Adam King

RECENT GEOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATIONS AND NEW INTERPRETATIONS OF ETOWAH’S PALISADE

Abstract We discuss excavations conducted at Etowah’s palisade wall in 1962 and 1995 and geophysical data collected in 2008. Artifact collections indicate the wall was built during the Wilbanks phases (A.D. 1250–1375) and most likely during the Late Wilbanks phase (A.D. 1325–1375). Radiocarbon dates obtained from charred wall posts are ambiguous but do not contradict a Late Wilbanks phase date. We explore estimates of the labor required to build the palisade and conclude that the wall could have been built in a relatively short period of time by the labor pool living at Etowah. Comparison of the excavation and geophysical data allows us to argue that the wall surrounded most of the site, but it is unclear as to whether the entire site was enclosed. We also argue that bastions were not positioned at regular intervals along the palisade’s perimeter. Ultimately we suggest that Etowah’s palisade may have been built for purposes other than simply just defense.

Over a Century of Explorations at Etowah

The Etowah site is one of the larger and more famous Mississippian period mound centers in the American Southeast. Despite the fact that over a century of archaeological investigations have been conducted at the site, its history is not as well-understood as sequences of other major Mississippian centers like Moundville or Cahokia. This is because few attempts have been made to synthesize existing information and place the site in a broader social context. In this paper I review previous research at Etowah and present a reconstruction of the sites history as a chiefdom capital. In attempting to understand that sequence, I draw upon the distinctions made by dual-processual theory concerning the orientation of chiefdom political economies and how they vary. Both the specific history of Etowah and the parallels it shares with the sequences of other chiefdom capitals have important implications for understanding more generally the emergence and operation of ranked societies.

Absorbed Residue Evidence for Prehistoric Datura Use in the American Southeast and Western Mexico

ABSTRACT Absorbed residue studies have been used in subsistence research for decades. Only more recently have the chemical methods employed been used to explore the consumption of ritual concoctions such as those including cacao, yaupon holly, and alcohol. In this article we use mass spectrometry to identify Datura residues in prehistoric contexts from western Mexico and the American Southeast. Datura is a genus of flowering plants that contain hallucinogenic alkaloids. Their use in both regions is known historically and still continues today. This study sampled 55 pottery vessels and 18 shell vessels using both a traditional burr method and a water-based sonicator sampling method. Datura residues were found in 13 pottery vessels and 14 shell vessels using both sampling approaches. These results demonstrate that it is possible to identify Datura residue in pottery and shell vessels and that the use of Datura extends back into prehistory in both regions. The form and decoration of pottery vessels with Datura residues show correlations with specific motifs and themes. Historically, shell vessels were used in the Southeast for the consumption of another ritual beverage, called the Black Drink. The presence of Datura shows that those vessels were used for other kinds of beverages as well. Los estudios de residuos absorbidos han sido utilizado en la investigación de la subsistencia durante décadas. Sólo más recientemente se han utilizado los métodos químicos empleados en estos estudios para explorar el consumo de brebajes rituales tales como los que incluyen cacao, acebo de Yaupon, y alcohol. En este trabajo se utiliza la espectrometría de masas para identificar los residuos de Datura en contextos prehistóricos del oeste de México y el sureste de Estados Unidos. Datura es un género de plantas florecientes que contiene alcaloides alucinógenos. Su uso en ambas regiones es documentado históricamente y continúa en el presente. Para este estudio se analizaron muestras de 55 vasijas de cerámica y 18 vasijas de concha utilizando tanto el método tradicional de rebaba como el método de muestreo en baño de sonicación con agua. Residuos de Datura fueron encontrados en 13 vasijas de cerámica y 14 vasijas de concha utilizando los dos sistemas de muestreo. Estos resultados demuestran que es posible identificar los residuos de Datura en vasijas de cerámica y concha y que el uso de Datura se remonta a la prehistoria en ambas regiones. La forma y decoración de las vasijas de cerámica con restos de Datura muestran correlaciones con motivos y temas específicos. Históricamente, se utilizaron vasijas de concha en el Sureste para el consumo de otra bebida ritual, llamada la Bebida Negra. La presencia de Datura muestra que las vasijas se utilizaron también para otras bebidas.