Archaeological Analysis of an Early Mississippian Frontier Structure in Southwestern Virginia

Author

Sophie HussleinFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-1-2021

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Department

Sociology and Anthropology

First Advisor

Maureen Meyers

Relational Format

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

Ely Mound (44LE12) is a significant prehistoric frontier site located in Lee County, Virginia. Frontier sites are important in understanding processes of cultural hybridity and the formation of social hierarchies. Through an analysis of artifacts recovered from a household structure during a 2019 excavation, this research explores Ely’s function on the Mississippian cultural frontier, and discusses its relationship to the Carter Robinson site located within the county (44LE10). Finally, I conclude that the occupants of Ely Mound were a local people engaging with select Mississipian cultural practices and suggest that this site could be an example of Mississippianization.

Recommended Citation

Husslein, Sophie, "Archaeological Analysis of an Early Mississippian Frontier Structure in Southwestern Virginia" (2021). Honors Theses. 1828.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/1828

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.