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in the North Ravines points to a strong early component in this area, as described in Chapter 3. In addition, subsequent test excavations in the Well Edge documented some early occupation in this area, as described in the following chapter. The assemblage from the West Terrace is smaller, but it may also be dated to the later phases of occupation on the basis of the limited proportion of Swift Creek in combination with a strong representation of a few Weeden Island types. This is consistent with Johnson’s (1997) work in the area, described in the preceding chapter. The Northwest Area has a large collection of pottery with a higher percentage of Swift Creek. The assemblage from this area includes Napier and a few later Weeden Island types, but these varieties are present in suf¤ciently small quantities and have suf¤ciently low ubiquity values to suggest that the main occupation of this area came during the early phases of occupation (Kolomoki I and II), with a limited reoccupation later. This pattern is con¤rmed by my reanalysis of Sears’s extensive collections from the Northwest Area (see Chapter 3). The ceramic assemblages from the Northern and Southern Near-Plaza areas are limited but also contain fairly substantial proportions of Swift Creek pottery. As with the adjacent Northwest Area, some later types are present, but these occur in small enough quantities to suggest that the main occupation here was also Kolomoki I and II. The three areas that are the hardest to date are the East Terrace and the southern sections of the enclosure. My pottery assemblages from samples in these areas are limited. In addition, the collections exhibit a seemingly contradictory combination of low frequencies of Swift Creek and a relatively poor representation of later Weeden Island wares. As was noted in Chapter 3, Blanton’s surface collections from the Southwest Enclosure include few late diagnostics, suggesting this area was primarily occupied during the early phases. His collections from the Southeast Enclosure, including those from the trash pit excavation, clearly point to some later occupation of this area. In general, the collections from the southern sections of the enclosure and the East Terrace appear consistent with the pattern of repeated reuse of these areas that was suggested above on the basis of artifact density and ubiquity. Summary and Interpretation Intensive sampling at Kolomoki documented the extensive size of the site and illuminated spatial discontinuities in the distribution of artifacts. Based on the distribution of positive and negative tests, the distribution of Woodland period 122 chapter 4 ceramics, and to a lesser extent considerations of topography, I have divided the site into 12 distinct activity areas. The settlement plan at Kolomoki is dominated by a large plaza area between Mounds A and D. This Central Plaza area contains very few artifacts and was apparently never inhabited. Similar plazas have been noted at other Middle and Late Woodland sites in the region (Bense 1998; Milanich et al. 1997). However, the plaza at Kolomoki stretches more than 200 m east to west and a nearly equal distance north to south, which is larger perhaps than the average whole site from this era. The plaza area cannot be directly dated, but judging from its central position it is reasonable to assume that it formed early in the site’s history and was maintained throughout the entire period of occupation. Adjoining the plaza to the north, south, and east are light scatters of artifacts de¤ned as the Northern Near-Plaza and Southern Near-Plaza areas. The limited density and ubiquity of artifacts in these argue against permanent habitation. Instead, these areas may have been settled for brief intervals over the course of several generations. Perhaps less likely, the few artifacts in these areas could be the result of cleaning the plaza. Beyond the Southern Near-Plaza zone is a broad, arcing area with very few artifacts. I have termed this the Outer Plaza, although its irregular shape suggests that it is not the same type of formally de¤ned place as the Central Plaza. As with the Central Plaza, it does not appear to have served as the location of any type of residence, either permanent or temporary. Shovel tests and controlled surface collections indicated that the principal zones of more intensive settlement during the Kolomoki I and II phases formed a broad oval, roughly centered on the Central Plaza. This pattern also corresponds to the course of the large, discontinuous earthen enclosure...

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