Structural Changes in Archaic Landscape Use in the Dissected Uplands of Southwestern Indiana

Abstract

Structural changes in Archaic landscape use are examined using a large-scale survey data set from the dissected forested uplands of southwest Indiana. Spatial patterning of hafted bifaces, as indicated by proximity to streams of different order and distance from major rivers, was found to vary between the Early and Middle Archaic periods. Early Archaic settlement emphasized the upper reaches and divides of basins, but also included near-river locations, while Middle and later Archaic groups focused on locations near basin outlets and major rivers. These changes are argued to be a function of reduced residential mobility and a shift from a largely foraging to a collecting strategy. Increased travel and processing costs associated with a logistical strategy resulted in a deemphasis of more distant extravalley resource patches. Several explanations for this shift in strategies are explored, including possible increased spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the environment associated with postglacial climate and vegetation change.

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“…Stafford [13], Ashmore & Knap [14], Anschuetz et al, [15], Hehl-Lange [16]; Niknami [17]. The effects of erosion and remnants of river sediments on these mud bricks show that this dam-like structure was created in order to control and direct the Kale Eidgah at the Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age (4th millennium BC).…”

Middle Holocene Environment on the Ozark Margin in Southeast Missouri: Deciphering a Testudine Testament

“…More sedentary communities apparently emerged slightly later in smaller tributary valleys, such as the Green River of Kentucky and Saline River in southern Illinois. More recent research tends to support that view [15,[21][22][23]. However, as is shown on the southeastern Ozark margin, dense shell midden deposition begins at about 6000 BP, following midden deposition beginning at 7500 BP.…”

“…128, 135), [13] (pp. [34][35][36][37], [14] (p. 22), [15]. Butzer [16,17] and Hajic [18] reviewed geological evidence for the changing environmental context of the Koster site in the lower Illinois valley.…”

Modeling soil-geomorphic associations and Archaic stratigraphic sequences in the lower Ohio River valley

“…The purpose of this paper is to build a more refined model of landscape evolution in the lower Ohio River valley that focuses on the structure and visibility of the Archaic record at varying spatial scales and provides a landscape context in which to sample Archaic settlements, particularly during the poorly known late Wisconsin/early Holocene transition and middle Holocene periods. These are key periods for understanding shifts in mobility strategies during the Archaic [15,16].…”