Date of Award
2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in Anthropology
Department
Sociology and Anthropology
First Advisor
Maureen Meyers
Second Advisor
Robbie Ethridge
Third Advisor
Edmond A. Boudreaux III
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
A key part of understanding the lesser known contact period in the Southeastern United States is studying the effects of contact on Mississippian chiefdoms and their descendant population. The Starkville Archaeological Complex is an archaeological pattern of a distinct clustering of contact-era sites in the Blackland Prairie physiographic district of northeast Mississippi. Atkinson (1979) defined these sites as a dispersed settlement pattern with distinct ceramic assemblages associated with European metal. The ceramics are characterized as sandy historic Chickasaw pastes with Mississippian-like distinct curvilinear or angular surface decorations. This thesis is an analysis of the ceramic assemblage excavated in 2016 from the Protohistoric Stark Farm Site (22OK778) located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. This site is part of the Starkville Archaeological Complex and it features ceramics indicative of both pre- and post-contact periods. The purpose of this thesis is to determine the chronological position of the Stark Farm Site and to further define the Starkville Archaeological Complex using ceramic seriation and radiocarbon dating.
Recommended Citation
Smith, Allison, "Sherds With Style: A Ceramic Analysis From A Protohistoric Site In Oktibbeha County, Mississippi." (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 366.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/366