MISSISSIPPIAN CAPITALS: AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF PRECOLUMBIAN POLITICAL STRUCTURE \ CLAUDINE PAYNE Vi . A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 1994 LD 1780 199i Copyright 1994 by Claudine Payne For my mother, Marjorie Hopkins Payne and in memory of my father, Richard McDonald Payne ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many people contributed to this study of Mississippian capitals. At the top of the list is Dr. Jerald Milanich, my dissertation advisor, who provided assistance and advice in innumerable ways. Among other things, he arranged funding for several aspects of my investigations at the Lake Jackson site. In addition, he employed me on several museum projects and recommended me for others, thus making it possible for me to continue my research and writing. And he worked wonders when imiversity red tape occasionally snarled. I especially appreciate his unflagging patience as this project threatened to go on forever. It has been a pleasure and an honor to work with him. 1 am also grateful to the other members of my committee, Drs. WilUam Keegan, William Marquardt, Michael Moseley, and Graig Shaak, who were unfailingly supportive and helpful throughout the dissertation process. Two earUer committee members, Drs. James Henry and Prudence Rice, whose careers took them away from the University of Florida before I finished, provided valuable advice and direction in the early stages of research. 1 also thank Dr. Kathleen Deagan who graciously stepped in to fill a temporary committee gap. Although not a committee member. Dr. John Scarry of the University of North Carolina did much of the work of one. He commented on drafts, answered questions, acted as a sounding board, gave permission to use two of his own maps, and shared his wealth of knowledge about the workings of Mississippian chiefdoms. iv Many of my ideas about Mississippian society have been formed in conversations with John over the last 15 years. As always, his generosity of spirit and action has enriched me. My field work at the Lake Jackson site was turned into reality largely through the efforts of three people. Jerry Milanich found funding for a test excavation in Mound 5, for analysis of some of the material collected, and for radiocarbon dates. Dr. Rochelle Marrinan of the Florida State University generously "loaned" me her field school for a month to carry out an auger survey at Lake Jackson. Moreover, during that time, she managed all the tharJdess logistical tasks superbly, freeing me to concentrate on the site. Later that year, she volunteered her personal time during the excavation of Mound 4. Throughout the project, she offered encouragement and assistance. Robert Morley, former manager of the Lake Jackson State Archaeological Site, provided information about the modem history of the site and took on many non-research tasks such as repairing equipment and backfilling units so that we archaeologists could devote more time to our investigations. He even, in his off-time, lent a hand in the excavations. I am truly grateful for Bob's interest in the archaeology of the site and his dedication to the site's preservation. Others also facilitated the investigations at Lake Jackson and my study of earlier collections from the site. Jim Miller, John Scarry, and Louis Tesar of the Bureau of Archaeological Research arranged permission to excavate on state-owmed land and facilitated the loan of collections from earlier excavations at the site. John Scafidi of the Department of Natural Resources, which manages the site, helped with logistical arrangements. Phil Wemdli, also of DNR, marshalled volunteers for the test excavation in Motmd 4 and managed the scheduling of the volunteers. 1 am also indebted to Bonnie McEwan and Charlie Poe of the San Luis Archaeological and Historic Site for additional logistical support. Over the course of the auger survey and the test excavations in Mounds 4 and 5, a host of volunteers and students contributed their time and labor. Participants in the 1989 field school were teaching assistants Frank Keel, Tom Kempton, and Debbie Leslie, graduate students Tim Barton, Bridget Beers, and Rebecca Emmans, undergraduates George Betts, Eve Kappler, Sheridan Laymon, Darren Milman, Joe Reinhardt, Susan Stamp, and Claudia TomUnson. Mound 4 volunteers included Charlie Arant, Tim Barton, Kevin Butler, Aaron Cohen, Gabe Cohen, Matt Cohen, Walt Crabbe, Melvin Goffinet, Eve Kappler, Frank Keel, Tom Kempton, Debbie Leslie, Rochelle Marrinan, Bob Morley, Morrie Naggar, Candy and Eric Nelson, Guy Prentice, Bob Rubanowice, Clara Scarry, John Scarry, Marion Smith, Peter van Tassel, Stephen WemdU, Steve Wright, and John Worth. Jim Cusick, Jason Jackson, Bob Morley, and Mark Stevenson contributed their efforts to the Movind 5 excavation. Back in Gainesville, several loyal volunteers helped me process the artifacts from these and earlier investigations. My thanks go to Jean Allan, Barbara Hendry, Jason Jackson, and Marjorie Payne for assisting vnth that dirty and tedious, but essential, task. Ann Cordell, Ken Johnson, Elise LeCompte-Baer, Donna Ruhl, John Scarry, and John Worth provided technical advice and identified unusual artifacts. Marc Frank and Lee Nev^^som identified faunal and floral remains from my investigations at the site. A number of people provided financial and logistical assistance while I worked on this study. Jerry Milanich and Bill Marquardt of the Florida Museum of Natural History both employed me at various times, as did the Department of vi Anthropology. A predoctoral Graduate School fellowship and an "intra-family fellowship" made it possible for me to devote large blocks of time exclusively to research and writing, without which 1 would still be struggling along. For these opportunities, I thank former Dean of the Graduate School Madelyn Lockhart and Marjorie H. Payne. The Charles H. Fairbanks Award also offset some of the costs of the research. Bill Marquardt graciously gave me access to his Southwest Florida Project computers on which this dissertation and some of its maps were completed. Over the years, 1 have profited from many discussions and friendly debates with my colleagues at the University of Florida and elsewhere. Jean Allan, Nina Borremans, Charlie Ewen, John Griffin, BUI Johnson, Ken Johnson, Calvin Jones, Jon Leader, Rochelle Marrinan, Bill Marquardt, Bonnie McEwan, Jerry Milanich, Jeff Mitchem, Guy Prentice, Donna Ruhl, John Scarry, Margaret Scarry, Gary Shapiro, Marion Smith, Ruth Troccoli, and John Worth have aU, at various times, shared their thoughts on political anthropology, the Lake Jackson site, precolumbian and colonial Apalachee, Mississippian archaeology, or Florida archaeology, and thereby contributed to my thinking. Particularly enlightening and enjoyable have been recurring discussions about chiefdoms with Jean Allan, BUI Marquardt, and John Scarry. The road to finishing a dissertation is a long one, and the emotional support of friends and relatives is invaluable. In addition to the friends and coUeagues noted above, 1 am grateful to Nawal Ammar, Tina Bassett, Chuck Blanchard, Ann CordeU, Susan de France, Robin Denson, Tom Eubanks, Jean Gearing, Barbara Hendry, Leslie Johnson, Elise LeCompte-Baer, Darcie MacMahon, Emine Incirlioglu, Elizabeth Schmitt Page, and Richard and Arm Payne for their friendship and encouragement over the vu years. My dear friends Nina Borremans, Barbara Hendry, Elise LeCompte-Baer, Bill Marquardt, Donna Ruhl, and John and Margie Scarry deserve special mention for encouraging me in innumerable ways, from loaning me a "magic talisman" (it worked!) and picking up the lunch tab when 1 was writing instead of earning a living to providing the psychological support that only friends can and throwing celebrations when I finished at last. And finally, Marjorie Payne has gone beyond the call of devoted motherhood by providing money and emotional support, washing artifacts, reading drafts, and patiently listening to long monologues on Mississippian esoterica. It is to her and to my late father, Richard McDonald Payne (who would, I'm sure, have delighted in calling me "Doc") that 1 dedicate this dissertation. vm TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS iv ABSTRACT xi CHAPTEI^ 1 INTRODUCTION 1 Chiefdoms 2 Power and Authority in Chiefdoms 10 Capitals 17 2 CAPITALS IN CHIEFDOMS 20 Capitals in the Ethnographic and Historic Record 21 Size of Capitals 29 Structure of Capitals 34 Summary 67 3 MISSISSIPPIAN CAPITAL VILLAGES, PART 1: THE SIZE OF THE CAPITAL 70 Identifying Mississippian Capitals 70 Mississippian Mound Center Survey 75 Measuring the Size of Sites 78 Number of Mounds 79 Mound Precinct Area 89 Height of Main Mound 97 Volume Index of Main Mound 107 Summary 114 4 MISSISSIPPIAN CAPITAL VILLAGES, PART 2: THE STRUCTURE OF THE CAPITAL 130 Layout 130 Orientation 140 Chiefs House 147 Chiefs Storage Facilities 178 ix Religious Structures 186 Communal Structiires 200 Public Spaces 207 Walls 211 Summary 225 5 THE LAKE JACKSON SITE: PORTRAIT OF A MISSISSIPPIAN CAPITAL VILLAGE 229 The Site and Its Setting 232 History of the Site 235 Archaeological Investigations at Lake Jackson 242 The Structure and Development of the Lake Jackson Site 260 Lake Jackson as a Mississippian Capital Village 272 Summary 284 6 MISSISSIPPIAN CAPITALS AND THE ANALYSIS OF MISSISSIPPIAN POLITICAL STRUCTURE 288 Political Structure and the Built Environment 288 Power, Authority, and Mississippian