Amanda D. Roberts Thompson

From Shell Midden to Midden-Mound: The Geoarchaeology of Mound Key, an Anthropogenic Island in Southwest Florida, USA.

Mound Key was once the capital of the Calusa Kingdom, a large Pre-Hispanic polity that controlled much of southern Florida. Mound Key, like other archaeological sites along the southwest Gulf Coast, is a large expanse of shell and other anthropogenic sediments. The challenges that these sites pose are largely due to the size and areal extent of the deposits, some of which begin up to a meter below and exceed nine meters above modern sea levels. Additionally, the complex depositional sequences at these sites present difficulties in determining their chronology. Here, we examine the development of Mound Key as an anthropogenic island through systematic coring of the deposits, excavations, and intensive radiocarbon dating. The resulting data, which include the reversals of radiocarbon dates from cores and dates from mound-top features, lend insight into the temporality of site formation. We use these insights to discuss the nature and scale of human activities that worked to form this large island in the context of its dynamic, environmental setting. We present the case that deposits within Mound Key’s central area accumulated through complex processes that represent a diversity of human action including midden accumulation and the redeposition of older sediments as mound fill.

A FRESH LOOK AT A LITTLE-KNOWN SOUTHEASTERN COPPER PLATE

Abstract Chauga (38OC47) is a mound site now under Lake Hartwell at the head of the Savannah River in Oconee County, South Carolina. Excavations in 1958–1959 by the University of Georgia recovered a Mississippian copper plate. Upon comparison to others of its kind, it is clear that this lesser-known plate encompasses some interesting design features, most notably the presence of the only known depiction of a chunkey stone on copper. We have recently created a more accurate representation of its design. The plate appears to portray many similarities to depictions of Birdman dancers: kilted dancers and dancing elders within the “Stack” style. Birdman themes are common in Mississippian iconography. Given the importance that copper plates have for interpreting Mississippian art and belief systems, this updated examination provides useful new information for researchers studying Mississippian iconography.

Evaluating Spanish Colonial Alternative Economies in the Archaeological Record

The Spanish settlement of Santa Maria de Galve (1698–1719), a presidio in northwest Florida, was in a precarious economic position from the moment of its establishment. The Spanish Crown prohibited trading with foreigners and expected the colonists to survive on the unreliable situado supply system. This insufficient system may have spurred colonists to participate in illegal activities to support their economic interests. In complex colonial situations such as this, it is necessary for archaeologists to consider illicit activity as a possible source of goods when interpreting artifact assemblages. According to historical documents, throughout its occupation the presidio of Santa Maria de Galve only received five shipments of ceramics in the situado, yet, as is common on archaeological sites, ceramics dominate the artifact assemblage. A possible explanation for the abundance of ceramics might be that colonists attained ceramics through illicit means. In doing so, the colonists created a different kind of economy, one that became alternative to the legal and formal economy of Spain. This case study provides one way of examining illicit trade by applying diversity statistics to ceramic assemblages from refuse-pit features in status-assigned areas at Santa Maria de Galve. The results demonstrate a higher diversity index in areas occupied or regulated by higher-status military officials, indicating that illicit trade might have been used to some degree to obtain ceramics that were not available through the situado.

Reflectance transformation imaging (RTI) of a little known southeastern copper plate

Advanced imaging tools such as 3D technologies and photogrammetry are rapidly becoming the norm in archaeological laboratories throughout the world. Until recently, many of these technologies required specialized knowledge often beyond the training of most archaeologists. However, new advances, in the ease of use of software and less expensive equipment, have made these technologies more accessible. Despite this, the technology can still be daunting. Indeed, the inexperienced operator can sometimes produce results that are unwieldy and inaccurate. Further, no single technique provides a panacea for digital curation and preservation, since no one program is appropriate every type of artifact. Here we present a case study using reflectance transformation imaging (RTI) on a copper plate from Chauga (38OC47) in Oconee County, South Carolina, that was not amenable to other imaging techniques. We found that RTI provided us with a way to record new digital artifact data thus providing us with new information about the plate.

The Archaeology and Remote Sensing of Santa Elena’s Four Millennia of Occupation

In this study, we present the results of a comprehensive, landscape-scale remote sensing project at Santa Elena on Parris Island, South Carolina. Substantial occupation at the site extends for over 4000 years and has resulted in a complex array of features dating to different time periods. In addition, there is a 40-year history of archaeological research at the site that includes a large-scale systematic shovel test survey, large block excavations, and scattered test units. Also, modern use of the site included significant alterations to the subsurface deposits. Our goals for this present work are threefold: (1) to explicitly present a logical approach to examine sites with long-term occupations; (2) to examine changes in land use at Santa Elena and its implications for human occupation of this persistent place; and (3) to use the remote sensing program and past archaeological research to make substantive suggestions regarding future research, conservation, and management of the site. Our research provides important insight into the distribution of cultural features at this National Historic Landmark. While the majority of archaeological research at the site has focused on the Spanish period, our work suggests a complex and vast array of archaeological features that can provide insight into over 4000 years of history in the region. At a gross level, we have identified possible Late Archaic structures, Woodland houses and features, Late Prehistoric and early Historic council houses, and a suite of features related to the Spanish occupation which builds on our previous research at the site. In addition to documenting possible cultural features at the site, our work illustrates the value of multiple remote sensing techniques used in conjunction with close-interval shovel test data.