Appendix H - Historical Archaeological and ... - CBP.gov

valley suggests an increasing reliance on wetland and aquatic resources and continued use of
native cultigens (Egan, 1993; Kingsley, 1999; Lovis et al., 2001).
Middle Woodland cultures in the northeastern Lower Peninsula appear to be more closely
aligned with Lake Forest (Fitting, 1975) or Northern Tier (Mason, 1981) Middle Woodland
cultures that predominate across the Upper Peninsula, although influences from the Saginaw
River valley northward are also seen (Brose and Hambacher, 1999). This is most clearly evident
in the ceramic decoration, which is similar to that on Laurel and other related northern Middle
Woodland ceramics. The economy of these groups may have emphasized the importance of
fishing, particularly shallow-water spring spawning species. Larger warm season villages where
multiple family groups congregated were supplemented by smaller, special purpose satellite
camps and small, cold season camps located away from the coast where hunting was the key
economic activity.
The Late Woodland period (ca. 600 A.D.-1600 A.D.) is characterized by continued increases in
population, an increase in the size and number of sites, a trend toward greater regional diversity,
and changes in technology and subsistence patterns (Cleland, 1992; Holman and Brashler, 1999;
Martin, 1999; Krakker, 1999). Generally, both the north and south subsistence economies
appear to be keyed to seasonally dense plant and animal resources and an increased reliance on
agriculture, especially in the southeastern Lower Peninsula. Although maize horticulture appears
to be a feature of northern Late Woodland groups, its exact role and importance is less clear.
Technological changes include use of the bow and arrow, as evidenced by the small triangular,
notched, and flake points, and the use of deep-water gill nets in the northeastern Lower Peninsula
(Cleland, 1982; Fitting, 1975; Martin, 1989; Mason, 1981).
In the Saginaw River valley and southeastern Michigan, the early Late Woodland period is
represented by the Wayne Tradition (Fitting, 1965; Fitting, 1975; Halsey, 1976), characterized
by globular vessels with cord-marked exteriors and simple decoration made with impressions by
corded wrapped objects and tool punctates. Close similarity between Wayne wares and other
regional wares from across the southern part of the state are thought to reflect a high degree of
interaction among the regional populations (Brashler, 1981). This period also sees the end of the
Wayne Mortuary tradition, which features both open cemeteries and mounds and exotic grave
goods (Halsey, 1976).
After ca. 1000 A.D., Younge tradition ceramics begin to replace the Wayne tradition. Younge
pottery consists of large globular to elongated vessels that are usually collared—often
castellated—and exhibit complex rim and shoulder decoration made with plain tools (Fitting,
1965; Murphy and Ferris, 1990; Stothers 1999). These ceramics are related to those from the
Western Basin tradition from southwestern Ontario and northwestern Ohio. Even with an
increased reliance on maize horticulture as a foundation of the economy, scheduled movements
to take advantage of seasonally available resources were still taking place. Thus, while villages
were located along floodplains and the Great Lakes shorelines for access to easily tillable soils,
riverine resources, and transportations, smaller seasonal camps also occurred in upland and
headwater settings (Krakker, 1999; Stamps and Zurel, 1980)
In the northeastern Lower Peninsula, Late Woodland groups appear to have the closest cultural
ties with groups in the Straits of Mackinac regions; however, the co-occurrence of more
Northern Border Activities H-42 July 2012