Sean R. Brown

Date of Award

8-1997

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Anthropology

First Advisor

Dr. Elizabeth B. Garland

Second Advisor

Dr. Allen Zagarell

Third Advisor

Dr. Robert Sundick

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

Analysis of the lithic assemblage from the Wymer-West knoll site was undertaken with the following objectives: (1) to define the lithic technology of the Mississippian occupational component of the site, (2) to compare length, width and width/length ratios of triangular projectile points from the Wymer-West knoll with other Mississippian sites to clarify the cultural affiliation of the Wymer-West knoll, and (3) to use site function, from the perspective of the overall Wymer-West knoll material culture in general and the Mississippian lithic technology in particular, as a framework to better understand the Wymer-West knoll's place in the regional culture history.

A students t-test analysis showed that the triangular points from the Wymer-West knoll were not significantly different from triangular points associated with Middle Mississippian sites. Exotic raw materials from the Mississippian component of the Wymer-West knoll indicate nearly exclusive derivation from sources in central and southern Illinois. Additional material culture comparisons, i.e. ceramics, radiocarbon dates and fauna! material, suggest Middle Mississippian affiliations. It is suggested that the Mississippian component of the Wymer-West knoll represents a site unit intrusion of Middle Mississippian people from the Illinois River Valley circa A.D. 1000.

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