Anth 176A: North American ArchaeologyProf. Judith A. Habicht MaucheSpring 2009UCSC1The Eastern Woodlands I:The ArchaicLecture 20North American ArchaeologySpring 2009UCSCThe Eastern Woodlands East of Mississippi Largely Deciduous Forest Supported LargePopulations Most materiallyelaborate, politicallycomplex in NAHoloceneClimate Change 8000 BC Warmer post-glacialenvironment Northward expansion ofoak-dominated forests Spread of new animals deer, raccoon, opossum,black bear, wild turkey Marks transitionbetween PaleoIndianand Archaic Periods inEastAnth 176A: North American ArchaeologyProf. Judith A. Habicht MaucheSpring 2009UCSC2The Archaic Concept Temporal Period 8000-1000 BC Defined by William Ritchie in NE Broad-based foragers in Holocene environment Transitional period between PaleoIndian andWoodland Periods Developmental Stage Defined by Willey and Phillips (1958) Foraging economies throughout Americas, from10,000 BP to present (in some areas).Eastern Archaic Defined By: Broader range of resources Seasonal scheduling Intensification; food production New processing technology Milling stones Baskets Fishing gear Steatite Bowls Pottery Increasing Population (“packing”) Semi-permanent base camps Regional point-style diversity Territoriality? Increased trade and interaction Increasing differentiation of socialroles and statusesModels of Archaic Foraging Primary Forest Efficiency Joseph Cadwell As folks got more familiar w/environment they would learn to use it better Progressive, developmental model Optimal Foraging Theory Minimum effort, maximum gain – selective strategy Folks responding to external conditions – i.e. climatic change, populationgrowth, resource depletion, decreased mobility Such conditions make either broadening or narrowing subsistence base a moreproductive, effective option in any particular situation Marxist Theory Barbara Bender Leaders stimulate production of surplus Create wealth Manipulate to establish more complex social alliancesAnth 176A: North American ArchaeologyProf. Judith A. Habicht MaucheSpring 2009UCSC3Central Riverine Archaic One of a number ofregional variants ofEastern Archaic Koster Site, Illinois Indian Knoll, KentuckyKosterIndian KnollThe Koster Site Located in floodplain along Illinois River Deeply stratified Components (Horizons) range between 7000 BC- AD1200 Excavated by Stuart Struever in early 1970sHorizon 11 Early Archaic Component Ca. 6500 B.C. Seasonal camp Small band of highlymobile foragers returningto same localerepeatedly over period ofseveral centuries Nutting station??Midden, Horizon 11Anth 176A: North American ArchaeologyProf. Judith A. Habicht MaucheSpring 2009UCSC4 Hearths and two concentrations of whole artifacts mayrepresent “living floors”--temporary shelters Nuts--high-energy fat sourceCharred hickory and pecan remainsNutting stones Hunting and collecting of deer, small mammals, fish, fresh water mussels Narrow range of “high ranked” seasonal resourcesAnth 176A: North American ArchaeologyProf. Judith A. Habicht MaucheSpring 2009UCSC5 Human burials: 7 (4 adults; 3 infants)--open graves leftto decompose--meager grave goods Dog burials--domesticated Groundstone adz--woodworking--canoes Projectile points--twostyles--not local stone--suggests “open” socialnetworksAnth 176A: North American ArchaeologyProf. Judith A. Habicht MaucheSpring 2009UCSC6Horizon 8 Middle ArchaicComponent 5600-5000 BC Narrow range of high-ranked resources More restricted mobility Packing?? Greater Sedentism Houses Year round occupationHorizon 6 Late Archaiccomponent 3900-2800 BC Substantial settlementHorizon 6 MIdden Broader range of resources Inc. aquatic resources, waterfowl, nuts and seeds More use of backwater lakes and swamps (after 4000 BC) Intensive processing of acorns and seeds (marshelder)Anth 176A: North American ArchaeologyProf. Judith A. Habicht MaucheSpring 2009UCSC7 Small cemetery near settlement--adolescents,aged and infirm Formal cemetery on bluff across river--ablebodied adult men and women (Achieved Status)Indian Knoll, Kentucky 2500 BC Exc. by William Webb Riverine Archaic Broad range of resourcesfrom rich ecotoneenvironments Huge shell mounds Intensive processing ofnuts and seeds Restricted mobility,sedentism, territoriality 1000 burials in largemound Grave Goods = Genderroles Men--hunting gear Women--plant processinggear Social status Women w/ atlatl parts Exotics--some w/ childrenAnth 176A: North American ArchaeologyProf. Judith A. Habicht MaucheSpring 2009UCSC8“Banner Stones and Bird Stones”Copper and other exotics, buried with children (Ascribed Status??)Anth 176A: North American ArchaeologyProf. Judith A. Habicht MaucheSpring 2009UCSC9Late Archaic characterized by Increasing population Decreasing mobility Restricted access to increasingly localized resources Greater sedentism--houses; small settlements/villages Intensification of food production and storage Potential for surplus food production Expansion of trade networks – exotics – alliance building Potential for manipulation of surplus and alliance networks Beginnings of status differentiation (Achieved andAscribed?)***Basis of all later cultural developments in the Eastern