Prehistoric Settlement in the Central Mississippi River Valley in Illinois and Missouri

在一段相对短暂的时期内，美国中部以密西西比河的卡霍基亚遗址为中心，见证了史前文化的繁盛时期。该遗址的历史可以追溯到公元1000年左右，可能居住着多达5万人。它可能控制了一段长达250英里的河流和腹地，寺庙丘的建设表明了一个具有复杂宗教仪式的分层社会。米尔纳博士和他的学生将进行考古研究，以深入了解卡霍基亚现象，并将其置于更广泛的区域背景下。在两个夏天的过程中，米尔纳博士将在两名研究生的协助下，访问和研究一系列位于密西西比河洪泛平原和邻近支流流域的卡霍基亚相关地点的材料。虽然他们将访问许多遗址，检查地表遗迹和地理情况，但他们将主要依靠以前的挖掘者收集的数据。他们将在一些存放这些材料的机构工作，并研究现场地图和笔记以及挖掘的遗骸。特别是，他们将专注于陶瓷，并使用单一的记录和分析方案来检查大量的数据。这将允许直接跨站点比较。这项研究之所以重要，有几个原因。首先，它将解决一个重要的考古学问题，即像卡霍基亚这样复杂的社会是如何产生和维持的。一些考古学家认为，卡霍基亚遗址本身对外围定居点进行了直接而严格的控制。另一些人则假设一种更为间接的统治，具有相当程度的地方自治。其次，该项目将最大限度地利用许多研究者多年来收集的数据，从而增加过去工作的意义和贡献。最后，该项目将协助两名研究生的科学训练。

For a relatively brief period, the central United States witnessed a florescence of prehistoric culture focussed on the Mississippi river site of Cahokia. The site, which dates to approximately 1000 A.D., may have been inhabited by up to 50,000 individuals. It likely controlled a stretch of river and hinterland of 250 miles in length, and the construction of temple mounds indicates a stratified society with complex religious ritual. Dr. Milner and his students will conduct archaeological research which will provide insight into the Cahokia phenomenon and set it into a broader regional context. Over the course of two summers, Dr. Milner, assisted by two graduate students, will visit and study materials from a series of Cahokia related sites located in the Mississippi River floodplain and adjacent tributary drainages. Although they will visit many sites to examine surface remains and geographical situation, they will rely primarily on data collected by previous excavators. They will work at a number of institutions which house such materials and study both field maps and notes as well as excavated remains. In particular they will focus on ceramics and examine a large body of data using a single recording and analysis scheme. This will allow direct cross site comparison. This research is important for several reasons. First, it will address the archaeologically significant question of how such complex societies as Cahokia arise and are maintained. Some archaeologists have argued that the site of Cahokia itself exercised direct and tight control over outlying settlements. Others postulate a more indirect rule with a significant degree of local autonomy. Secondly, the project will make maximal use of data collected by many investigators over a number of years, and thus increases the significance and contribution of past work. Finally, the project will assist in the scientific training of two graduate students.