Recreation of a Monongahela village

Since 2016, Indiana University of Pennsylvania has conducted a biennial field school at the Squirrel Hill site. Squirrel Hill is an archeological site representing the largest Monongahela village yet discovered. The Monongahela cultural tradition represents peoples who shared material culture as shown in the archaeological record. Some of the traits of this tradition include shell tempered pottery, ceramic pipes, cannel coal pendants, triangular projectile points, bone beads, and circular palisaded villages with a central open plaza.

Extent of Monongahela Cultural Tradition

When Europeans arrived in North America, the Monongahela culture occupied a large area of the Upper Ohio Valley. There is no evidence that these people interacted with Europeans, but they were acquiring European trade goods through other indigenous peoples. It is believed that European contact brought about disease, warfare, and social unrest that would eventually cause all traces of this culture to disappear from the area by 1635. Others suggest that the Monongahela were dispersed or absorbed by the Seneca or other Haudenosaunee (Iroquoian) groups out of competition for fur trade routes and hunting grounds. Now, archaeologists consult with Haudenosaunee when working on Monongahela sites.

McFate Incised pottery

A collection of projectile points, drills, scrapers, and preforms.

Archaeologists who study the Monongahela tradition divide it into the Early period (1050-1250 AD), Early Middle period (1250-1450 AD), Late Middle period (1450-1590 AD), and the Late/Protohistoric period (1590-1635 AD). These periods are further divided into phases that are defined by both geographic location and technology, primarily ceramics. For example, the Squirrel Hill site is categorized within the Johnston Phase, which is distinguished by the presence of “McFate incised” pottery. The phase is also characterized by short bone beads, ground hematite cobbles, and the absence of cannel coal pendants. The protohistoric Foley Farm Phase is distinguished by the presence of European trade goods like brass, iron, and glass beads.

Since this cultural tradition disappeared before being contacted by Europeans, there is little information in the historical record. Archaeological research is uniquely suited to piecing together the story of this group of people. We do this by analyzing and interpreting materials in the archaeological record. IUP students and professors have been able to contribute much to our understanding of this culture through excavations at the Squirrel Hill site.