Dissertation Research: Middle Fort Ancient Villages and Organizational Complexity in Central Kentucky

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Dillehay Under the direction of Dr. Tom Dillehay, Ms. A. Gwynn Henderson will collect data for her doctoral dissertation. Her research focuses on prehistoric sites located in central Kentucky and attributed to the Fort Ancient tradition, which flourished between 1200 and 1400 AD. Ms. Henderson has extensive prior experience in the region. The project consists of three phases. First, literature will be reviewed to locate recorded site information and to note related environmental data such as water availability and soil fertility. Over 100 sites have been recorded in the region to date. Secondly, intensive archaeological survey will be conducted, both to verify recorded information and to locate new sites. At each site, the surface distribution of materials will be mapped and a controlled collection made. In sites with poor visibility a combination of screened shovel probes and soil cores will be used to collect information the size and internal organization of the site. At newly documented occurrences, larger test units will be excavated. Finally the material collected will be subjected to a number of analyses. Site sizes, distributions and ecological associations will be examined. Ceramics and other items of material culture will be studied to determine both chronology and relations between sites. On this basis it should be possible to reconstruct the social and political organization of Fort Ancient groups and to gain insight into how they interact with their environment. The American midwest is of great interest to archaeologists because of the large hierarchically organized societies which emerged there. Impressive monumental architecture exists at sites such as Cahokia and Moundsville and scientists wish to understand the processes through which such complexity arose. The Fort Ancient area is of interest because its inhabitants participated in this general cultural tradition, yet for no clearcut reason remained at a smaller scale level of organization. M s. Henderson believes that through careful study of this negative case, new understanding can be gained of broader societal processes. This research is important for several reasons. It will provide data of interest to many archaeologists. It will shed new light on the development of social complexity and assist in the training of a promising young scientist.