Ritual, Craft, and Economy in Ohio Hopewell: an Examination of Two Earthworks on the Little Miami River
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RITUAL, CRAFT, AND ECONOMY IN OHIO HOPEWELL: AN EXAMINATION OF TWO EARTHWORKS ON THE LITTLE MIAMI RIVER Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the of Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By G. Logan Miller, M.A. Graduate Program in Anthropology Ohio State University 2014 Dissertation Committee: Richard Yerkes, Advisor Robert Cook Julie Field Copyright By G. Logan Miller 2014 Abstract In this dissertation I examine the organization of craft production in a small-scale society through the lens of ritual economy. Specifically, I examine the structure of the production of craft goods at Hopewell earthworks by studying the production and function of flint bladelets. Measures of the production and function of Hopewell bladelets are used to examine the structure of craft production. The use-wear on bladelets, and the manufacturing tasks inferred therein, serves as a proxy measure of the production of craft goods. The examination of bladelets is ultimately aimed at gaining insight into how ritual processes structure the organization of production. Privileging ritual institutions in economic studies is the realm of ritual economy. Ritual economy is the analysis of the economic aspects of ritual and the ritual aspects of economic transactions as they relate to the materialization of ideology. Thus, ritual economy focuses on the economics of ritual—the economic acts necessary to properly participate in or host ritual events—and the ritual of economy— ritualized economic interactions between individuals. My analysis suggests that the dual forces examined by ritual economy were at work within Hopewell society. ii The materials for my study come from two Hopewell earthworks on the Little Miami River in southwest Ohio; The Fort Ancient Earthworks and the Stubbs Earthworks. In order to examine how production was distributed across excavated contexts at Fort Ancient and Stubbs I compare the microwear traces from bladelets associated with multiple locations at each earthwork. Results indicate that bladelets were produced in moderate amounts at numerous locations at both earthworks. Additionally, while bladelets were used in a generalized manner throughout the earthworks, they were also used of a number of potential craft production activities. At Fort Ancient, ritual craft production was organized in domestic spaces by households, larger kin groupings, or tribal segments. Each domestic context examined produced craft objects from a distinct set of raw materials. At Stubbs, inhabitants of each context participated in the same types of productive activities. Previous research has demonstrated that independent groups were drawn to the earthworks in order to create social ties through participation in communal ritual and reciprocal exchange. These exchanges were fueled by intensified production of craft products organized and orchestrated by ritual participation. Ultimately, craft production documented at Fort Ancient and Stubbs was probably more about the creation of relationships than the creation of objects. Ritual economy’s focus on the materialization of these relationships allows archaeologists to reconstruct complex social processes by tracing economic processes recorded in materials recovered in archaeological assemblages. iii Dedication To Lindsey, Punca, Mooi, and Jasper For all of your love, support, and constant companionship iv Acknowledgements The first time I read the acknowledgements section of a dissertation I remember thinking what a novel idea it was to attribute the work to many people rather than only one. Do not ask me what I was doing reading the acknowledgements section of a random dissertation, probably at some late hour, graduate school does that to a person. Anyway the point is that after going through the process, I get it. This work really is a collaborative effort between people I both have and have not met. This dissertation would never have gotten off the ground, let alone been completed, without the dedication of everyone I have had the pleasure of coming into contact with over the years. First and foremost I need to thank my wife Lindsey for all of her help with research and writing as well as just putting up with me in general through the many years of graduate school. Rick Yerkes served as my advisor and mentor throughout my time at Ohio State. Rick graciously provided lab space, equipment, and supplies in addition to countless bits of advice, comments, criticisms, and recommendations. In short, it was an honor and a privilege to work with him. Julie Field took it upon herself to make sure this research was theoretically sound. Our theory meetings helped to crystallize my thoughts on Hopewell into a coherent model. Rob Cook helped to situate the research into the broader culture history of the Eastern Woodlands. He provided helpful advice and alternative viewpoints at every turn. Victor v Thompson, now at the University of Georgia, served on my dissertation candidacy committee and made an initial push for a ritual economy framework. I did very little fieldwork for this dissertation, meaning that I relied upon the consent of numerous individuals and institutions to collect my samples. In the end, I was able to draw upon over 30 years of fieldwork—an academic lifetime— from the likes of Richard Morgan, Patricia Essenpreis, Robert Connolly, Adrienne Lazazzera, Ted Sunderhaus, Frank Cowan, Bob Genheimer, and Bob Riordan. Without their dedication, and that of their field crews, to sound archaeological excavations our knowledge of Ohio Hopewell would be greatly hindered. The majority of my sample was courteously loaned to me by the Ohio Historical Society. Thanks to the Collections Management Team at OHS for officially approving my many requests for artifacts and extensions. Bill Pickard served as my go to contact at OHS, while we also spent many happy hours with Linda Pansing and Brad Lepper. It seemed as if half of OHS’s collections and records pertained to Fort Ancient so I would have been completely lost without the help of Bill, Brad, and Linda. The Cincinnati Museum Center also approved artifact loans for my research. Bob Genheimer was willing to offer anything I needed in a timely manner to minimize my long drives down I-71. Frank Cowan also shared unpublished maps, papers, and insights into the Stubbs excavations. Brent Eberhard of the Ohio Historic preservation office facilitated access to the online OAI data and supplemental diagnostic artifact data used to create Figue3.2. Finally, Bob Riordan at Wright State University gave me access, with the blessing of OHS, to artifacts from the Moorehead Circle. Beyond that, Bob shared numerous unpublished pictures, plan maps, radiocarbon dates, and other excavation vi materials without hesitation at my numerous requests. Bob can also be held responsible for my interest in Hopewell by providing my first field experience at the Moorehead Circle. His influence continued through my undergraduate honor’s theses, master’s thesis, and now the dissertation. This research was funded by the Ohio State University Graduate School through an Alumni Grant for Graduate Research and Scholarship. This grant was used to run four AMS dates on materials supplied by OHS and the Cincinnati Museum Center. The assays were processed by the Center for Applied Isotope Studies at the University of Georgia. Dr. Alexander Cherkinsky was incredibly helpful in all phases of the process. I’ll be returning my radiocarbon business to CAIS in the future. This research was also funded by the Daniel T. Hughes Memorial Fund, provided by the generous donation of Ms. Violeta Hughes. The Hughes award provided funds to present this research at the 2014 Society for American Archaeology annual meeting in Austin, Texas. vii Vita 2008…………………B.A., Anthropology, Wright State University 2010…………………M.A., Anthropology, Ohio State University Publications Miller, G. Logan 2014 Lithic Microwear Analysis as a Means to Infer Production of Perishable Technology: A Case from the Great Lakes. Journal of Archaeological Science 49:292-301. Miller, G. Logan 2014 Ohio Hopewell Ceremonial Bladelet Use at the Moorehead Circle, Fort Ancient. Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology 39:83-102. Miller, G. Logan 2013 Illuminating Activities at Paleo Crossing (33ME274) through Microwear Analysis. Lithic Technology 38:97-108. Fields of Study Major Field: Anthropology Archaeology viii Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Dedication .......................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. v Vita ................................................................................................................................... viii List of Figures ................................................................................................................... xii List of Tables .................................................................................................................... xv Chapter 1 : Introducing Ritual, Craft, and Economy in Ohio Hopewell ............................ 1 Summary of Research Questions .................................................................................. 14 Outline of Dissertation .................................................................................................