University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Masters Theses Graduate School 12-1976 Bone Flutes and Whistles from Archaeological Sites in Eastern North America Katherine Lee Hall Martin University of Tennessee - Knoxville Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes Part of the Anthropology Commons Recommended Citation Martin, Katherine Lee Hall, "Bone Flutes and Whistles from Archaeological Sites in Eastern North America. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1976. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/1226 This Thesis 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 Masters Theses 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 thesis written by Katherine Lee Hall Martin entitled "Bone Flutes and Whistles from Archaeological Sites in Eastern North America." I have examined the final electronic copy of this thesis for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Master of Arts, with a major in Anthropology. Charles H. Faulkner, Major Professor We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: Major C. R. McCollough, Paul W . Parmalee 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 thesis written by Katherine Lee Hall Mar tin entitled "Bone Flutes and Wh istles from Archaeological Sites in Eastern North America." I recormnend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, with a maj or in Anthropology. We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: �------' Yflr!!. {l. m� Accepted for the Council : Vice Chancellor Graduate Studies and Research \ The$ iS 7(p . m:17% c.op.:L- BONE FLUTES AND WHISTLES FROM ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA A ';I.'hesis Presented for the Master of Arts Degree The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Katherine Lee Hall Martin Decemb er 1976 1305605 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author is grateful for the assistance , r,uidance anti patience of Dr . Charles H. Faulkner and of Dr. Maj or C. R. McCollough and Dr . Paul W. Parmalee. Appreciation is also expressed to Dr . William Bass for his support and assistance in completing the museum research for this thesis. In addition, the author thanks the staff members of the Rochester Mus eum and Science Center. Rochester, New York, the Ohio State Museum in Columbus and McClung Museum in Knoxville, Tennessee . ii ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to systematically classify perfor­ ated bone tubes known as flutes or whistles which had been recovered from archaeological sites in eastern No rth America . A sample was established from specimens described in the literature and additional specimens examined by the author. Sizeable collections in the Rochester Museum and Science Center in Roches ter, New York, and the Ohio State Museum in Columbus , Ohio , were measured and photographed by the author. Specimens were also viewed at the McClung Mus eum in Knoxville , Tennessee. A descriptive typology was constructed and spatial-temporal and functional correlations were tested against it. Spatial-temporal factors were seen to correlate most highly with factors of morpho­ logical construction as reflected in the typology. Functional factors correlated less directly with typological categories . Functional attributes were reviewed under the formal categories of func tional performance, functional context and functional use. Under the third category , evidence for use of perforated bone tubes as game calls was found to support such a function in addition to the traditionally ascribed ceremonial function for these artifacts . No spatial-temporal correlations with functional factors could be discerned . The primary value of this study was in the typological description of a class of artifacts for the first time . Further research using a larger sample was recommended . iii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTI ON . 1 Or igin of the Study . 1 Parameters for the Study 3 Collection of the Data • 4 The Hypo thesis . 6 Development of Concept an d Method . • • • • • • • • 8 II . A TYPOL OGY OF PERF ORATED BONE TuBES FROM PREHISTORIC SITES IN EAS TERN NORTH AMER ICA • • • • • . 14 Perforated Bone Tubes Des cribed in the Literature. 14 The So utheast. 15 The Mid wes t. • . 18 The Northeast. 23 Canada • • • • . 25 The Study Sample 28 The Typ ology •• 37 To nal Attrib utes . 53 Perforation Te chniques . 59 Exterior Modifications . 61 Con s truction Pro ced ure . 65 III. TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTI ONS OF THE SAMPLE . 67 Temporal Distrib utions . 68 Temporal Distrib ution. of Types . 76 iv v CHAPTER PAGE Spatial Distributions . 85 Site Lo cation. • . 92 Typological and Spatial Correlations • 96 Spatial-Temporal Correlations . 106 Typological Correlations with Spatial-Temporal Factors • 118 IV. FUNCTIONAL SUMMARY OF THE SAMPLE • 132 Functional Performance • 135 Functional Context . 140 Functional Use • • 145 Combinations of Functional Factors • 153 Functional and Typological Correlations •• 158 Spatial-Temporal and Functional Factors •• • • 162 Typological Evaluation • 169 V. EVALUATION OF THE STUDY . 171 Smmnary . 171 Evaluation • . 174 Implications for Future Research • • • 177 BIBLIOGRAPHY • . 180 APPENDI CES . 19 5 APPENDIX A • . • • 196 APPENDIX B • . 217 VITA •• 219 LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 1. Codes for Sites from the Literature • . 29 2 . Attributes for Perforated Bone Tubes ••. 36 3. A Proposed Descriptive Typology • • • • . 40 4. Typology Tabulation for Study Sample . • . 44 5. Perforations per Specimen , by State, in the Study Sample. • 46 6. Typology Tabulation for Literature Sample • • • • • • 48 7. Perforations per Specimen, by State, in the Literature Sample. • • • • • . 49 B. Late Archaic Sites . 74 9. Temporal Distribution of Types •• . 77 10. Type I Sub types through Time ••. 80 11 . Sub types in Late Archaic and Early Woodland . 81 12 . Mississippian Period Sub types • • • • • • • . 84 13 . Site Distribution by Physiographic Province • . 91 14 . Site Location and Water Sources • • • • . 93 15. Total Specimens per Site Location • • • • • . 95 16 . Types of Perforated Bone Tubes by States •• . 97 17 . Types by Physiographic Province • • • • • • • • . 98 18. Single Occurrences of Types by Site Location. • • • 100 19 . Intrasite Typological Variation • • • • • • • • • • • 102 20. Intrasite Type I Subtypes • • • • • • • • • • • • • 104 vi vii TABLE PAGE 21. Site Distribution by Physiographic Province through Time •• 108 22. Temporal Distribution of Specimens by Physiographic Province ••. • • . 110 23. Site Distance to Water Through Time • . 112 24 . Site Distribution Within Kroeber's Classification • 113 25 . Cultural Taxonomy of Sites ••••••• , •• , . 116 26 . Type I Distributions in Five Areas Through Time • • • • • • .119 27. Spatial-Temporal Distribution of Types , ••• . 120 28. Types Through Time Tabulated by Site Distance to Water , 122 29 . Intrasite Variation in Typology Through Time •• . 125 30. Functional Performance . , ••• . 137 31 . Functional Performance As sociations of Specimens which Produced No Sound • . 138 32. Site Function for the Combined Sample . 141 33. Functional Contexts of Specimens in the Comb ined Sample 143 34 . Perforated Bone Tubes in Burial Context . 144 35 . Tabulation of Functional Performance and Functional Context • • . • • 155 36 . Functional Context by Type. • . Ill • • • 159 37. Typological Correlations with the Func tional Context. • 160 38 . Temporal Sequence of Func tional Performance and Functional Context •••••• . 163 39 . Functional Distribution by Physiographic Province • 165 40. Functional Attributes in Relation to Hater Sources . 168 LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE PAGE 1. Number of Sites through Time • • . 72 2. Number of Specimens through Time • . 75 3. Map of Eastern North American Sites from Which Perforated Bone Tubes Have Been Recovered • • • . 86 A.l. Port au Choix, Newfoundland , Specimens 49 , 42, 47 and 48 • 196 A.2. Port au Choix, Newfoundland, Reverse of Specimens 49 , 42, 47 and 48 ••. 19 7 A.3. Port au Choix, Newfoundland , Specimens 50, 41 and 40. • • 198 A.4. Port au Choix, Newfoundland , Specimens 44 , 45 , 46 and 43 • 199 A.S. Frontenac Island , New York, Specimens 69, 70 , 72 and 73. • 200 A.6. Lamoka Lake, New York, Specimens 65, 53, 61 and 58. 201 A. 7. Lamoka Lake , New York , Specimens 52, 57 ••. 202 A.B. Sackett Farm, New York, Specimen 95. 203 A.9. Top Row Left to Right: Specimen 86, Oak View Landing; Specimen 80, Kays Landing; Specimens 85 , 83, 84 , Oak View Landing • . 204 A.lO. Top Row , Left to Right: Rhoads Site , Illinois , Specimen 1; Riverton Culture Fragments , Specimens 91, 92, 93 and 94 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . 205 A.ll . Feurt Site, Ohio , Specimens 4 (A) , 5 (B) , 6 (C) , 7 (D) . and 8 (E) ••••••••• . 206 viii ix FIGURE PAGE A.l2. Feurt Site, Ohio , Specimens 9 (F) , 10 (G) , 11 (H) , 12 {I) and 13 (J) . • . 207 A.l3. Feurt Site, Ohio , Specimens 14 (K) , 15 (L) , 16 (M) , 17 (N) , 18 (0) and 19 (P) . • . 208 A . l4 . Feurt Site, Ohio , Specimens 20 (Q) , 21 (R) , 22 (S) , 23 (T) and 24 (U) • • • • 209 A.l5. Feurt Site, Ohio , Specimens 25 (A) , 26 (B) and 27