In the shadow of Moundville: A bioarchaeological view of the transition to agriculture in the central Tombigbee valley of Alabama and Mississippi

Upper limb entheseal change with the transition to agriculture in the southeastern United States: A view from Moundville and the central Tombigbee River valley

“…Powell (1988) argues that this demonstrates optimal adaptation of human ecological relationships in the region, and Hutchinson and Larsen (1988) similarly hypothesize that local ecozones were sufficiently diverse to support the resident populations, counteracting any deleterious effects seen from maize mono-cropping elsewhere. In a recent comparison of generalized markers of stress among the same outlying settlements along the central Tombigbee that are explored in the current study, Shuler et al (2012) found a trend of increasing stature but with higher metabolic distress (anemia) and exposure to ubiquitous localized infections over time for both males and females in the region. Peak onset of enamel defects (growth disruptions) was earlier in Mississippian agriculturalists (3.18 years) than in the Late Woodland hunter gatherers (3.74 years) as a group, suggesting potentially earlier weaning, if not greater stress, in the latter.…”

“…Together, these studies document the region's rich history of technology (Futato, 1987; Jenkins, 1982;Jenkins and Krause, 1986), sociopolitical development (Blitz, 1993), subsistence economy and food ways (Jackson and Scott, 1995;Scott, 1982Scott, , 1983, and health and nutritional status for the populations previously living along these riverine systems (Cole et al, 1981;Danforth, 1992;Hill, 1981;Hogue, 2007;Powell, 1983;Rose et al, 1980;Shuler, 2009;Shuler et al, 2012;Sims et al, 1992;Williams, 1993). A map of the study area is shown in Fig.…”

“…A recent contextual study with synthesis of previous health data for the region is found in Shuler et al (2012). Indigenous Late Woodland (500-900 CE) populations in this region were mobile and predominantly relied on subsistence from seasonal hunting and collecting of diverse local resources (cf., Caddell, 1981;Jackson and Scott, 1995;Scott, 1983).…”

“…After 1000 CE, maize played a central role as rapid adoption of cleared field agriculture, as evidenced by significant increases in local floral assemblages (Jenkins and Krause, 1986 (Blitz, 1993;Knight, 2010). From Shuler et al (2012). platform mound and associated living area, the exploitation of hickory continued into the early Mississippian but with a marked decline in acorn use. Maize by weight at this site jumps from >0.1% in the Late Woodland assemblage to 51% of charred botanical material in the early Mississippian period (Caddell, 1981;Welch, 1990:207).…”

“…Nevertheless, comparisons of trends in biomechanical changes over time and other health trends and across these settlements (cf., Shuler et al, 2012) can offer generalized insight into labor variability within the Moundville sphere.…”