Date of Award

Spring 5-11-2012

Degree Type

Honors College Thesis

Department

Anthropology and Sociology

First Advisor

H. Edwin Jackson

Advisor Department

Anthropology and Sociology

Abstract

The Winterville Mounds, located in Northwest Mississippi, was once home to one of the largest chiefdoms in the Southeast. It served as a both a religious and political center and housed the ruling class atop its twenty-three manmade mounds. Recent excavation on Mound C at Winterville has uncovered an unusually large quantity of lithic artifacts. In an effort to shed light on the presence of such utilitarian tools where elites resided, this study utilized individual flake analysis on 830 pieces of lithic debitage, including cores, flakes, shatter, and tools. After documenting significant evidence of early through late stage lithic reduction as well as use-wear on many artifacts, I suggest that curated lithic production and domestic activities were taking place atop Mound C.

Comments

Honors College Award: Top Thesis

Included in

Anthropology Commons

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