Biological Affinities of Archaic Period Populations from West-Central
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University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 12-2002 Biological Affinities of chaicAr Period Populations from West- Central Kentucky And Tennessee Nicholas Paul Herrmann University of Tennessee - Knoxville Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss Part of the Anthropology Commons Recommended Citation Herrmann, Nicholas Paul, "Biological Affinities of chaicAr Period Populations from West-Central Kentucky And Tennessee. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2002. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/2123 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Nicholas Paul Herrmann entitled "Biological Affinities of chaicAr Period Populations from West-Central Kentucky And Tennessee." I have examined the final electronic copy of this dissertation for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in Anthropology. Lyle W. Konigsberg, Major Professor We have read this dissertation and recommend its acceptance: Richard L. Jantz, Walter E. Klippel, Kenneth H. Orvis Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Nicholas Paul Herrmann entitled “Biological Affinities of Archaic Period Populations from West-Central Kentucky And Tennessee.” I have examined the final electronic copy of this dissertation for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in Anthropology. Lyle W. Konigsberg Major Professor We have read this dissertation and recommend its acceptance: Richard L. Jantz Walter E. Klippel Kenneth H. Orvis Acceptance for the Council: Anne Mayhew Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies (Original signatures are on file with official student records.) BIOLOGICAL AFFINITIES OF ARCHAIC PERIOD POPULATIONS FROM WEST-CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE A Dissertation Presented for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Nicholas Paul Herrmann December 2002 Copyright © 2002 by Nicholas Paul Herrmann All rights reserved. ii Dedications I wish to dedicate my dissertation to two individuals who have influenced my life in different ways: First, I dedicate this to my mother who has supported me throughout my graduate studies. The “big paper” is finally finished. Second, I dedicate this to Leonard Blake, who recently passed away. During my years at Washington University, Leonard was always in the Archaeology Lab working and answering questions. He was an incredible person, dedicated researcher and inspiration to all who knew him iii Acknowledgements This dissertation is the result of years of work. Without the help of numerous friends and colleagues this document would not have been possible. First, my committee provided invaluable advice and suggestions. Dr. Kenneth Orvis of the Department of Geography has provided insightful questions and additional thoughts on how the Green River shell mound populations should be viewed. Dr. Lyle W. Konigsberg has supported my research efforts throughout my tenure in the Department of Anthropology. Dr. Konigsberg has included me in several research projects and provided numerous professional opportunities through presentation or publication. He also provided invaluable statistical advice and Fortran code for performing several of the analyses described in this dissertation. Dr. Richard L. Jantz has also supported my efforts. Through several research projects and contracts, he has provided employment and research opportunities. Dr. Walter Klippel has been an incredible influence on my academic career at the University of Tennessee. His approach to archaeological research is impeccable. Dr. Klippel has always had just one more thought provoking question that needs to be addressed. I view Drs. Konigsberg, Jantz and Klippel as valued mentors, colleagues and friends. Numerous individuals assisted my efforts with the Green River collections, but two individuals stand out. First and foremost, Dr. Jim Fenton provided invaluable advice on how to “get it done” and a unique perspective on Green River archaeology and skeletal biology. I always had a place to stay in Lexington during my numerous visits. I thank him for his hospitality, academic advice, archaeological thoughts and friendship. I iv acknowledge Valerie Haskins for sparking my interest in the Green River collections way back in 1989. We inventoried the Read (15BT10) collection as part of my Master’s research. She provided access to the Read skeletal material when it was temporarily curated at Western Kentucky University. Dr. May Stanford of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro granted provided access to the Barrett (15McL4) collection. Dr. David Hunt provided access to the Indian Knoll (15OH2) material curated at the Smithsonian Institution. Dr. Robert Mensforth provided access to the Ward (15McL11) collection when it was temporarily housed at Cleveland State University and graciously provided living accommodations during my stay. I thank a succession of museum directors who granted access to the Green River skeletal collections housed in the William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology at the University of Kentucky. These individuals include Dr. Mary Powell, Nancy O’Malley, Dr. Sissel Schroeder, and Dr. Jim Fenton. Drs. Lynn Sullivan and Susan Frankenberg provided access to the Eva skeletal material curated at the McClung Museum at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Sarah Sherwood offered helpful advice from her recent dissertation experience. The Kentucky Heritage Council provided funding for radiocarbon dates from Indian Knoll, Ward and Barrett. I thank my family and Sherri, my wife, for the support they have shown. My parents as well as Sherri’s family here in Knoxville have been incredibly supportive throughout my graduate career. Finally, Sherri has provided unending support throughout this process – It has taken a little longer than we had initially planned, but we have had good times with good friends. v Abstract The Green River Archaic period skeletal collections represent one of the largest regionally specific aggregate hunter-gatherer sample available for study. These collections have been the focus of numerous studies on paleopathology and paleodemography. Indian Knoll (15OH2) is the largest collection with over 1000 individuals. These burials were recovered from two primary excavations directed by Clarence B. Moore and the Work Progress Administration (WPA) in the first half of the nineteenth century. The WPA excavated numerous sites along the Green River and it’s tributaries resulting in additional skeletal collections from sites such as Barrett (15McL4), Carlston Annis (15BT5), Chiggerville (15OH1), Read (15BT10) and Ward (15McL11). Besides the skeletal collections, the archaeological data from Green River Archaic sites has played a pivotal roll in the interpretation of Archaic period subsistence and social interaction throughout the southeastern United States and Eastern Woodlands. This study details the results of a biological distance study of these skeletal collections based on cranial non-metric traits. Recent quantitative genetic methods and theory is employed in the analysis of these quasi-continuous traits in an effort to derive meaningful biological relationship. This study is important within the southeastern United States given that most biological distance studies of Archaic period populations focus on numerous sites spread across a large area (i.e. the entire Southeast region) or are site specific. This study examines the biological relationships of relatively contemporaneous Archaic period skeletal collections from the middle Green River drainage. vi A series of 24 traits were coded for all adult individuals (>~15 years old) from the Green River skeletal collections as well as from skeletal material recovered from the Eva site (40BN12). The Eva site represents a middle to late Archaic stratified shell midden located on the lower Tennessee River. Mahalanobis D² values were calculated according to methods described by Blangero and Williams-Blangero (1991; see Williams-Blangero and Blangero, 1989) and Konigsberg et al. (1993). Effects of age, sex and temporal trend on the expression of specific traits were accounted for within the model. Biological distance measures were compared to temporal and geographic matrices in an effort to elucidate the effects of isolation by temporal and spatial distance within the samples. The results indicate a strong geographic influence on the biological distance structure, but the temporal influence is more confounding. The extent of trait variation hints at greater female mobility within the mating network which is indicative of a patrilineal/patrilocal society, but these tests are inconclusive. vii Table of Contents CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................