Mauradianno (talk | contribs) I added introduction, background, and significant finding information. I also included references and citations for information added. Tag: Visual edit |
Mauradianno (talk | contribs) Added citations 4 and 5 as well as added information to background, significant findings, and implication. Tag: Visual edit |
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'''Significant Findings''' |
'''Significant Findings''' |
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The analysis and discussion surrounding copper found in the McQueen Shell ring gives information about probable sources of the copper including the Minong Mine site on Isle Royale, the most probable source for over twelve artifacts<ref name=":0" />. However, the McQueen copper fragments are more similar to themselves than any other copper sources analyzed<ref name=":0" />. It has been concluding that later mining activity and Geological processes have significantly impacted the ability to source and document copper studies<ref name=":0" />. |
The analysis and discussion surrounding copper found in the McQueen Shell ring gives information about probable sources of the copper including the Minong Mine site on Isle Royale, the most probable source for over twelve artifacts<ref name=":0" />. However, the McQueen copper fragments are more similar to themselves than any other copper sources analyzed<ref name=":0" />. It has been concluding that later mining activity and Geological processes have significantly impacted the ability to source and document copper studies<ref name=":0" />. However, for the most part, the McQueen Shell Ring remains largely intact with a ‘gradual increase in shell deposition’ towards the northern pole<ref name=":2" />. In addition to copper, pits contained crushed shells, one piece of Late Archaic Pottery, and fragments of charcoal<ref name=":2" />. Additional excavations showed multiple shells such as clams, mussels, whelks, and periwinkles<ref name=":2" />. Most notably, there was whole clam shells and very large bone fragments<ref name=":2" />. |
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These Shell Rings also showed evidence of ceremonial villages where the residents held intermittent gatherings and ceremonies which provide an explanation for why living structures were not found<ref name=":2" />. Theories include people from nearby villages traveled here for ceremonial visits for special events and not habitation<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title="Life in the Round: Shell Rings of the Georgia Bight" by Matthew Clair Sanger {{!}} Department of Anthropology |url=https://anthropology.columbia.edu/content/shell-rings-archaic-period-american-southwest |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=anthropology.columbia.edu}}</ref>. Native American and Indigenous communities used shell rings for a variety of reasons including residential villages, gathering points, and ceremonies; these prominent sites are considered sacred landscape and a prominent way to engaging with and understanding past history<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Sanger |first=Matthew C. |last2=Seeber |first2=Katherine |last3=Bourcy |first3=Samuel |last4=Galdun |first4=Jaclyn |last5=Troutman |first5=Michele |last6=Mahar |first6=Ginessa |last7=Pietras |first7=Jeffrey T. |last8=Kelly |first8=Caleb |date=2021-12-01 |title=Revelatory locales: The ritual reuse of a Late Archaic shell ring in South Carolina |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278416521000891 |journal=Journal of Anthropological Archaeology |volume=64 |pages=101356 |doi=10.1016/j.jaa.2021.101356 |issn=0278-4165}}</ref>. |
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'''Implications of Late Archaic Shell Rings''' |
'''Implications of Late Archaic Shell Rings''' |
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Late Archaic Shell rings are widely tied to Native American and Indigenous villages<ref name=":0" />. The rings are interpreted as a place where Native Americans socialized the area and established communication with non-human forces<ref name=":3" />. Excavation and studying of Indigenous archaeology has led to vast knowledge of Indigenous goals, methods, values, and knowledge while making progress towards implementing political, methodological, and soal goals of understanding and unpacking indigenous history<ref name=":3" />. However, the study has also opened up the possibility of ‘insidious colonial tendencies’ where Indigenous voices have been in the background<ref name=":3" />. The discovery of shell rings has increased interest in engaging, remembering and reinventing the past<ref name=":4" />. McQueens shell ring contributes valuable insight into the transformation of cultural practices and power structures in the Late Archaic<ref name=":4" />. |
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Hill, Mark A, Gregory D Lattanzi, Matthew Sanger, and Laure Dussubieux. “Elemental Analysis of Late Archaic Copper from the McQueen Shell Ring, St. Catherine’s Island, Georgia.” Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, February 20, 2019. <nowiki>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X17307198</nowiki>. |
Hill, Mark A, Gregory D Lattanzi, Matthew Sanger, and Laure Dussubieux. “Elemental Analysis of Late Archaic Copper from the McQueen Shell Ring, St. Catherine’s Island, Georgia.” Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, February 20, 2019. <nowiki>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X17307198</nowiki>. |
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Revision as of 14:54, 24 March 2024
Introduction
McQueen Shell Ring on St. Catherine’s Island is a site off the coast of Georgia known for a surplus of fragments of copper artifacts recovered during multiple excavations[1]. The Ring is a Late Archaic Occupation in which radiocarbon dates from artifacts found at the site suggest it was constructed between 2300 and 1800 cal. B.C.[1]. Relevant excavation findings include a conical pit, sheet copper, and calcined human and animal bones[1]. The McQueen Shell Ring is part of a network of ring building where Native Americans created notable deposits of shells derived from oysters and clams[1]. Shell networks date back to the Late Archaic period, and are believed to be villages, ritual gathering points, and/or having multiple uses over time[1] The copper has been analyzed at the Elemental Analysis Facility at the Chicago Field Museum of Natural history[1].
Background
The Late Archaic period was a time marked by many social transformations such as hunter-gatherer societies and distinct divisions in populations[2]. Many of these social transformations occurred at the site of these shell rings such as St. Catherines Islands[2]. Excavation data suggests a steady flow of individuals and materials in and out of these rings[2]. Native American philosophers and writers offer brief insights into shell rings, their communication, and how they are populated by powerful forces[2]. Some even believe the land is home to non-human supernatural forces[2]. The main focuses of the shell rings are insight into hunter gatherer societies and their traditions, rituals, challenges, and ways of life as well as copper which is heavily analyzed and studied[3].
One of the most significant insights the McQueen Shell Ring gives us is the storage practices used by hunter-gathers[3]. There are vast social ramifications of collection, storage, processing, and consumption in hunter-gatherer societies and in order to understanding those ramifications it is crucial to understand Late Archaic Native American History[3] These Archaic shell rings are evidence of social relations, early villages, and advanced societies[3]. Although excavations at McQueens Shell Ring were relatively minimal, they provided a substantial amount of evidence about these complex societies including bones, trash pits, ground burials, and pits[3].
Significant Findings
The analysis and discussion surrounding copper found in the McQueen Shell ring gives information about probable sources of the copper including the Minong Mine site on Isle Royale, the most probable source for over twelve artifacts[1]. However, the McQueen copper fragments are more similar to themselves than any other copper sources analyzed[1]. It has been concluding that later mining activity and Geological processes have significantly impacted the ability to source and document copper studies[1]. However, for the most part, the McQueen Shell Ring remains largely intact with a ‘gradual increase in shell deposition’ towards the northern pole[3]. In addition to copper, pits contained crushed shells, one piece of Late Archaic Pottery, and fragments of charcoal[3]. Additional excavations showed multiple shells such as clams, mussels, whelks, and periwinkles[3]. Most notably, there was whole clam shells and very large bone fragments[3].
These Shell Rings also showed evidence of ceremonial villages where the residents held intermittent gatherings and ceremonies which provide an explanation for why living structures were not found[3]. Theories include people from nearby villages traveled here for ceremonial visits for special events and not habitation[4]. Native American and Indigenous communities used shell rings for a variety of reasons including residential villages, gathering points, and ceremonies; these prominent sites are considered sacred landscape and a prominent way to engaging with and understanding past history[5].
Implications of Late Archaic Shell Rings
Late Archaic Shell rings are widely tied to Native American and Indigenous villages[1]. The rings are interpreted as a place where Native Americans socialized the area and established communication with non-human forces[4]. Excavation and studying of Indigenous archaeology has led to vast knowledge of Indigenous goals, methods, values, and knowledge while making progress towards implementing political, methodological, and soal goals of understanding and unpacking indigenous history[4]. However, the study has also opened up the possibility of ‘insidious colonial tendencies’ where Indigenous voices have been in the background[4]. The discovery of shell rings has increased interest in engaging, remembering and reinventing the past[5]. McQueens shell ring contributes valuable insight into the transformation of cultural practices and power structures in the Late Archaic[5].
References
Hill, Mark A, Gregory D Lattanzi, Matthew Sanger, and Laure Dussubieux. “Elemental Analysis of Late Archaic Copper from the McQueen Shell Ring, St. Catherine’s Island, Georgia.” Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, February 20, 2019. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X17307198.
Sanger, Matthew Clair. “‘Life in the Round: Shell Rings of the Georgia Bight’ by Matthew Clair Sanger.” “Life in the Round: Shell Rings of the Georgia Bight” by Matthew Clair Sanger | Department of Anthropology, 2015. https://anthropology.columbia.edu/content/shell-rings-archaic-period-american-southwest.
Sanger, Matthew C. “Evidence for Significant Subterranean Storage at Two Hunter-Gatherer Sites: The Presence of a Mast-Based Economy in the Late Archaic Coastal American Southeast.” American Antiquity 82, no. 1 (January 2017): 50–70. https://doi.org/10.1017/aaq.2016.6.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Hill, Mark A.; Lattanzi, Gregory D.; Sanger, Matthew; Dussubieux, Laure (2019-04-01). "Elemental analysis of Late Archaic copper from the McQueen Shell Ring, St. Catherine's Island, Georgia". Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 24: 1083–1094. doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.01.017. ISSN 2352-409X.
- ^ a b c d e Sanger, Matthew (January 2017). "Evidence for Significant Subterranean Storage at Two Hunter-Gatherer Sites: The presence of a mast-based economy in the Late Archaic Coastal American Southeast". American Antiquity. 82(01):50-70 – via ResearchGate.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Sanger, Matthew C. (2021-09-01). "Joining the Circle: Native American Philosophy Applied to the Study of Late Archaic Shell Rings of the Southeast United States". Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory. 28 (3): 737–765. doi:10.1007/s10816-021-09532-8. ISSN 1573-7764.
- ^ a b c d ""Life in the Round: Shell Rings of the Georgia Bight" by Matthew Clair Sanger | Department of Anthropology". anthropology.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
- ^ a b c Sanger, Matthew C.; Seeber, Katherine; Bourcy, Samuel; Galdun, Jaclyn; Troutman, Michele; Mahar, Ginessa; Pietras, Jeffrey T.; Kelly, Caleb (2021-12-01). "Revelatory locales: The ritual reuse of a Late Archaic shell ring in South Carolina". Journal of Anthropological Archaeology. 64: 101356. doi:10.1016/j.jaa.2021.101356. ISSN 0278-4165.