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

dated to A.D. 890 (1025) 1230 (DIC-413) (Schneider
2000; Stothers 1975).
Stothers dismissed the inconsistent radiocarbon
chronology of the site as being due to contamination,
stating that outside of assays DIC-300 and 301, the
remaining two dates were consistent within the range
of radiocarbon error (Stothers and Yarnell 1977). With
calibration, however, DIC-300 falls within the temporal
bracket of the other two assays. DIC-301, on the other
hand, is clearly aberrant, and may have contained
charcoal derived from the uppermost cultural layer. A
sample from a pit feature originating from the upper
level was recently dated to A.D. 1040 (1250) 1370 (GX-
10749) (Stothers et al. 1994). The maize samples themselves
have not been dated by direct AMS. Though the
calibrated dates have altered perceptions about the
temporal placement of this component somewhat,
reanalysis of the associated cultural assemblages has
suggested that even the calibrated assays are too early.
The ceramic assemblages from the Indian Island sites
are characterized exclusively by Riviere Ware, which
dates to the Riviere au Vase phase, while Gibraltar
Wares are completely absent (Schneider 2000). It
appears, then, the occupations at Indian Island are
associated with the Riviere au Vase phase, herein
interpreted to date between A.D. 750 and 1000
(Stothers 1995).
Early maize was also reported from the Gard Island
No. 2 site, located adjacent to Indian Island in Maumee
Bay of northwestern Ohio. Radiocarbon dates from the
site came from samples of human bone in two burial
pits associated with the maize. Neither of the burial
features had any other inclusions. The first of the two
burials was dated to A.D. 590 (670) 880 (DIC-416), and
the second to 90 B.C. (A.D. 70) 240 (DIC-417). The second
date was rejected as being too early and possibly
contaminated. A second sample run from this burial
feature later produced a calibrated date of A.D. 780
(970) 1150 (DIC-418). Another burial was also dated to
A.D. 660 (900, 910, 960) 1200 (DIC-419). None of the
samples were corrected for stable carbon isotope ratios,
since that technology was not available at the time.
Though the site was originally interpreted as a component
dating to the sixth century A.D. based on the first
uncalibrated date of 1340±80 B.P. (Stothers and Yarnell
1977), the subsequent dates suggest a tenth century
Riviere au Vase phase placement, a placement that is
more congruous with the cultural assemblage
(Schneider 2000). A recent stable nitrogen isotope
analysis of 10 individuals from the Gard Island No. 2
cemetery suggested a high level of maize consumption
among some members of this population, a situation
more congruous with a later tenth century temporal
placement (Schurr and Redmond 1991).
Another site that was purported to yield evidence of
sixth century A.D. maize in northern Ohio was the
Leimbach site. Located on the Vermilion River in
northcentral Ohio, the site produced maize from a Late
Woodland pit feature associated with Riviere Ware
ceramics and a triangular projectile point. Charcoal
from the pit was radiocarbon-dated to 1375±180 B.P.
(GX-1743) (Prufer and Shane 1976), which has a calibrated
date of A.D. 270 (660) 1020. The ceramic assemblage,
however, exclusively contains Riviere Ware, suggesting
the component should be placed into the
Riviere au Vase phase (A.D. 750-1000), not the Gibraltar
phase (A.D. 500-750).
The Sissung site (cf. Stothers 1995:10; Stothers and
Bechtel 2000), in extreme southeastern Michigan, is
also probably best interpreted as a transitional Riviere
au Vase phase component on the basis of ceramic associations
and a radiocarbon assay on wood charcoal of
A.D. 600 (780) 1020 (M-1519). A feature at this site produced
two maize kernels identified by Yarnell as
Northern Flint (Stothers and Yarnell 1977), in association
with collarless Vase Dentate and Gibraltar
Cordmarked ceramics, lithic artifacts, and faunal
remains.
A six-rowed “sucker” cob was recently recovered
from a pit feature at the Dillon site (Stothers et al. 1994)
in northcentral Ohio, associated with a small grit-tempered
Vase Dentate rim, an undecorated plainsmoothed
rim, three cordmarked grit-tempered body
sherds, and a Jack’s Reef projectile point fashioned of
Upper Mercer chert. The decorated rim displays an
incipient folded collar embellished with a herringbone
motif executed in oblique dentate-stamped impressions.
The interior rim is plain and smoothed. A wood
charcoal sample from the feature yielded a radiocarbon
assay of A.D. 670 (820, 840, 860) 990 (Beta-30054).
Ceramics from the site suggest a transitional Riviere au
Vase phase component.
In summary, no maize has yet been clearly associated
with an early Late Woodland context. The earliest
clear associations of maize come from contexts postdating
A.D. 750, when it proliferates floral assemblages
from lake estuary plain sites in Maumee and Sandusky
Bays. The earliest maize from this region is yet to be
documented, but when it is, we believe that dates of
A.D. 400 or earlier should not be surprising.
Stable carbon isotope ratios seem to confirm that
maize was a minor contributor to the earliest Late
Woodland diets, but quickly grew in importance
(Tables 4.2 and 4.3). Five δ 13 C‰ values associated with
Chapter 4 The Early Late Woodland in the Southwestern Lake Erie Littoral Region 81