Prehistoric Subsistence on the Southern New England Coast

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Prehistoric Subsistence on the Southern New England Coast examines long-term trends in prehistoric subsistence in the Narragensett Bay region of Southern New England. The results suggest that, unlike other areas of Eastern north America, specialized agriculutral economies did not develop in this region prior to European contact. The book is accessible to both the general reader as well as scholars and students interested in consulting the original data for their own research and analysis.

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* Incorporates original research in palynology and geomorphology in to an archaeological study

* Presents a study of modern shellfish growth that is used to interpret the archaeological remains found at Greenwich Cove

* Uses numerous animal species to determine site seasonality

Front Cover 2
Prehistoric Subsistence on the Southern New England Coast: The Record from Narraganset Bay 5
Copyright Page 6
Dedication 7
Table of Contents 9
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 11
PREFACE 15
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 17
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 19
- I. SUBSISTENCE DIVERSIFICATION 20
- II. SCALE OF ANALYSIS 24
CHAPTER 2. GREENWICH COVE SITE AND NARRAGANSETT BAY: SETTING AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK 25
- I. NARRAGANSETT BAY: OVERVIEW 25
- II. ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK 28
CHAPTER 3. CHRONOLOGY OF OCCUPATION ATGREENWICH COVE 36

Front Cover 2
Prehistoric Subsistence on the Southern New England Coast: The Record from Narraganset Bay 5
Copyright Page 6
Dedication 7
Table of Contents 9
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 11
PREFACE 15
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 17
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 19
- I. SUBSISTENCE DIVERSIFICATION 20
- II. SCALE OF ANALYSIS 24
CHAPTER 2. GREENWICH COVE SITE AND NARRAGANSETT BAY: SETTING AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK 25
- I. NARRAGANSETT BAY: OVERVIEW 25
- II. ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK 28
CHAPTER 3. CHRONOLOGY OF OCCUPATION ATGREENWICH COVE 36
- I. STRATIGRAPHY 36
- II. RADIOCARBON DATES 41
- III. CERAMICS 43
- IV. PROJECTILE POINTS 50
- V. GREENWICH COVE OCCUPATIONS 54
CHAPTER 4. INITIALE XPLOITATION OF SHELLFISH IN THE NARRAGANSETT BAY REGION 64
- I. INTRODUCTION 64
- II. EXPLAINING THE BEGINNING OF COASTAL ADAPTATIONS 66
- III. THE CHANGING COASTAL ENVIRONMENT: RECONSTRUCTING SEA-LEVEL CHANGE 70
- IV. EARLY SHELLFISHING AT GREENWICH COVE 74
CHAPTER 5. PREHISTORIC SHELLFISH USE ATGREENWICH COVE 76
- I. MOLLUSCAN SPECIES REPRESENTED AT GREENWICH COVE 76
- II. THE GREENWICH COVE SHELLFISH ASSEMBLAGE:ANALYSIS AND QUANTIFICATION 82
- III. CHANGING PATTERNS OF SHELLFISH USE 88
- IV. FOOD VERSUS SHELLS: AN EVALUATION OF INDICES OF ABUNDANCE 93
- V. SAMPLING CONSIDERATIONS 96
- VI IMPLICATIONS OF CHANGES IN SHELLFISH SIZE 97
CHAPTER 6. VERTEBRATE FAUNA 100
- I. ANALYSIS AND QUANTIFICATION 100
- II. THE GREENWICH COVE FAUNAL ASSEMBLAGE 106
- III. PATTERNS IN THE GREENWICH COVE VERTEBRAL REMAINS 115
- IV. CONCLUSIONS 124
CHAPTER 7. PREHISTORIC USE OF PLANT FOODS 125
- L RESULTS FROM GREENWICH COVE 125
- II· EVIDENCE FROM THE NARRAGANSETT BAY REGION 128
- III. PLANT USE PATTERNS IN THE NARRAGANSETT BAY REGION 135
- IV. SUMMARY 138
CHAPTER 8. HISTORY OF LAND MODIFICATION 139
- I. THE PALYNOLOGICAL RECORD 139
- II. NATIVE AMERICAN LAND CLEARANCE 142
CHAPTER 9. SEASONALITY 144
- I. SEASONALITY OF QUAHOG COLLECTING 145
- II. SEASONALITY OF WHITE-TAILED DEER HUNTING 155
- III. SEASONAL AVAILABILITY OF MIGRATORY SPECIES 158
- IV. SEASONALITY AT GREENWICH COVE 160
- V. SEASONALITY IN THE NARRAGANSETT BAY REGION 161
CHAPTER 10. SUBSISTENCE PATTERNS IN THE NARRAGANSETT BAY REGION 165
- I. EXPANSION AND SEDENTISM 165
- II THE ROLE OF DEMOGRAPHIC PRESSURE 167
APPENDIX A: FEATURES AT THE GREENWICH COVE SITE 171
APPENDIX B: INVENTORY OF SHELLFISH REMAINS FROM THE GREENWICH COVE SITE 181
REFERENCES 187
INDEX 203

The Records from Narragansett Bay

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