Structure and regional diversity of the Meadowood interaction sphere

List of Figures . . v
List of Tables . . viii
Foreword . . ix
Acknowledgments . . xi

1 Introduction . . 1
Theoretical Background: The Study of Interactions in Anthropology and Archaeology . . 2
History of the Early Woodland and Meadowood Concepts . . 7
Contrasting Interpretations of the Meadowood Interaction Sphere . . 8
Methodology: Evaluating Interaction Sphere Models in Archaeology . . 10
Description of Sites Analyzed . . 13

2 The Material Manifestations of the Meadowood Interaction Sphere . . 17
Flaked Stone Artifacts . . 17
Polished Stone Artifacts . . 39
Ground Stone Artifacts . . 49
Unmodified Stones and Minerals . . 53
Antler and Bone Artifacts . . 55
Shell and Native Copper Artifacts . . 67
Ceramic Artifacts . . 67
Discussion . . 69

3 Distribution of Meadowood Sites and Diagnostics in the Northeast . . 73
Lakes Ontario/Erie Lowlands and Northern Glaciated Allegheny Plateau . . 74
St. Lawrence/Champlain Lowlands and Eastern Townships . . 78
Hudson/Mohawk/Susquehanna Lowlands . . 82
Atlantic Coastal Plain . . 84
Maine-Maritime Province . . 86
Western Great Lakes . . 89
Canadian Shield . . 91
Discussion . . 91

4 Environmental and Cultural Contexts of Meadowood Material Manifestations . . 103
Finished Products . . 104
Raw Materials . . 112
Discussion . . 124

5 Environmental Productivity and Meadowood Communities . . 127
Subsistence Strategies . . 128
Caches and the Question of Specialization . . 147
Meadowood Settlement Patterns and Population Density . . 148
Burial Practices and Funerary Rituals . . 152
Discussion . . 164

6 Discussion and Conclusions . . 169
Material Manifestations . . 170
Spatial Distribution of Sites and Exotic Items . . 172
Meadowood Subsistence and Social Organization . . 173
Conclusion . . 175

Appendix A: Inventory of Meadowood Components/Diagnostics . . 177
References Cited . . 189