essay

Mississippian in the upper Kaskaskia Valley: new data from Lake Shelbyville and new interpretations

cahokia and the hinterlands : middle mississipian cultures of the midwestUrbana • Published In 1991 • Pages: 239-256

By: Moffat, Charles R..

Abstract
Although Cahokian population movements, influences, and trade networks are essential to an understanding of the culture history of the Mississippi River Valley north of the American Bottom, Moffat points out in this article that Cahokian influences in the Upper Kaskaskian River Valley are only minor.and it is necessary to reasses many of the archaeological assumptions concerning the Mississippian occupation of this area. From the analysis of the upper valley data the author has developed a new chronology which he believes may also be applicable, in part, to the middle valley as well. The new classification scheme so devised distinguishes two Mississipian complexes, one centered in the upper valley and the other in the lower valley. Both complexes appear distinct from Cahokia. This paper reviews the previous model of late prehistoric Kaskaskia Valley culture history, describes the evidence and the logical processes used in developing the new model, and discusses its significance for the region and for midwestern prehistory (p. 239).
Subjects
Internal migration
Ceramic technology
Archaeological excavation methods
Dating methods in archaeology
Chronologies and culture sequences
Typologies and classifications
tradition
Mississippian
HRAF PubDate
2000
Region
North America
Sub Region
Eastern Woodlands
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Archaeologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 2005
Field Date
no date
Coverage Date
980 BP - 500 BP (1020 A.D. - 1500 A.D.)
Coverage Place
upper Kaskaskia River Vallley, Illinois, United States
Notes
Charles R. Moffat
'Published in cooperation with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.' For bibliographical references see document 2: Emerson and Lewis
LCCN
90010759
LCSH
Mississippian culture