Red ochre, an iron-oxide mineral has been found in prehistoric sites worldwide, in many types of sites. It has been noted as being present, but has not been afforded the status of artifact with the same level of analysis as other artifacts such as ceramics or lithics. McCullough’s Run, a multi-component prehistoric cemetery in Indiana contained red ochre with cremation burials. By treating red ochre as more than incidental to the site, but as an artifact, new information about mortuary behavior was learned. The red ochre was from locally or regionally available materials, and was placed with the deceased during cremation. Therefore, red ochre must be treated as an artifact for comparing, contrasting information intraand inter-site. / Red ochre as an artifact -- What exactly is red ochre? -- Setting the stage -- The site : McCullough's Run, Bartholomew County, Indiana, 12B1036 -- Red ochre : the artifact. / Department of Anthropology

Presented in this thesis is the human osteological analysis of the cremation burials from ten Early Archaic features excavated at the McCullough's Run Site (12-B-1036) located in the eastern portion of Columbus, Bartholemew County, Indiana. The analysis of burials excavated from the McCullough's Run Site, one of the few Early Archaic Cemeteries found in the United States to date, add data that serve to clarify and expand our understanding of the Early Archaic in Indiana. / Department of Anthropology