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Reevaluating Late Prehistoric Coastal Subsistence and Settlement Strategies: New Data from Grove's Creek Site, Skidaway Island, Georgia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Deborah A. Keene
Deborah A. Keene*
Affiliation:
South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, 1321 Pendleton St., Columbia, SC 29801
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Abstract

This paper tests existing models of coastal subsistence strategies and settlement patterns of the late prehistoric inhabitants of the Southeastern U.S. Atlantic coastal plain. Excavations at Grove's Creek Site (09CH71), Skidaway Island, Georgia were conducted to determine the season of occupation of the site. Paleoethnobotanical and zooarchaeological data were used to determine the subsistence strategies of the inhabitants. Stable isotope analysis of oyster shells is combined with the faunal and botanical data to determine the seasons of occupation of the site. The most notable discovery was the diversity of agricultural plants. Paleoethnobotanical data indicate a spring through autumn occupation, and the stable isotope data indicate winter through summer. Faunal data suggest occupation from spring through early winter. Therefore, the site was occupied year-round. This information, coupled with other data from the Southeastern U.S. Atlantic Coast, suggests a revision to existing subsistence and settlement pattern models. Coastal peoples lived in permanent villages and relied on a mix of agriculture, hunting, fishing, and gathering. Short trips were likely made to procure some resources, but there was not an extensive seasonal round.

Resumen

Resumen

Este documento prueba los modelos existentes de estrategias de subsistencia costera y de patrón de asentamiento entre los habitantes de la época prehistórica tardía de la Planicie de la Costa Atlántica del sureste de los Estados Unidos. Excavaciones en el sitio de Grove's Creek (09CH71) en la Isla de Skidaway, Georgia, se llevaron a cabo para determinar el periodo de ocupación del sitio. Datos paleoetnobotánicos y zooarqueológicos fueron usados para determinar las estrategias de subsistencia de los habitantes, combinándose con análisis de isótopo estable de las conchas de los ostiones para determinar los periodos de ocupación del sitio. El descubrimiento más notable fue la diversidad de plantas cultivadas. La información paleoet-nobotánica indica una ocupación de la primavera al otoño, y los datos del isótopo estable señalan que ocurrió del invierno al verano, en tanto la información faunística sugiere una ocupación de la primavera y hasta principios del invierno, es decir, que el sitio estaba ocupado todo el año. Esta información combinada con otros datos de la Costa Atlántica del sureste de los Estados Unidos, sugiere un cambio en los modelos existentes de subsistencia y patrón de asentamiento. Los habitantes costeros vivían en aldeas permanentes y dependían tanto de la agricultura, como de la cacería, la pesca, y la recolección, hicieron viajes cortos para obtener algunos recursos, pero no había un ciclo estacional extensivo.

Type
Articles
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 69 , Issue 4 , October 2004 , pp. 671 - 688
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2004

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