Northeast Subsistence-Settlement Change: A.D. 700 –1300

Figure 6.12. Middle Thames River 2000 survey block showing early Late Woodland sites, drainage systems, and
physiographic regions.
of Glen Meyer sites. Nevertheless, in many ways, the
plant remains assemblages resemble those from Glen
Meyer sites. Fleshy fruits, seeds of weedy annuals, nuts
and cultigens are common. Cultigens are so far limited
to sunflower (Helianthus annuus ssp. macrocarpus) and
maize. Chenopod (Chenopodium sp.) is common as
well, but the seeds do not have clear morphological
evidence of domestication.
DISCUSSION
Among the many aspects of our early Late
Woodland research, understanding the complex interaction
among settlement, environment, and culture is
critical. Our recent research suggests a more multifaceted
settlement system for early Late Woodland sites in
both southcentral and southwestern Ontario than predicted
some 25 years ago. This work continues to
demonstrate the importance and popularity of both
terrace sites and river bar locales to the Princess Point
Complex. River bars were also occupied during the
preceding Middle Woodland period of this area, as evidenced
by sites like Roger’s Creek (AfGx-24) and
Tuscarora (AgGx-14), but they were less popular habitation
choices in the overall settlement system than that
of the Princess Point (Dieterman 2001; Ormerod 1997).
Middle Woodland populations tended to prefer sites
located adjacent to wetlands, particularly along creeks
and rivers, as evidenced by the large cluster of Middle
Woodland sites at the mouth of the Grand River. This
difference in the settlement systems of Middle
Woodland and Late Woodland groups also holds for
other parts of northeastern North America. For example,
in the lower/middle Delaware Valley, Stewart
(1990) notes a changing preference from freshwater
tidal marshes during the Middle Woodland period to
river bars during the early Late Woodland period.
Chapter 6 Early Late Woodland in Southern Ontario: An Update (1996–2000) 129