material was evident on the surface of the site.

Archaeological history

As early as 1851, this site has been recorded as an abandoned Native American village which was occupied as late as 1770. In 1931, Wilbert B. Hinsdale included it in his Archaeological atlas of Michigan. The site was first excavated by George I. Quimby in 1959. Quimby was able to collect material from the surface, and dug some test pits, finding pot sherds and animal bones. David S. Brose conducted extensive excavations in 1967-68.

Cultural history

The site was most likely utilized by a number of different cultures. The earliest occupiers were likely Middle Woodland period peoples. Based on distinctive pottery associated with different residences, it is likely these people had patrilocal residences. A later part of the Summer Island site included hearths, a storage pit, and waste pits, and has been ascribed Upper Mississippian culture and Late Woodland period peoples. The inhabitants of the site likely occupied it in the late summer, and ate a variety of game, including mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The final occupiers had early French trade goods, indicating they likely used the site around 1620; they used the site as a late summer hunting camp.
A small fishing village of European settlers, believed to be associated with the fishing fleet from St. Martin Island, was established just north of the prehistoric archeological site in the 1800s. The village was occupied by fishermen through at least the end of the 19th century, and then by loggers from Fayette in the early 20th century.

Results of 1967-68 Excavations

The excavations yielded features, artifacts, animal bone, and plant remains.

Features

Numerous post molds were found in the Middle Woodland component, representing 4 house structures. Also present were 3 storage pits, 9 refuse pits, 6 hearths, 1 internal platform and 4 drying racks.
Features were also present in the Upper Mississippian and Early Historic components.

Artifacts

Artifacts recovered from the site included:

Middle Woodland

The Middle Woodland component was represented by a dense midden containing a rich variety of tools and potsherds. 112 vessels were present in this component. The following pottery types were identified:
With the large variety of types present, aided by a series of radiocarbon dates and comparisons with pottery of nearby sites, the site investigators present a fine-tuned ceramic chronology of the Middle Woodland in the Upper Great Lakes region. This component was radiocarbon-dated to between 70-250 A.D. and was part of the Northern Tier Middle Woodland tradition, which covered a vast amount of territory in present-day Canada and the northern United States, ranging from Winnipeg to the St. Lawrence.

Upper Mississippian

16 vessels were present in this component, which was radiocarbon dated to approximately 1290 A.D. The following types were present:
16 vessels were present in this component, which was radiocarbon dated to approximately 1620 A.D. The presence of European trade goods indicate the occupation took place at least partially following initial European contact. The following pottery types were present:
The Summer Island site is a stratified site with multiple cultural components. Based on the radiocarbon dates, the earliest occupation dates to around 70 through 250 A.D.; the second dates to c. 1290 A.D; and the final coincides with initial European contact, approximately 1620 A.D. or a few decades later. Details of the pottery styles present at the site may be compared to those of other sites to aid in developing a more precise chronology, as well as providing clues to interactions with other cultural groups in Michigan, Wisconsin and beyond.