THE LUTES SITE, A MIDDLE ARCHAIC BURIAL LOCALE ALONG THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER OF LOGAN COUNTY, COLORADO.

The Lutes site (5LO830) is a burial locale containing two adult interments situated along the South Platte River of Logan County, Colorado. The site was excavated by Colorado State University archaeologists in 1976; however, neither a final report nor a site form was originally prepared. In this article, the authors present verbatim a manuscript written shortly after the excavation. We then evaluate this manuscript, based on the presented information as well as associated photo documentation. Four Hanna dart points were found during the excavation, representative of the McKean Complex and dating to the Middle Archaic era. Three of the projectile points were found in direct association with one of the individuals. The points might have been interred as funerary objects, or perhaps less likely, the projectile points reflect evidence of prehistoric violence. Comparison with other Archaic period burials from the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains suggests that the Lutes site represents an uncommon occurrence, that of a multiple burial containing associated projectile points. Unfortunately, the evidence at hand does not allow for clear determination for a cause of death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]