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Radiocarbon Dating the Iroquoian Occupation of Northern New York

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 August 2019

Timothy J. Abel Open the ORCID record for Timothy J. Abel [Opens in a new window] ,
Jessica L. Vavrasek  and
John P. Hart Open the ORCID record for John P. Hart [Opens in a new window]
Timothy J. Abel*
Affiliation:
Consulting Archaeologist, 33512 SR 26, Carthage, NY 13619USA
Jessica L. Vavrasek
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University at Albany, Research and Collections Division, New York State Museum, 3140 Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY 12230USA ([email protected])
John P. Hart
Affiliation:
Research and Collections Division, New York State Museum, 3140 Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY 12230USA ([email protected])
*
([email protected], corresponding author)
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Abstract

The results of Bayesian analysis using 43 new high-precision AMS radiocarbon dates on maize, faunal remains, and ceramic residues from 18 precontact Iroquoian village sites in Northern New York are presented. Once thought to span AD 1350–1500, the period of occupation suggested by the modeling is approximately AD 1450–1510. This late placement now makes clear that Iroquoians arrived in the region approximately 100 years later than previously thought. This result halves the time in which population growth and significant changes in settlement occurred. The new chronology allows us to better match these events within a broader Northeast temporal framework.

Nous présentons les résultats d'une analyse bayésienne de 43 nouvelles datations radiocarbone de haute précision effectuées sur du maïs, des restes fauniques et des résidus carbonisés adhérant à des tessons de poterie. Ces datations proviennent de 18 sites villageois iroquoiens situés dans le nord de l’État de New York. Ces sites étaient présumés dater de la période allant de 1350–1500 de notre ère, mais la modélisation suggère plutôt une période d'occupation entre 1450–1510. Ces datations tardives confirment que les Iroquoiens sont arrivés dans la région en question cent ans plus tard que proposé auparavant par les archéologues. Ce résultat réduit de la moitié le temps que nous pouvons allouer à des processus comme l'augmentation démographique ou les changements dans le schème d’établissement. La nouvelle chronologie nous permet ainsi de mieux harmoniser ces évènements dans le contexte plus large de la chronologie du Nord-Est.

Keywords

radiocarbon datingLate Woodland archaeologyNortheastern North American archaeologyIroquoian archaeologydatation au radiocarbonearchéologie du Sylvicole supérieurarchéologie du Nord-Est de l’Amérique du Nordarchéologie iroquoienne
Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 84 , Issue 4 , October 2019 , pp. 748 - 761
Copyright
Copyright © 2019 by the Society for American Archaeology 

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