Reconsidering Institutional Collapse and Social
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RECONSIDERING INSTITUTIONAL COLLAPSE AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION AT MOUNDVILLE DURING THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY by ERIK STEVEN PORTH JOHN H. BLITZ, COMMITTEE CHAIR VERNON J. KNIGHT, Jr. LISA J. LeCOUNT MICHAEL D. MURPHY GREGORY D. WILSON A DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Anthropology in the Graduate School of The University of Alabama TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA 2017 Copyright Erik Steven Porth 2017 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ABSTRACT The collapse of ancient complex societies is a topic that denotes a rapid disruption to traditional ways of life. This research reconsiders models for social collapse from the Mississippian center of Moundville, located in west-central Alabama. Collapse has been recognized at the site as a rupture in mound ceremonialism, nonlocal connections, and representational art. These changes indicate that structural elements were no longer enacted by influential individuals or were reproduced at other locations around communal institutions. This paper evaluates these models through an analysis of stratigraphically excavated ceramic, stone, and ritual paraphernalia from Mound P at Moundville that date from A.D. 1400-1520. Around A.D. 1450, the settlement pattern in the region shifted and some ritual practices were emphasized as others fell out of favor, suggesting there was a change in social organization but continuity in ritual expression. This research demonstrates that mound construction ceased and nonlocal connections were de-emphasized, but that representational art shifted to emphasize a restricted range of imagery in a highly visual manner. The change and continuity of produced and consumed objects during the fifteenth century indicates that there were structural shifts, not collapse, in materiality and monumentality during the fifteenth century in the Black Warrior Valley. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to begin by acknowledging my committee chair, John H. Blitz. He took me on as a Master’s student when I (at best) had a hazy idea of what studying the past anthropologically actually meant. In countless conversations, paper edits, and chapter drafts he has challenged me to think differently about the past and he has informed how I approach the study of complexity in ancient societies. I cannot thank Dr. Blitz enough for his guidance, patience, and insight and it has been an honor to have been his advisee these many years. I would also like to thank my committee members, who have provided me with thoughtful comments, clarifications, and some future directions. I offer special thanks to Vernon James Knight, Jr. who guided me through the material culture of Moundville and the importance of studying a largely unknown period of the culture’s history. Perhaps what is most telling about his dedication to the unique nature of the Mound P collection was his willingness to navigate the old Biology building in search of the lab. Lisa J. LeCount provided invaluable theoretical and methodological insight into how ancient societies change and the importance of monuments. I extend a thank you to Michael D. Murphy and our discussions on ritual during the formative phases of the dissertation and the proposal. I am indebted to my outside member, Gregory D. Wilson for his critical eye on how the research presented here can be expanded to related more broadly to archaeologists working elsewhere. Finally, I cannot forget Steven B. Kosiba, who was an original member of my committee but moved to a different institution prior to the writing and iii completion of the dissertation. He challenged me to think critically about the past introduced me to the concepts of place and space used throughout my research. My deepest gratitude goes to Matthew D. Gage, Eugene Futato, Brandon Thompson, William Allen, and other staff members of the Alabama Museum of Natural History, Office of Archaeological Research (OAR). They excavated the western flank units and worked with the field school students to provide the undergraduates with a professional field experience. Further, they have provided me with access to the western flank artifacts and field notes needed to write this dissertation. Without the work of OAR and the openness they have afforded me, my dissertation would have been very different. I offer a special thanks to William Bomar, who has encouraged me to continue my research at Moundville and been supportive of all scholarship at the site. I have had the privilege of spending the last eight years in The University of Alabama, Department of Anthropology. Without Melissa Sartain and Teri Kirkendoll, many of us would have fallen apart, myself included. They are an invaluable asset to the department and they have my upmost respect and thanks for all their hard work. I have been fortunate to have the support of so many mentors in the department, a prestigious list that includes Ian W. Brown, Kathy Oths, Bill Dressler, Jason DeCaro, Elliot Blair, and Jo Weaver. Specifically, I would like to thank Keith Jacobi for initially admitting me to the program as a Master’s student. Although I took a different path, he is the reason I was fortunate enough to be in the department to begin with. This research was greatly improved through a grant from the National Science Foundation. John Yellen and multiple anonymous reviewers offered crucial insight throughout the submission process and their support has made this and subsequent research into a poorly understood time in the Deep South’s history possible. I would also like to extend a special thanks iv to Gregory Hodgins, Amanda Halawani, and Richard Cruz from the University of Arizona NSF- AMS Laboratory for their help and services. The Mound P archaeological excavations were conducted by OAR and undergraduate students enrolled in the ANT 269 Archaeological Field Methods fall field school offered by The University of Alabama, Department of Anthropology. This roster includes: Brianne Billingsley, Kate Brantley, Dusten Bybee, Ian Mangum, Josh Moulton, Olivia Romero-Reed, Cynthia Snead, Natalie Thompson, and Cyndi Woolsey. They were a good crew, they moved a lot of dirt, and quickly learned the importance of straight profile walls. Unit 5 was excavated over two weekends by graduate student volunteers who took time from their busy, end-of-the-semester schedules to help excavate a midden deposit. These volunteers included: Becca Leon, Elise Duffield, Kathryn DeTore, and Kelsey Herndon. I cannot thank them enough for their effort. Further, I would like to recognize Katelyn Waggoner’s patience with me and the dial indicator as we worked together taking attribute measurements on a sample of rims from mound midden contexts. Two undergraduate ANT 466 Lab Methods in Archaeology courses worked on portions of the collection. The fall 2013 roster includes: Jonathon Belanich, Shay Johnson, Maryanne Mobley, Lauren Morrison, Celina Payne, Katelyn Smith, and Meghan Steel. The spring 2014 roster includes: Karl Bennett, Dusten Bybee, Katie Coward, Kim Dobrava, Kristin Dudra, Nat Graham, Jacob Greider, Laura Hergenroeder, Mike Jones, Mackenzie Keith, Taylor Lawhon, Lauren Pratt, Birdie Traywick, and Ayumi Wakitani. Further, some students enrolled in the spring ANT 107 Introduction to Archaeology course helped sort some floatation material, including: Audrey Dodge, Joe Latham, Andrea Lyle, Erin Minor, Isabella Rivera, and Ciatlyn v Walker. Involving undergraduates in projects is important and I was fortunate to spend time with some bright young minds. I would like to thank a few scholars who offered some advice along the way. Ned Jenkins and Craig Sheldon serve as constant reminders that central Alabama is just as close to west- central Alabama now as it was during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Keith Little and Hunter Johnson have served as outside council from time to time. Vincas P. Steponaitis has provided helpful comments. And finally, for their dedication to ducks, raptors, bears, deer, turtles, turkeys, and fish, a very special recognition must be made to Susan Scott Jackson and H. Edwin Jackson. I am indebted to their hard work and diligence in getting a large portion of the Mound P faunal assemblage analyzed. I would not have had the opportunity to complete a dissertation in anthropology if it were not for the faculty and staff of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Middle Tennessee State University. Shannon C. Hodge is a model adviser, mentor, friend, scholar, and human. She is the reason I am here and I am so grateful for her. I was fortunate to have worked closely with Kevin E. Smith at Castalian Springs. Kevin taught me how to dig wall-trench buildings by sound and feel when I could not see feature outlines in well-drained soil. Of course, he taught me so much more and set me on this career path. Finally, Tanya M. Peres taught me the importance of attention to detail and checking the power on freezers full of (formally) frozen dead animals in the summertime. I also thank her for her friendship and insight into feasting and faunal analysis. You cannot get through a graduate program without your peers and cohort. I am thrilled to be associated with some of the best young scholars Alabama has produced. J. Lynn Funkhouser was my first crew chief at Castalian Springs in 2007 and she still thinks I am vi ridiculous. Lynn analyzed the faunal assemblage with Susan and Ed and put in more hours than she should have to get those data prepared. I will always be grateful for her friendship. I will never forget Friday burgers in the field and coffee in the Biology building with my lab-mate Jessica Kowalski. Daniel A. LaDu has always made sure that I consider all sides of an argument and that I pay attention to things beyond work. Brooke Persons, Ben Lundberg, and Angel Narvaez-Lugo have been there for all of it and deserve my heartfelt thanks.