essay

Moundville as a diagrammatic ceremonial center

archaeology of the moundville chiefdom • Washington, Dc • Published In 1998 • Pages: 44-62

By: Knight, Vernon J..

Abstract
Some ethnographically documented ceremonial centers have spatial layouts that are diagrammatic of basic aspects of social organization. The Moundville site shows regularities in its layout that suggest that its plan is a sociogram. An analogy for interpreting these spatical regularites comes from an ethnograpjic account collected by Frank Speck concerning spatial relationships among Chickasaw corporate kin groups in a ceremonial context (p. 44).
Subjects
Reviews and critiques
Theoretical orientation in research and its results
Historical reconstruction
Miscellaneous structures
Settlement patterns
Burial practices and funerals
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
1989-1996
Coverage Date
1100 BP - 350 BP (900 A.D. - 1650 A.D.)
Coverage Place
Moundville, Black Warrior River, west-central Alabama, United States
Notes
Vernon James Knight Jr.
For bibliographical references see document 21: [Knight and Steponaitis]
LCCN
98006875
LCSH
Mississippian culture