The Holtz Site, designated 20AN26 is an archaeological site located near Bellaire, Michigan. It is located on a former island in the Intermediate River near Bellaire, Michigan. The site is surrounded by low, swampy areas.[4]

Holtz Site
Holtz Site is located in Michigan
Holtz Site
Holtz Site is located in the United States
Holtz Site
Map
Interactive map
Nearest cityBellaire, Michigan[2]
Coordinates44°58′53″N 85°12′17″W / 44.98139°N 85.20472°W / 44.98139; -85.20472
Area25 acres (10 ha)
NRHP reference No.73002151[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJune 19, 1973
Designated MSHSDecember 11, 1970[3]

Description

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The Holtz Site is located on the bank of the Intermediate River on what once was as island, surrounded by low, swampy ground. Five different features were discovered at the site. These were:[4]

  • A small hearth measuring about 1.4 by 1.5 feet.
  • A concentration of potsherds.
  • A modern fire pit.
  • Materials associated with hearth activities, but no the hearth itself.
  • A second concentration of pottery.

The sherds belonged to at least 11 distinct pottery vessels, of which six were complete enough for identification of features. Several projectile points were also recovered from the site.[4]

History

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The materials present at the site indicate that it was occupied late in the Middle Woodland period.[4]

The site was excavated in 1967 by researchers from Michigan State University.[5] Artifacts found on the site indicate it was a Middle Woodland period encampment, dating to around AD 200-400.[6] It was likely inhabited for a short time by people from southern Michigan who traveled north for a season.

The site was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1970[3] and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ The NRIS gives the location of the Holtz Site as "Address Restricted." However, Lovis gives the location of the site. Geo-coordinates are approximate.
  3. ^ a b "Holtz Site (20AN26)". Michigan State Housing Development Authority: Historic Sites Online. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d William Lovis (June 1971), "The Holtz Site (20AN26), Antrim Co., Michigan; A Preliminary Report", The Michigan Archaeologist, 17 (2)
  5. ^ Beth Blenz (1981), Encyclopedia of Michigan, Somerset Publishers, p. 496, ISBN 9780403099733
  6. ^ "Archaeology in Antrim County", Michigan History, 64: 9, 1979

Further reading

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  • William A. Lovis, Jr. (1971). "Holtz Site (20AN26), Antrim Co., Michigan; a Preliminary Report". The Michigan Archaeologist. 17 (2): 49–64.