The Late Archaic-Early Woodland Transition In Southeastern Minnesota

200 Pages·2009·7.78 MB·English

The Late Archaic-Early Woodland Transition
In Southeastern Minnesota
ADissertation
Submittedtothe FacultyoftheGraduate School
OfTheUniversityofMinnesota
By
BradleyEdwardPerkl
In PartialFulfillmentoftheRequirementsfortheDegreeof
Doctorof Philosophy
(InterdisciplinaryArchaeologicalStudies)
GuyE. Gibbon,Advisor
December2009
TABLE OFCONTENTS
ListofTables ii
ListofFigures v
Chapter1. Introduction 1
Chapter2. EnvironmentalBackground 4
Chapter3. CultureHistory 40
Chapter4. TheArchaeologicalRecord 62
Chapter5. Relationships 92
Chapter6. Conclusions 129
ReferencesCited 159
AppendixACulturalandEnvironmentalCharacteristicsof
LateArchaicSitesintheStudyRegion 188
AppendixB.CulturalandEnvironmentalCharacteristicsof
EarlyWoodlandSitesintheStudyRegion 191
i
LISTOFTABLES
Table2.1. ModernClimaticCharacteristicsofSoutheastern
MinnesotaSub-Regions. 8
Table2.2. PrincipalEnvironmentalDifferencesofSoutheastern
MinnesotaSub-regions. 19
Table2.3. ComparisonofModernMeanAnnualandMCMMeanAnnual
PrecipitationandTemperaturefortheSub-BorealIII,Sub-AtlanticI
andSub-AtlanticIIClimaticEpisodes
atRochester,WinonaandCaledonia. 30
Table2.4. MeanAnnualDischargeHistoriesfortheZumbroRiverat
ZumbroFalls,theMississippiRiveratLockandDam5AandtheSouth
ForkoftheRootRiverNearHouston. 31
Table3.1. ProposedLateArchaic-EarlyWoodlandSequencein
theStudyRegion. 43
Table4.1. LateArchaicandEarlyWoodlandDiagnosticArtifacts. 64
Table4.2. Archaic,LateArchaic,Woodland,EarlyWoodlandandTotal
NumberofSitesRecordedintheStudyRegion. 67
Table4.3. Two-LetterCountyCodesfortheStudyRegion. 68
Table5.1. LandformDefinitions. 95
Table5.2. PrincipalVegetationCommunities. 96
Table5.3. TotalNumberofSites,ArchaicSitesandLateArchaicSites
IdentifiedintheStudyRegion. 98
Table5.4. TotalNumberofLateArchaicSitesbySub-region. 99
Table5.5. LateArchaicSiteTypesbySub-Regions. 100
Table5.6. LateArchaicLandformsbySub-Regions. 100
Table5.7. LateArchaicSiteTypesbyLandform. 100
Table5.8. LateArchaicSiteFunctionsbySub-Regions. 101
Table5.9. LateArchaicSiteFunctionsbyLandforms. 101
Table5.10. LateArchaicSoilTypesbySub-Region. 101
Table5.11. LateArchaicSiteSoilCharacteristics. 102
ii
LISTOFTABLES,Continued
Table5.12. LateArchaicLandformsbySoilTypes. 103
Table5.13. LateArchaicSiteFunctionbySoilTypes. 104
Table5.14. LateArchaicSiteFunctionbySoilDrainage. 104
Table5.15. LateArchaicSiteFunctionandSoilFertility. 105
Table5.16. LateArchaicSiteFunctionbySlopePercentage. 105
Table5.17. LateArchaicSiteVegetationbySub-Region. 106
Table5.18. LateArchaicSiteLandformbyVegetation. 106
Table5.19. LateArchaicSiteVegetationbySiteFunction. 106
Table5.20. LateArchaicSiteAspectbySiteFunction. 107
Table5.21. LateArchaicProximitytoBedrockbySiteFunction. 107
Table5.22. LateArchaicWatershedsbySiteFunction. 107
Table5.23.TotalNumberofSites,WoodlandSitesandEarlyWoodlandSites
IdentifiedintheStudyRegion. 108
Table5.24. TotalnumberofEarlyWoodlandSitesbySub-Region. 108
Table5.25. EarlyWoodlandSiteTypesbySub-Regions. 109
Table5.26. EarlyWoodlandLandformsbySub-Regions. 110
Table5.27. EarlyWoodlandLandformsbySiteType. 110
Table5.28. EarlyWoodlandSiteFunctionsbySub-Regions. 111
Table5.29. EarlyWoodlandLandformsbySiteFunction. 111
Table5.30. EarlyWoodlandSoilTypesbySub-Region. 111
Table5.31. EarlyWoodlandSiteSoilCharacteristics. 112
Table5.32. EarlyWoodlandLandformsbySoilTypes. 113
Table5.33 EarlyWoodlandSiteFunctionbySoilTypes. 114
Table5.34. EarlyWoodlandSiteFunctionbySoilDrainage. 114
Table5.35. EarlyWoodlandSiteFunctionandSoilFertility. 115
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LISTOFTABLES,Continued
Table5.36. EarlyWoodlandSitesFunctionbySlopePercentage. 115
Table5.37. EarlyWoodlandSiteVegetationbySub-Region. 116
Table5.38. EarlyWoodlandSite LandformbyVegetation. 116
Table5.39. EarlyWoodlandSiteVegetationbySiteFunction. 116
Table5.40. EarlyWoodlandSiteAspectbySiteFunction. 117
Table5.41. EarlyWoodlandSiteProximitytoBedrockbySiteFunction. 117
Table5.42. LateArchaicWatershedsbySiteFunction. 117
Table5.43. LateArchaicandEarlyWoodlandSiteswithRecorded
SubsistenceRemains. 119
Table5.44. IdentifiedSubsistenceRemainsatSiteswithLateArchaic
andEarlyWoodlandComponentswithintheStudyRegion. 121
Table5.45. EnvironmentalCharacteristicsofLateArchaicand
EarlyWoodlandSiteswithSubsistenceRemains. 122
Table5.46. ApproximatePercentageofDominantVegetationCommunities
bySub-Region. 123
Table5.47. CompilationofLateArchaicandEarlyWoodlandSubsistence
RemainsatKingCoulee(21WB56). 128
Table6.1 TotalNumberofSitesandComponentsRepresentedwithin
theStudyRegion. 131
Table6.2. SummaryCharacteristicsofLateArchaicandEarlyWoodland
CulturesintheStudyRegion. 157
iv
LISTOFFIGURES
Figure1.1 LocationofStudyRegionintheUpperMidwest. 3
Figure2.1. CountiesIncludedintheStudyRegion. 5
Figure2.2. PhysiographicSub-RegionsoftheStudyRegion. 6
Figure2.3. ModernTemperature,PrecipitationandGrowingDaysof
theStudyRegion. 8
Figure2.4. BedrockGeologyoftheStudyRegion. 10
Figure2.5. TopographicReliefoftheStudyRegion. 12
Figure2.6. MajorWatershedswithintheStudyRegion. 14
Figure2.7. SoilsintheStudyRegion. 16
Figure2.8. PrecontactVegetationoftheStudyRegion. 17
Figure2.9. StudyRegionMCMLocations. 22
Figure2.10. MCMPrecipitationatRochester,MN. 24
Figure2.11. MCMTemperatureatRochester,MN. 24
Figure2.12. MCMEvapotranspirationforRochester,MN. 25
Figure2.13. MCMDischargefortheZumbroRiveratZumbroFalls,MN. 27
Figure2.14. MCMPrecipitationforWinona,MN. 28
Figure2.15. MCMTemperatureforWinona,MN. 28
Figure2.16. MCMPrecipitationforCaledonia,MN. 29
Figure2.17. MCMTemperatureforCaledonia,MN. 29
Figure2.18. MCMDischargefortheMississippiRiverat
LockandDam5A,Winona,MN. 31
Figure2.19. MCMDischargefortheSouthForkoftheRootRiver
NearHouston,MN. 32
Figure2.20. StudyRegionPaleoecologicalsites. 38
Figure3.1 LocationsofCultureAreasandSitesMentionedintheText. 44
Figure3.2. DiagnosticArchaicandWoodlandProjectilePoints. 46
v
LISTOFFIGURES,Continued
Figure3.3. DiagnosticWoodlandCeramics. 55
Figure4.1. LateArchaicandEarlyWoodlandSiteLocationsin
theStudyRegion. 67
Figure4.2. DodgeCountySiteLocations. 69
Figure4.3. FillmoreCountySiteLocations. 71
Figure4.4. GoodhueCountySiteLocations. 75
Figure4.5. HoustonCountySiteLocations. 77
Figure4.6. MowerCountySiteLocations. 83
Figure4.7. OlmstedCountySiteLocations. 84
Figure4.8. WabashaCountySiteLocations. 86
Figure4.9. WinonaCountySiteLocations. 90
Figure5.1 LateArchaicSiteLocations. 99
Figure5.2. EarlyWoodlandSiteLocations. 109
Figure5.1. SitesintheStudyRegionwithRecordedSubsistenceRemains. 120
Figure6.1. TotalNumberofSitesbySub-Regions. 133
Figure6.2. LateArchaicandEarlyWoodlandSitesbyMajorWatersheds 133
Figure6.3. LateArchaicandEarlyWoodlandSiteTypes. 134
Figure6.4. LateArchaicandEarlyWoodlandSiteFunctions. 134
Figure6.5. LateArchaicandEarlyWoodlandLandforms. 135
Figure6.6. LateArchaicandEarlyWoodlandGrossLandforms. 135
Figure6.7. LateArchaicandEarlyWoodlandLandformsandSiteFunctions. 136
Figure6.8. LateArchaicandEarlyWoodlandAspect. 137
Figure6.9. LateArchaicandEarlyWoodlandProximitytoBedrock. 137
Figure6.10. LateArchaicandEarlyWoodland SoilTextures. 138
Figure6.11. LateArchaicandEarlyWoodlandSoilDrainage. 139
vi
LISTOFFIGURES,Continued
Figure6.12. LateArchaicandEarlyWoodlandNaturalSoilFertility. 139
Figure6.13. LateArchaicandEarlyWoodlandSlopeGradient. 140
Figure6.14. LateArchaicandEarlyWoodlandVegetation. 141
Figure6.15. CompilationofLateArchaicandEarlyWoodlandSubsistence
RemainsatKingCoulee(21WB56). 142
Figure6.16. SourceAreasofExoticandNon-LocalandMaterials. 150
Figure6.17 SiteLocationswithBothLateArchaicand
EarlyWoodlandComponents. 151
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Chapter1
Introduction
Between approximately 3,500 and 1,800 years before present, indigenous societies inhabiting
southeastern Minnesotaexperienced a profound cultural transformation. During this time period
a combination of environmental changes, technological innovations and socio-cultural shifts
stimulated lifeway alterations among people of the Archaic Tradition to those of the Woodland
Tradition. In eastern North America the classic criteria delineating Archaic from Woodland
include the use of ceramics and domesticated plants and construction of burial mounds by
Woodland peoples and the lack of these traits by Archaic peoples. The occurrence and
elaboration of these traits represent major changes in technology, economy and social
organization. However, in southeastern Minnesota, reliance on the classic tripartite criteria to
distinguish Archaic and Woodland cultural signatures from the existing data is problematic. For
example, Late Archaic groups in southeastern Minnesota used domesticated plants while
ceramics and burial mounds appear in Late Archaic contexts in various areas across the upper
Midwest. Although Early Woodland ceramics are present, albeit with uncertain timing of their
appearance, there is no firm evidence that Early Woodland groups constructed burial mounds or
used domesticated plants in southeastern Minnesota. However, in adjacent regions, Early
Woodland mounds and domestic plant use are documented. In southeastern Minnesota, it is not
until approximately 1,800 years before present, during the Middle Woodland, that evidence for
the full tripartite criteria ismanifest. Howthen, is thetransformation fromArchaic toWoodland
discerned in the archaeological record of southeastern Minnesota? What factors stimulated Late
Archaic inhabitants to transform their lifeways? What is the nature of Early Woodland in
southeastern Minnesota? How was the transition achieved? These questions frame basic
researchproblemsthatthisstudywillattempttoexplain.
Numerous studies across eastern North America and in the upper Midwest have contemplated
Late Archaic and Early Woodland problems. For example, in the adjacent areas of northeastern
Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin, as well as at the American Bottom in west-central Illinois,
understanding of the Late Archaic and Early Woodland archaeological record is more complete,
with well defined chronologies, diagnostic materials, settlement and subsistence patterns and
social organization. With some exceptions, such as the American Bottom and western Illinois,
the mechanisms and impacts of culture change are less well understood. However, various
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aspects of Late Archaic, Early Woodland, and the transition period remain under debate, as
illustrated by contending models explaining differences in, and causes for, culture change. For
instance, inadditiontothetripartitemodel, othermodelsinclude: gradual in-situincorporationof
newtraitswithminoradjustments;punctuatedreplacementofLateArchaicgroupsbyimmigrants
or intrusive groups with superior technology and different cultural habits with radical lifeway
alterations; climate change with its various ramifications; and population expansion causing the
collapseofcrucialresourcesandleadingtowarfare.
Despite a long history of archaeological investigations in southeastern Minnesota, few studies
have explored aspects of the Late Archaic or Early Woodland and the transition has remained
vague. Some factors responsible for this situation include a dearth of archaeological sites with
Late Archaic and Early Woodland components that have been excavated and researched, a
preponderance of traditional presumptions defining Late Archaic and Early Woodland cultures,
uncertain conceptual underpinnings ofwhat constitutes EarlyWoodland, andthe timing of when
Woodland traits appear in southeastern Minnesotaand generally across Minnesota. Notably, an
indistinctnotionofEarlyWoodlandholdsandsomeresearchersquestionifEarlyWoodland,asa
concept,appliestoMinnesotaatall.
This study examines the Late Archaic-Early Woodland transition period in southeastern
Minnesota (Figure 1.1). This portion of the stateis defined by political boundaries that roughly
coincide with an area not covered by ice during the Wisconsin glaciation. The study reviews
existingarchaeological andenvironmental data. Itpresents arevisedperspectiveof Late Archaic
and Early Woodland societies in southeastern Minnesota and the transformation of the one into
the other through a comparative analysis that highlights regional environmental and cultural
variability. The fundamental goals of this research are to define the Late Archaic and Early
Woodland temporally, materially, and culturally, and to formulate a model characterizing the
LateArchaic-EarlyWoodlandtransitioninsoutheasternMinnesota.
It is hoped that this research will illuminate relationships, diminish vagaries, and change the
perceived dichotomy between the Late Archaic and Early Woodland societies in southeastern
Minnesota. Chapter 2discusses theenvironmental background ofthe studyregion to includethe
Late Holocene environment and presents macrophysical climate models constructed by the
author. Chapter3 reviewstheculturehistoryofthestudyregion andcomparesthe evidencewith
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