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Oral Traditions and the Archaeological Record of a Wabanaki Maritime Society Brettan Leigh Deweese

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Oral Traditions and the Archaeological Record of a Wabanaki Maritime Society Brettan Leigh Deweese Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2007 Oral Traditions and the Archaeological Record of a Wabanaki Maritime Society Brettan Leigh Deweese Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES ORAL TRADITIONS AND THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD OF A WABANAKI MARITIME SOCIETY By BRETTAN L. DEWEESE A Thesis submitted to the Department of Anthropology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Degree Awarded: Spring Semester, 2007 The members of the Committee approve the thesis of Brettan L. Deweese defended on February 28, 2007. Cheryl Ward Professor Directing Thesis Ormond Loomis Committee Member Michael Uzendoski Committee Member Approved: Dean Falk, Chair, Anthropology The Office of Graduate Studies has verified and approved the above named committee members. ii For my family. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my committee members for their generous insights, suggestions, and directions for my research. To Dr. Loomis, thank you for introducing me to the study of folklore. To Larry LaPan, Joseph Bruchac, and Aaron York, many thanks for their willingness to speak with me about Wabanaki life, traditions, and history. I would also like to thank Giovanna Peebles, who provided invaluable help and assisted me throughout my research. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Ryan J. Wheeler for sharing information from the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research and allowing me to modify the FBAR Canoe and Log Boat Recording Form for use in this thesis. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ vii List of Figures.............................................................................................................................. viii Abstract.......................................................................................................................................... ix I. PREHISTORIC GEOGRAPHY, ADAPTATION, AND IDENTITY OF WABANAKI IN NORTH AMERICA ....................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 1 Cultural Geography of New England and the Canadian Maritimes ................................... 2 Archaeological Considerations of Wabanaki Settlements and Watercraft Technology..... 2 Variations in Prehistoric Boat Construction and Use ......................................................... 3 Goals of Oral Traditions Research as Archaeological Supplement.................................... 5 Thesis Outline ..................................................................................................................... 6 II. THEORY AND METHODOLOGY......................................................................................... 8 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 8 North American Prehistoric Archaeology within a Historical Framework ........................ 8 Interpretations of the Prehistoric Archaeological Record................................................... 9 Applications of Oral Traditions within Archaeological Studies....................................... 10 Methodology..................................................................................................................... 13 Conclusions....................................................................................................................... 15 III. ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FROM VERMONT AND THE WORK OF EDWIN TAPPAN ADNEY........................................................................................................................ 16 Introduction....................................................................................................................... 16 Environmental Considerations in the Development of Wabanaki Watercraft.................. 16 Watercraft Tool Technology............................................................................................. 17 Large Craft Versus Small Craft: Adaptation, Construction, and Utilization.................... 18 Functionality of Coastal and Interior Watercraft.............................................................. 19 Archaeological Evidence for Prehistoric Dugouts in Vermont ........................................ 20 Edwin Tappan Adney and the Material Evidence for Wabanaki Bark Canoes................ 21 Micmac ................................................................................................................. 21 Malecite................................................................................................................. 22 St. Francis Abenaki............................................................................................... 24 Symbolic, Economic, and Social Repercussions of Watercraft Production and Possession ...................................................................................................... 25 Conclusions....................................................................................................................... 27 v IV. ORAL TRADITIONS AND THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD................................. 41 Introduction....................................................................................................................... 41 Historical Narratives of the 1600s .................................................................................... 41 Role of Oral Traditions in Conjunction with Archaeology .............................................. 43 Significance of a Maritime Existence............................................................................... 46 Myths and Life Histories: Emphasis on Maritime Technology and Resource Allocation.............................................................................................. 47 Wabanaki Mythology............................................................................................ 47 Wabanaki Life Histories Illustrating the Significance of a Maritime Existence .. 50 Modern Abenaki Canoe Construction: Revival and Continuation of a Cultural Tradition.................................................................................................. 51 Transmission of Information and Interpretation of the Past ............................................. 56 Conclusions....................................................................................................................... 57 V. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE RESEARCH..................................................................... 60 Introduction....................................................................................................................... 60 Identification of Wabanaki Dependency on Maritime Technology ................................. 60 Contributions of Oral Traditions to Archaeology............................................................. 61 Future Research: Archaeology and Oral Traditions ......................................................... 63 APPENDIX A............................................................................................................................... 65 APPENDIX B ............................................................................................................................... 66 APPENDIX C ............................................................................................................................... 67 APPENDIX D............................................................................................................................... 72 APPENDIX E .............................................................................................................................. 81 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 90 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ........................................................................................................ 96 vi LIST OF TABLES 1. Vermont Prehistoric Dugouts. ................................................................................................. 32 2. Micmac Canoe Typology (adapted from Adney and Chapelle 1964:58-70)........................... 33 3. Malecite Canoe Typology (adapted from Adney and Chapelle 1964:70-88).......................... 35 4. Western St. Francis Abenaki Canoe Typology (adapted from Adney and Chapelle 1964:88-93).............................................................. 38 5. Historical Narrative Contributions to Wabanaki Watercraft ................................................... 59 vii LIST OF FIGURES 1. Map of New England and Canadian Maritime Wabanaki tribe distribution ............................. 7 2. Map of New England places and significant waterways. .......................................................... 7 3. Full-channel gouge (from Suttie 1995:1)................................................................................. 28 4. Adze tool (from Bourque 2001:70).......................................................................................... 29 5. Wabanaki bark canoe..............................................................................................................
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