The Interpretation of Archaeological Spatial Patterning

326 Pages·1991·33.11 MB·English

by  Ellen M. Kroll

The Interpretation of
Archaeological
Spatial Patterning
INTERDISCIPLINARY CONTRIBUTIONS
TO ARCHAEOLOGY
Series Editor: Michael Jochim, University of California, Sonta Barbara
Founding Editor: Roy S. Dickens, Jr., Late of University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Editorial Board: Lewis R. Binford, University of New Mexico
Jane E. Buikstra, University of Chicago
Charles M. Hudson, University of Georgia
Stephen A. Kowalewski, University of Georgia
William L. Rathje, University of Arizona
Stanley South, University of South Carolina
Bruce Winterhalder, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Richard A. Yarnell, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
ECOLOGY AND HUMAN ORGANIZATION ON THE GREAT PLAINS
Douglas B. Bamforth
HOLOCENE HUMAN ECOLOGY IN NORTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA
Edited by George P. Nicholas
HUNTER~ATHERERS
Archaeological and Evolutionary Theory
Robert L. Bettinger
THE INTERPRETATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SPATIAL PATTERNING
Edited by Ellen M. Kroll and T. Douglas Price
THE PLEISTOCENE OLD WORLD
Regional Perspectives
Edited by Olga Soffer
The Interpretation of
Archaeological
Spatial Patterning
Edited by
ELLEN M. KROLL and
T. DOUGLAS PRICE
University oj Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
Llbrlr, of Congrl •• Cltlloglng-In-Publlcltlon OItl
Thl Intlrpretltlon of archalologlcal .patlal pattlrnlng I .dltld by
Ellln M. Kroll .nd T. Dougla. Prlce.
p. c •• -- (Int,rdl.clplln.ry contrlbutlons to .rch.lology)
Paperl prl.,ntad .t ••y .posiui orglnlzed It thl 52nd Annual
Mt.tlng of th. Socl.ty for Alarlc.n Archl.ology hald In M.y 1987 In
Toronto, Ont.
Include. blbllographlcal refer,ncel .nd Index.
ISBN 978-1-4899-2604-3
1. Socl.l arch •• ology--Congre..... 2. Exc.vltlons (Arch.aology)
-Congr...... 3. SPltlll b.havlor--Hlltory--Congrl •• I ••
4. Ethno.rch •• ology--Congr...... 1. Kroll, Elltn M. II. Prlcl, T.
Dougl •• (Thtron Dougl •• ) III. Socltty for A.,rlcan Archalology.
M.'tlng (52nd : 1987 : Toronto, Ont.) IV. Seri •••.
CC72.4.187 1991
930.1--dc20 90-19444
CIP
ISBN 978-1-4899-2604-3 ISBN 978-1-4899-2602-9 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4899-2602-9
© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media New York
Originally published by Plenum Press, New York in 1991
Softcover reprint ofthe hardcover 1st edition 1991
Ali rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming,
recording, or otherwise, without written permission rrom the Publisher
109876 S4 3 2
Contributors
Laurence E. Bartram • Department of Anthropology, University ofWlSconsin
Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
Nicholas Blurton Jones • Graduate School of Education and Departments of
Anthropology and .P sychiatry, University of California at Los Angeles, Los
Angeles, California 90024-
Henry T. Bunn • Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin
Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
CJhrlstopher Carr • Department of Anthropology, Arizona State University,
Tempe, Arizona 85287
Rob Gargett • Department of Anthropology, University of California at Berkeley,
Berkeley, California 94720
Susan A. Gregg • Center for Archaeological Investigations, Southern Illinois
University, Carbondale, Illinois 62901
Kristen Hawkes • Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake
City, Utah 84112
Brian Hayden • Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby,
British Columbia V5A IS6, Canada
Lawrence H. Keeley • Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois at
Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60680
v
vi CONTRIBUTORS
Susan Kent • Anthropology Program, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Vir
ginia 23529
w.
Keith Kintigh • Department of Anthropology, Arizona State University,
Tempe, Arizona 85287
Ellen M. Kroll • Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin
Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
James F. O'ConneO • Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt
Lake City, Utah 84112
T. Douglas Price • Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin
Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
Jean-Philippe Rigaud • Direction des Antiquites Prehistoriques d'Aquitaine, 6
bis Cours de Gourgue, 33074 Bordeaux, France
Jan F. Simek • Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, Knox
ville, Tennessee 37996-0720
Marc G. Stevenson • Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta, Ed
monton, Alberta T6G 2H4, Canada
Robert WhaOon • Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
Michigan 48109
Preface
Investigations of archaeological intrasite spatial patterns have generally taken one
of two directions: studies that introduced and explored methods for the analysis
of archaeological spatial patterns or those that described and analyzed the for
mation of spatial patterns in actuaiistic-ethnographic, experimental, or natu
ral-contexts. The archaeological studies were largely quantitative in nature,
concerned with the recognition and definition of patterns; the actualistic efforts
were often oriented more toward interpretation, dealing with how patterns
formed and what they meant. Our research group on archaeological spatial
analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been working for several
years on both quantitative and interpretive problems. Both lines of investigation
are closely related and are important complements.
In order to demonstrate the convergence of archaeological and actualistic
studies for the understanding of intrasite spatial patterns, we organized a sympo
sium at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Society of American Archaeology in
Toronto, Canada, in May 1987. The symposium, titled "The Interpretation of
Stone Age Archaeological Spatial Patterns," was organized into two sessions. The
six papers presented in the morning session, five of which comprise Part I of this
volume, focused on ethnoarchaeological and experimental research. Michael
Schiffer was the discussant for this half of the symposium. Our intention for the
ethnoarchaeological contributions to the symposium and volume was the delin
eation of some of the significant accomplishments achieved thus far by actualistic
studies regarding the formation of spatial patterns. The eight papers in the
afternoon session, of which four comprise Part II of this volume, largely examined
the strengths and weaknesses of current interpretations of spatial patterns at
particular archaeological sites. Robert WhaUon was the discussant. Our goal for
the afternoon session at the symposium and Part II of this volume was to examine
vii
viII
PREFACE
the extent to which studies of archaeological spatial patterns have employed and
benefited from the results of actualistic research.
We believe that these papers clearly identify the important, current trends in
archaeological research on the distribution of artifacts and other refuse at pre
historic sites. In compiling this volume, our intention is not to emphasize par
ticular interpretations or directions of research regarding spatial patterning in the
ethnographic or archaeological record. We hope rather to encourage the ongoing
interplay between studies oriented at identifying spatial patterns and interpreting
them in both present and prehistoric contexts-whether the patterns involve
cultural and/or natural processes or formation. Both directions contribute to the
growth of our understanding of the past.
The final versions of the papers that appear in this volume have been revised
and expanded since Toronto. We wish to thank the contributors to the volume for
both their participation in the symposium and their punctual response to our
requests for papers and subsequent revisions. We and the other contributors to
the volume would like to thank the discussants at the symposium and the staff
at Plenum Press-especially Eliot Werner, Senior Editor, and Michael Jochim,
Series Editor-for the comments and suggestions on the organization of the
volume and on the individual papers.
Contents
Introduction ............................................... 1
Ellen M. Kroll and T. Douglas Price
PART I. SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF ETHNOARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES 7
Chapter 1 • Site Strudure, Kinship, and Sharing in Aboriginal
Australia: Implications for Archaeology ............ 11
Rob Gargett and Brian Hayden
1. Introduction ............................................. 11
2. Data Collection and Manipulation ........................... 13
3. Results ................................................. 15
4. Discussion .............................................. 22
4.1. Primary Relationships ................................. 22
4.2. Parents and Married Offspring .......................... 22
4.3. Parents and Unmarried Offspring ........................ 23
4.4. Siblings ............................................. 25
4.5. Classificatory Relatives ............................... . 25
4.6. Determinants of Absolute Spacing ....................... 26
5. Correlates of Social Organization ............................ 28
6. Conclusions: Recognizing Intact Households .................. 29
1. References .............................................. 31
Ix