Eastern Cherokee Fishing, by Heidi M. Altman, is a welcome addition to the corpus of literature o... more Eastern Cherokee Fishing, by Heidi M. Altman, is a welcome addition to the corpus of literature on Cherokee ethnoecology. Using a diachronic approach, Altman interweaves archaeological, linguistic, and historical documentary information with her own ethnographic field research to examine traditional and contemporary fishing practices among the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians living on the Qualla Boundary, western North Carolina. Her objectives are to understand the function of fishing in past and present-day Cherokee economy, to examine indigenous ecological knowledge and its adaptation to local changes, to analyze the boundaries of identity construction within the context of today's ethnotourism, and to compare fish terminology between Cherokee and English vernacular. The resulting publication is an informative presentation of how Cherokee fishing evolved from a seasonally significant aspect of a mixed subsistence economy in the past to a profitable, nearly year-round role in a cash-based tourist economy today. Moreover, from the perspective of fishing, Altman explores cultural, linguistic, and environmental changes, as related to aquatic resources, spanning the period from European contact to the present. The book is divided into six chapters followed by six short appendices. The introductory chapter presents the methodology and theoretical approach used, the objectives of the study, and a brief discussion of the Cherokee language. Ethnographic fieldwork includes conducting interviews with local Cherokee and non-Cherokee people to collect life histories, folktales, and reminiscences about fish and fishing; arranging fishing expeditions to observe traditional and modern fishing practices; and holding directed elicitation sessions to obtain names of fishes. Documentary sources are consulted for information on traditional cultural practices and beliefs related to fishing. Chapter 2 reviews Cherokee history in relation to changes in the local environment. Perspectives on the environment are gleaned from early contact narratives, later ethnohistorical documents, and recent ethnographic interviews. Altman examines environmental changes resulting from the earlier impact of colonization and the later pro
... Patti J. Wright, Ph.D., RPA Anthropology Department, University of Missouh-St. Louis, One Uni... more ... Patti J. Wright, Ph.D., RPA Anthropology Department, University of Missouh-St. Louis, One University Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63121. Email: pjwright@umsl.edu Research Office, Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107; Patti.Wright@springspreserve.org ...
The current project describes physical and chemical alterations that result from the thermal expo... more The current project describes physical and chemical alterations that result from the thermal exposure of sunflower achenes and seeds. Specifically, achenes and seeds were heated at temperatures ranging from 130 to 600 8C under anoxic conditions for 60 min. Changes were measured in mass, relative percentages of C and N, internal and external morphology, molecular composition by direct temperature-resolved mass spectrometry (DTMS) under EI conditions, and the reflectance on polished specimens. The main constituents of sunflower seeds are lipids and protein, while the pericarps or hulls enclosing the seeds have a ligno-cellulosic structure. The morphology of achenes and seeds remains intact following exposure which makes the identification of the residues possible. The results of the sunflower experiments were compared to previous experiments conducted with peas and wheat grains. Up to approximately 340 8C, the molecular conversion of polysaccharide and protein rich peas and wheat grains follow similar pathways, while the lignin present in sunflower achenes follows its own unique pathway, resulting in a different molecular composition. At higher temperatures the molecular composition of the three propagules becomes identical. In addition the reflectance of the three propagules is identical confirming the similarity in molecular composition. Lipids show a different behaviour compared to the other three biopolymers; from 370 8C no oils are observed in the heated specimens and the DTMS-EI measurements show no lipid markers. Apart from evaporation of the triacylglycerides it is suggested that steroids have a high resistance against thermal degradation and are converted into aromatic moieties. #
The lower 200 km of the Missouri River basin provides an interesting case for examining crop sele... more The lower 200 km of the Missouri River basin provides an interesting case for examining crop selection strategies and cropping systems. Between cal A.D. 650 and 1200, so-called Late Woodland and Mississippian populations occupied the Missouri River floodplain and tributary valleys. Multiple lines of evidence, including crop selection, show considerable interaction between central and eastern Missouri populations, and boundaries between these areas are more tenuous and permeable than had once been interpreted. In this study, we assess intersite variability in the presence of starchy seeds and maize for eleven sites. We explore ecological and cultural variables affecting the decision to adopt maize cultivation at some sites and to continue to rely on members of the starchy-seed complex at others.
This chapter summarizes the current perspectives on paleoethnobotany, and the methods and techniq... more This chapter summarizes the current perspectives on paleoethnobotany, and the methods and techniques involved in the analysis of archaeological plant remains. The topic is not new, and for nearly three quarters of a century, paleoethnobotanists have not only contributed substantially to a broad range of archaeological questions, but have also complied detailed guides and summaries of state-of-the-art recovery techniques and laboratory analyses. What is new are the more careful and explicit treatments of the processes that have led to the formation of the paleoethnobotanical record. These processes – or what can be thought of as additional variables – are the subject of field tests and laboratory experiments that have been conducted around the world. Because understanding these processes can contribute to the advancement of paleoethnobotany and are essential to attempts at integrating information derived from plant and animal assemblages, they drive much of the discussions in the pages that come up later (for similar treatment of zooarchaeological remains, see Peres, chapter “Methodological Issues in Zooarchaeology,” this volume).
Eastern Cherokee Fishing, by Heidi M. Altman, is a welcome addition to the corpus of literature o... more Eastern Cherokee Fishing, by Heidi M. Altman, is a welcome addition to the corpus of literature on Cherokee ethnoecology. Using a diachronic approach, Altman interweaves archaeological, linguistic, and historical documentary information with her own ethnographic field research to examine traditional and contemporary fishing practices among the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians living on the Qualla Boundary, western North Carolina. Her objectives are to understand the function of fishing in past and present-day Cherokee economy, to examine indigenous ecological knowledge and its adaptation to local changes, to analyze the boundaries of identity construction within the context of today's ethnotourism, and to compare fish terminology between Cherokee and English vernacular. The resulting publication is an informative presentation of how Cherokee fishing evolved from a seasonally significant aspect of a mixed subsistence economy in the past to a profitable, nearly year-round role in a cash-based tourist economy today. Moreover, from the perspective of fishing, Altman explores cultural, linguistic, and environmental changes, as related to aquatic resources, spanning the period from European contact to the present.
When analyzing sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) remains, which are often carbonized, archaeobotan... more When analyzing sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) remains, which are often carbonized, archaeobotanists commonly differentiate between wild and domesticated achenes and seeds based on the measured length (L) and width (W) or the calculated index L*W. Carbonization reduces the dimensions. To compensate for these reductions, archaeobotanists use a single correction factor proposed by Richard Yarnell (1978) for all cases. The use of a single correction factor can bias the reconstructed dimensions as carbonization is a highly variable process. The current study determines the relationship between carbonization and the dimensions of length and width. Measurements established that a decrease of 2.5-22.5% in achene length and 10-29% in achene width can occur, depending on temperature, heating rate, and variety. For seeds, temperature is of most importance, and shrinkage ranges from 0-27% for the length and from 0-20% for the width. These ranges make the use of a single correction factor problematic. A method is developed in which reflectance (an optical property applied in coal technology to determine coal rank) is used to measure the carbonization temperature, and in turn the shrinkage can be calculated. Subsequently, correction factors are calculated to reconstruct the original length and width. When applied to an assemblage of carbonized sunflower achenes, the newly developed method shows that the Yarnell single correction factor may bias the dimensions towards classifications of “wild” or “ruderal” forms of sunflower
Eastern Cherokee Fishing, by Heidi M. Altman, is a welcome addition to the corpus of literature o... more Eastern Cherokee Fishing, by Heidi M. Altman, is a welcome addition to the corpus of literature on Cherokee ethnoecology. Using a diachronic approach, Altman interweaves archaeological, linguistic, and historical documentary information with her own ethnographic field research to examine traditional and contemporary fishing practices among the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians living on the Qualla Boundary, western North Carolina. Her objectives are to understand the function of fishing in past and present-day Cherokee economy, to examine indigenous ecological knowledge and its adaptation to local changes, to analyze the boundaries of identity construction within the context of today's ethnotourism, and to compare fish terminology between Cherokee and English vernacular. The resulting publication is an informative presentation of how Cherokee fishing evolved from a seasonally significant aspect of a mixed subsistence economy in the past to a profitable, nearly year-round role in a cash-based tourist economy today. Moreover, from the perspective of fishing, Altman explores cultural, linguistic, and environmental changes, as related to aquatic resources, spanning the period from European contact to the present. The book is divided into six chapters followed by six short appendices. The introductory chapter presents the methodology and theoretical approach used, the objectives of the study, and a brief discussion of the Cherokee language. Ethnographic fieldwork includes conducting interviews with local Cherokee and non-Cherokee people to collect life histories, folktales, and reminiscences about fish and fishing; arranging fishing expeditions to observe traditional and modern fishing practices; and holding directed elicitation sessions to obtain names of fishes. Documentary sources are consulted for information on traditional cultural practices and beliefs related to fishing. Chapter 2 reviews Cherokee history in relation to changes in the local environment. Perspectives on the environment are gleaned from early contact narratives, later ethnohistorical documents, and recent ethnographic interviews. Altman examines environmental changes resulting from the earlier impact of colonization and the later pro
... Patti J. Wright, Ph.D., RPA Anthropology Department, University of Missouh-St. Louis, One Uni... more ... Patti J. Wright, Ph.D., RPA Anthropology Department, University of Missouh-St. Louis, One University Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63121. Email: pjwright@umsl.edu Research Office, Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107; Patti.Wright@springspreserve.org ...
The current project describes physical and chemical alterations that result from the thermal expo... more The current project describes physical and chemical alterations that result from the thermal exposure of sunflower achenes and seeds. Specifically, achenes and seeds were heated at temperatures ranging from 130 to 600 8C under anoxic conditions for 60 min. Changes were measured in mass, relative percentages of C and N, internal and external morphology, molecular composition by direct temperature-resolved mass spectrometry (DTMS) under EI conditions, and the reflectance on polished specimens. The main constituents of sunflower seeds are lipids and protein, while the pericarps or hulls enclosing the seeds have a ligno-cellulosic structure. The morphology of achenes and seeds remains intact following exposure which makes the identification of the residues possible. The results of the sunflower experiments were compared to previous experiments conducted with peas and wheat grains. Up to approximately 340 8C, the molecular conversion of polysaccharide and protein rich peas and wheat grains follow similar pathways, while the lignin present in sunflower achenes follows its own unique pathway, resulting in a different molecular composition. At higher temperatures the molecular composition of the three propagules becomes identical. In addition the reflectance of the three propagules is identical confirming the similarity in molecular composition. Lipids show a different behaviour compared to the other three biopolymers; from 370 8C no oils are observed in the heated specimens and the DTMS-EI measurements show no lipid markers. Apart from evaporation of the triacylglycerides it is suggested that steroids have a high resistance against thermal degradation and are converted into aromatic moieties. #
The lower 200 km of the Missouri River basin provides an interesting case for examining crop sele... more The lower 200 km of the Missouri River basin provides an interesting case for examining crop selection strategies and cropping systems. Between cal A.D. 650 and 1200, so-called Late Woodland and Mississippian populations occupied the Missouri River floodplain and tributary valleys. Multiple lines of evidence, including crop selection, show considerable interaction between central and eastern Missouri populations, and boundaries between these areas are more tenuous and permeable than had once been interpreted. In this study, we assess intersite variability in the presence of starchy seeds and maize for eleven sites. We explore ecological and cultural variables affecting the decision to adopt maize cultivation at some sites and to continue to rely on members of the starchy-seed complex at others.
This chapter summarizes the current perspectives on paleoethnobotany, and the methods and techniq... more This chapter summarizes the current perspectives on paleoethnobotany, and the methods and techniques involved in the analysis of archaeological plant remains. The topic is not new, and for nearly three quarters of a century, paleoethnobotanists have not only contributed substantially to a broad range of archaeological questions, but have also complied detailed guides and summaries of state-of-the-art recovery techniques and laboratory analyses. What is new are the more careful and explicit treatments of the processes that have led to the formation of the paleoethnobotanical record. These processes – or what can be thought of as additional variables – are the subject of field tests and laboratory experiments that have been conducted around the world. Because understanding these processes can contribute to the advancement of paleoethnobotany and are essential to attempts at integrating information derived from plant and animal assemblages, they drive much of the discussions in the pages that come up later (for similar treatment of zooarchaeological remains, see Peres, chapter “Methodological Issues in Zooarchaeology,” this volume).
Eastern Cherokee Fishing, by Heidi M. Altman, is a welcome addition to the corpus of literature o... more Eastern Cherokee Fishing, by Heidi M. Altman, is a welcome addition to the corpus of literature on Cherokee ethnoecology. Using a diachronic approach, Altman interweaves archaeological, linguistic, and historical documentary information with her own ethnographic field research to examine traditional and contemporary fishing practices among the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians living on the Qualla Boundary, western North Carolina. Her objectives are to understand the function of fishing in past and present-day Cherokee economy, to examine indigenous ecological knowledge and its adaptation to local changes, to analyze the boundaries of identity construction within the context of today's ethnotourism, and to compare fish terminology between Cherokee and English vernacular. The resulting publication is an informative presentation of how Cherokee fishing evolved from a seasonally significant aspect of a mixed subsistence economy in the past to a profitable, nearly year-round role in a cash-based tourist economy today. Moreover, from the perspective of fishing, Altman explores cultural, linguistic, and environmental changes, as related to aquatic resources, spanning the period from European contact to the present.
When analyzing sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) remains, which are often carbonized, archaeobotan... more When analyzing sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) remains, which are often carbonized, archaeobotanists commonly differentiate between wild and domesticated achenes and seeds based on the measured length (L) and width (W) or the calculated index L*W. Carbonization reduces the dimensions. To compensate for these reductions, archaeobotanists use a single correction factor proposed by Richard Yarnell (1978) for all cases. The use of a single correction factor can bias the reconstructed dimensions as carbonization is a highly variable process. The current study determines the relationship between carbonization and the dimensions of length and width. Measurements established that a decrease of 2.5-22.5% in achene length and 10-29% in achene width can occur, depending on temperature, heating rate, and variety. For seeds, temperature is of most importance, and shrinkage ranges from 0-27% for the length and from 0-20% for the width. These ranges make the use of a single correction factor problematic. A method is developed in which reflectance (an optical property applied in coal technology to determine coal rank) is used to measure the carbonization temperature, and in turn the shrinkage can be calculated. Subsequently, correction factors are calculated to reconstruct the original length and width. When applied to an assemblage of carbonized sunflower achenes, the newly developed method shows that the Yarnell single correction factor may bias the dimensions towards classifications of “wild” or “ruderal” forms of sunflower
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Papers by Patti Wright
of evidence, including crop selection, show considerable interaction between central and eastern Missouri populations, and boundaries between these areas are more tenuous and permeable than had once been interpreted. In this study, we assess intersite variability in the presence of starchy seeds and maize for eleven sites. We explore ecological and cultural variables affecting the decision to adopt maize cultivation at some sites and to continue to rely on members of the starchy-seed complex at others.
of evidence, including crop selection, show considerable interaction between central and eastern Missouri populations, and boundaries between these areas are more tenuous and permeable than had once been interpreted. In this study, we assess intersite variability in the presence of starchy seeds and maize for eleven sites. We explore ecological and cultural variables affecting the decision to adopt maize cultivation at some sites and to continue to rely on members of the starchy-seed complex at others.