article

Middle Woodland ceremonialism at Pinson Mounds, Tennessee

American antiquity53 • Published In 1988 • Pages: 158-173

By: Mainfort, Robert C..

Abstract
Mainfort describes the platform mounds, the burial mounds, and other geometric earthworks at the site of Pinson Mounds. He emphasizes that platform mounds were also constructed in the Middle Woodland and not just during the Mississippian period. These platform mounds were constructed without structures on their top. This also points to a nonmortuary use of this center. As Mainfort states, '…the mound group apparently was constructed for ceremonial use by a number of relatively small societies lacking mutivillage political authority.' (page 169). Also briefly described are the excavations.
Subjects
Identification
Ceramic technology
Religious and educational structures
Miscellaneous structures
Settlement patterns
Burial practices and funerals
Chronologies and culture sequences
Cultural stratigraphy
tradition
Eastern Middle Woodland
HRAF PubDate
2005
Region
North America
Sub Region
Eastern Woodlands
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Archaeologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Sarah Berry ; 2003
Field Date
1974-1975, 1981-1983
Coverage Date
2000 BP-1500 BP (1 A.D.-500 A.D.)
Coverage Place
Pinson Mounds, Madison County, Tennessee, United States
Notes
Robert C. Mainfort, Jr.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 170-173)
LCCN
46036122
LCSH
Woodland culture