A Comparative Analysis of Late Archaic and Woodland Period Mobility Via Lithic Assemblages in the Monday Creek Watershed
Collin M. Williams
Abstract
Late Archaic and Woodland period archaeological sites are common in Southeast Ohio; however, little work has been done comparing their lithic assemblages. This paper presents a study of three mid-to-late Holocene sites found along Monday Creek, a tributary of the Hocking River, to serve as a baseline for future comparisons. The assemblages from Taber Well (33HO611), Greendale Ridgetop (33HO369), and Monday Creek Workshop (33HO413) were analyzed to compare tool type frequencies, production strategies, and tool curation to assess group mobility and variation in site type with others, thus providing a more holistic understanding of prehistoric lifeways during this temporal transition. Metric indices used to indicate tool form were consistent at all three sites; however, Monday Creek Workshop exhibited greater tool modification, while Taber Well and Greendale Ridgetop showed greater use of expedient tools. Alongside this shift in tool use, was the development of horticulture and increased sedentism.
Keywords: Late Archaic/Woodland, Hocking Valley, lithics, plant domestication
