Schoharie Valley Settlement and Subsistence

Since 2002, museum scientists and researchers from the Department of Anthropology at the University of Albany, SUNY have completed archaeological excavations at sites in the Schoharie Valley containing components dating from approximately 6,000 B.C. to the early 19th century. Supplemental investigations conducted as part of cultural resource management investigations have also added to our understanding of the region. The results of this work have produced new information that can be used to refine chronology and reconstruct prehistoric land use and settlement patterns in the region. Botanical and faunal remains have contributed to our understanding of early subsistence strategies in the valley while the recovery of ceramic and lithic objects have provided information about changes in the resource procurement and manufacturing techniques of these groups. Student dissertation projects related to mapping site locations in the valley using GIS, reconstructing site use through an analysis of micro-artifacts, and micro-wear analysis of lithic artifacts are on-going and are expected to contribute to the our understanding of the occupation of the valley. 

Related Publications

Rafferty, S. M., C.B. Rieth, and S. Moragne
2014 Prehistoric Occupations at the Pethick Site, Schoharie County, New York. Eastern States Archaeological Federation Bulletin, Volume 42.

Rieth, C.B.
2014 Cultural Resources Site Examination Report of the Vroman I and II Sites, Town of Schoharie, Schoharie County, New York. New York State Museum Cultural Resources Survey Program Bulletin 7.

Rieth, C.B.
2012 Settlement and Subsistence at a Middle Woodland Camp in Eastern New York. North American Archaeologist 133:81-106.

Rieth, C. B.
2010 Reanalyzing Scale in the Eastern Woodlands: The View from Eastern New York. Chapter in edited volume entitled Iroquoian Archaeology and Analytical Scale, edited by Laurie Miroff and Timothy Knapp. University of Tennessee Press, Nashville.

Rieth, C. B.
2008 The Catskill I and II Sites: Two Upland Camps in Eastern New York. Submitted to the The Bulletin, Journal of the New York State Archaeological Society 123:27-35.

Rieth, C. B.
2008 Early Woodland Settlement and Land Use in Eastern New York. Journal of Middle Atlantic Archaeology 24:153-166.

Rafferty, S., C. Wood, and C. B. Rieth
2007 A Trace Element Analysis of Lithics in New York State. North American Archaeologist 28(2):169-181.

Rieth, C. B. (w/ contributions by N. Asch Sidell)
2004 Cultural Resources Data Recovery Report of Mitigation of the Schoharie Creek II Site, Town of Schoharie, Schoharie County, New York. Report prepared for the New York State Department of Transportation by the New York State Museum.

Rieth, C. B.
2002 Archaeological Excavations at the Smith-Holloway 4 Site: Results of the 2002 and
2003 Field Season. Report prepared for the New York State Museum and the University
at Albany, SUNY.

Rieth, C.B. and S. Moragne
2007 Cultural Resources Reconnaissance Survey Report for PIN 9306.17.121, Route
7/30A/Zicha Road, Town of Schoharie, Schoharie County, New York. Report prepared for
the New York State Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway
Administration, Albany.

Rieth, C.B.
2002 Cultural Resources Site Examination Report for the Johnstone and Webster Sites, Town of Sharon and Seward, Schoharie County, New York (PIN 9111.18.121). Report prepared for the New York State Department of Transportation, Albany.

Rieth, C. B.
2002 Cultural Resources Data Recovery Report of Mitigation of the Schoharie Creek II Site, Town of Schoharie, Schoharie County, New York. Report prepared for the New York State Department of Transportation by the New York State Museum.

Rieth, C.B.
1999 Cultural Resources Site Examination Report of the Vrooman # 1 and #2 Sites, PIN 9125.05.122, Routes 30 and 30A, Town of Schoharie, Schoharie County, New York. Report prepared for the New York State Department of Transportation, Albany.

Rieth, C. B.
1998 Site Examination Report for the Schoharie Creek I and II Sites, Town of Schoharie, Schoharie County, New York. Report prepared for the New York State Department of Transportation, Albany.

Rieth, C. B.
1996 Cultural Resources Reconnaissance Survey for Rte 7, Town of Central Bridge, Schoharie, New York (PIN 9306.56.122). Report prepared for the New York State Department of Transportation, Albany.

Rieth, C. B.
1996 Cultural Resources Reconnaissance Survey Report for Route 10, Hamlet of Baird’s Corners, Town of Jefferson, Schoharie County, New York (PIN 9095.56.121). Report prepared for the New York State Department of Transportation, Albany