| Summary: | The Cape Cod National Seashore Archeological Survey was one of the most thorough and intensive archeological surveys yet conducted in northeastern North America. Over 425 hectares (428 ha. or 1048.6 acres) were field tested by 214 sample units using a systematic shovel test pit discovery procedure. Roughly 200 historic and prehistoric sites were discovered and had additional initial examination tests done to determine their sizes, structure, and contents. Roughly 20 sites, mainly at Nauset and High Head, were examined intensively. Over thirty C-14 dates were obtained. Volume 1 of the report includes a wide range of data and interpretations. Eight chapters are included. The first chapter describes the project background, goals and objectives, and history. A chapter provides descriptions of methods and techniques used for the sample survey, site examination, and to identify the units of analysis. The geographical and spatial relationships between these units—the concentrations--and the site areas within which they occur also are described as are the physical settings of the concentrations analyzed in chapters of this report. This information presents a basic physical geography of the archeological resources found during the survey and a preliminary framework for interpreting the settlement pattern of past human populations who used the region. Volume 1 also includes a summary of the natural environmental setting, the theoretical orientation for interpretation, and summaries of current ethnohistoric and prehistoric interpretations. The volume concludes with an analysis of stratigraphic and chronological data for the prehistoric sites.
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