The Squirrel Hill site: A comparative geophysical investigation and cultural reevaluation

The Squirrel Hill site is one of the defining sites of the Johnston phase (A.D. 1450-1590) of the Monongahela tradition. Limited investigations of the site have taken place, but no notes or site maps remain. As part of the Johnston phase, the site has also been hypothesized to represent an amalgamation of the Monongahela with the McFate culture from northwestern Pennsylvania. This thesis addresses two research topics: a.) the efficiency in using geophysical instruments to relocate prehistoric sites in the region and b.) a re-evaluation of the site's relation to the Johnston phase and the presence of the McFate culture. These research topics were investigated through multiple surveys with different geophysical instruments, excavation, artifact analysis and AMS radiocarbon dating.