2021 Fall Newsletter

Pomona Phase The Pomona Phase is characterized as a Middle Ceramic Period from 900 AD to 1500 AD. Pomona is a Middle Ceramic period culture of the Central Plains tradition. Pomona sites are found primarily in the Osage Cuestas of eastern Kansas.

Photo Courtesy KSHS

These people utilized cuttings blades. And to pro cess wild seeds, nuts, and other food, Manos

Photo Courtesy KSHS

Sites found during the excavation of the Hillsdale Project include extended communities, clustered houses (3 to 4 houses together), isolated houses, work/storage areas, and hunting camps. Pomona culture was first recognized during arche ological study of the Pomona Reservoir in Osage County. Pomona people made a distinctive type of pottery, named Pomona Ware by archeologists.

Bones found at the sites indicate key sources of meat included Elk, Sheep, Pronghorn, Snake, Beaver, Racoon, American Buffalo, White Tailed Deer, and Turtle. From artifacts found we can interpret their diet to have consisted of: Blackberry, Raspberry, Mulberry, Hickory Nut, Ha zelnut, Black Walnut, Redbud Seed (High in Vi tamin C), Pecan, Corn, and Lambsquarter Seed (similar to spinach). Possible medicinal herbs include Mustard Seeds (used as an Anti-Inflammatory); Croton seeds (used to treat gallbladder problems, colic, blocked intestines, and malaria), Passion Flower (used to treat anxiety and sleep problems, as well as for pain, heart rhythm problems, menopausal symp toms, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is applied to the skin for burns and to treat hem orrhoids);

Photo Courtesy KSHS

Page 15 These people lived off of both horticulture and hunting-and-gathering. They had what we would call farmsteads that grew maize, squash and sun flowers. For relaxation or ceremonial events, they used Clay Smoking Pipes. To plow their field the used Bison Scapula Bones as a garden hoe.