The Cultural Dynamics of Shell-Matrix Sites

3. Ringed Shell Features of the Southeast United States: Architecture and Midden

21 summary Late Archaic (3000–1000 BC [5000–3000 BP]) shell rings are found along the coast from South Carolina to Mississippi , while Woodland (500 BC–AD 1000 [2500–1000 BP]) ring middens are best known along the northwest Florida coast. Though their occupations were widely separated in time (Table 3.1), because both site types—Archaic shell rings and Woodland ring middens—contain shell deposited in circular formations, their functions are typically assumed to have been the same: accretional quotidian midden accumulations of short- or long-term occupational sites. However, I suggest that the distributional characteristics of the shell (amounts and types of shell, artifact and faunal inclusions, features) in the two types of rings differ significantly. While both ring types represent middens of sorts, different consumption, social, and semiotic patterns are reflected in the depositional patterns of their discarded materials. CHAPTER THREE Ringed Shell Features of the Southeast United States Architecture and Midden Michael Russo Culture Period BP AD/BC Region Late Archaic Late Archaic 5000–3000 3000–1000 BC SE US coast Deptford Early Woodland 2500–1800 500 BC–AD 200 NW Florida Swift Creek Middle Woodland 1900–1600 AD 0–400 NW Florida Santa Rosa/Swift Creek Middle Woodland 1850–1400 AD 150–600 NW Florida Weeden Island Late Woodland 1400–1000 AD 600–1000 NW Florida Table 3.1. Cultures and periods related to coastal shell rings and ring middens introduction Shell rings are Late Archaic circular or quasi-circular deposits of oyster shell averaging 2 meters in height and nearly 100 meters in diameter (Table 3.2). Ring middens are Middle Woodland deposits of organic midden soils with variable amounts and kinds of shell and other debris averaging more than 120 meters in diameter but less than 1 meter in depth (Table 3.3). Both ring types are primarily coastal phenomena (Figure 3.1), although Woodland ring middens largely lacking shell have been identified inland from the coast (Milanich et al. 1984; Pluckhahn 2003), and Archaic shell rings have been found along one freshwater river (Randall 2008). Both coastal ring site types have been interpreted as village sites with ceremonial aspects (e.g., Russo 1991, 1996, 2004; Russo, Hadden, and Dengel 2009; Russo, Schwadron, and Yates 2006; Russo et al. 2011; Thompson 2006; Trinkley 1985; cf. Middaugh 2009; cf. Saunders, chap. 4 in this volume), while others suggest 22 Site No.* Ring Name Shape Diameter (m) Height (m) Shell 9GN57 Cannon’s Point C 79 1.8 Oyster 9GN76 West U 58 0.7 Oyster 9LI1231 St. Catherines Circle 70 1.5 Oyster 9LI1648 McQueen Circle 71 0.5 Oyster 9MC23 Sapelo 1 Circle 80 2.7 Oyster 9MC23 Sapelo 2 Circle 75 0.9 Oyster 9MC23 Sapelo 3 Circle 55 0.9 Oyster 9MC87 Busch Krick C ? 2.4 Oyster 38BU7 Sea Pines Circle 60 1.0 Oyster 38BU8 Skull Creek 1 Attached 55 2.1 Oyster 38BU8 Skull Creek 2 Attached 43 2.1 Oyster 38BU21 Guerard Point Circle 80 0.7 Oyster 38CH7 Hankel C 62 2.4 Oyster 38CH12 Lighthouse Pt. Circle 76 3.0 Oyster 38CH14 Horse Island C 61 3.0 Oyster 38CH23 Buzzards Island Circle 80 2.0 Oyster 38CH24 Stratton Place C 57 0.6 Oyster 38CH41 Auld Circle 73 1.8 Oyster 38CH45 Sewee Circle 75 3.2 Oyster 38CH60 Crow Island Circle 70 1.0 Oyster 38CH77 Skidaway C 77 2.3 Oyster 38BU1866 Coosaw 1 Attached 60 1.7 Oyster 38BU1866 Coosaw 2 Attached 60 1.7 Oyster 38BU1866 Coosaw 3 Circle 60 0.6 Oyster 38BU1866 Coosaw 4 Circle 60 0.5 Oyster 38BU300 Barrow C 60 2.0 Oyster/periwinkle 38BU301 Patent C 60 1.0 Oyster 38CH42 Fig Island 1 Attached 157 6.0 Oyster 38CH42 Fig Island 2 Circle 82 2.1 Oyster 38CH42 Fig Island 3 C 49 1.9 Oyster 38BU29 Chester Field C 75 3.2 Oyster 8DU7510 Rollins C/Attached 235 3.5 Oyster 8DU7478 Oxeye Circle 160 3.0 Oyster Table 3.2. Archaic shell rings: shape, diameter (length), height (thickness), and primary shell species 23 Site No.* Ring Name Shape Diameter (m) Height (m) Shell 8SJ2554 Guana U 170 1.3 Oyster/clam 8MT13 Reed U 250 1.7 Oyster 8CR209 Horrs Island U 160 4.5 Oyster 8LL717 Bonita Bay U 230 1.1 Oyster 8SO2 Hill Cottage U 140 4.2 Oyster 8OK102 Meig...