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Characterizing Elite Midden Deposits at Moundville

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Vernon James Knight Jr.
Vernon James Knight Jr.*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Alabama, Box 870210, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0210
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Abstract

Insufficient attention has been paid to differences among elite archaeological contexts in middle-range or chiefdom societies. At Moundville, a major Mississippian center in Alabama, midden and feature-fill deposits attributed to elite behavior have been excavated in several areas. Deposits on Mounds Q and G dating to the Moundville II and III phases (ca. A.D. 1260–1450) are similar in that they incorporate abundant domestic debris associated with structures on mound summits. On both mounds, food remains show evidence of provisioning and the consumption of small-scale meals rather than feasting. However, the two contexts differ in the occurrence of evidence for skilled crafting and the display of human skeletal remains. At Mound Q, skilled crafting is abundantly attested, employing local and nonlocal raw materials. Display goods were routinely handled, and pigment processing and use were important. Burials were rarely made, but fragmentary human bone is scattered throughout, emphasizing portions of the skeleton consistent with display. In contrast, elite contexts on Mound G show little or no evidence of crafting, pigment use, and bone handling.

Resumen

Resumen

Se ha prestado limitada atención a las diferencias entre los contextos arqueológicos de elite en las sociedades de rango medio o cacicales. En Moundville, un centro mississipiense importante en Alabama, se han excavado depósitos culturales atribuidos a actividad de elite en varias áreas. Los depósitos en los Monticulos Q y G pertenecientes a las fases Moundville II y III (ca. 1260–1450 d.C.) son semejantes pues incorporan abundantes desechos de actividades domésticas asociados con estructuras en la parte superior de los montículos. En ambos montíiculos, los restos de alimentos, plantas y animales, muestran evidencias del abastecimiento y el consumo de comidas ocasionales en vez defestines. Sin embargo, hay diferencias en estos dos contextos respecto a la ocurrencia de evidencias de artesanías especializadas y de la exhibición de restos óseos humanos. En el Montículo Q, hay evidencias abundantes de artesanías producidas tanto con materias primas locales comoforáneas. Fueron empleados objetos de ostentación rutinariamente, y el procesamiento y uso de pigmentos fue importante. Había pocos enter-ramientos, pero se encuentran fragmentos de huesos humanos esparcidos por doquier, enfatizando porciones de los esqueletos consistente con exhibición. En contraste, en los contextos de elite en el Montículo G hay pocas evidencias de artesanías, uso de pigmentos y manipulación de huesos.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 69 , Issue 2 , April 2004 , pp. 304 - 321
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2004

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