Date of Award

1-1-2014

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Organizational Unit

College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences

First Advisor

Lawrence B. Conyers, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Dean J. Saitta

Third Advisor

Billy J. Stratton

Keywords

Ceramic, Haudenosaunee, Levanna, New York, Owasco, Pottery

Abstract

The analysis of ceramics located inside of a proto-longhouse at Levanna, an early 10th century site overlooking Cayuga Lake in Central New York have found the established typologies of the area to be less rigid and contain much more variability than would be expected. Levanna appears to be a short-term occupation site (ca. 30 years) containing a variety of ceramics. In past studies Levanna had been deemed an "Owasco" era (900-1400 A.D.) site by early and some recent archaeologists, yet the analysis of features and ceramics found during the 2008 and 2009 excavations help deconstruct the idea or concept of Owasco in favor of Haudenosaunee (Iroquoian) (1400 A.D.-present). The analysis of 150 diagnostic ceramics found inside the proto-longhouse floor has led to unexpected conclusions; some decorated ceramics do not fit cleanly inside of the existing typology, decorated types from supposedly different temporal affiliations occur simultaneously inside of a short period occupation. This infers, individual types can temporally overlap or have a much longer use and life span than what was once previously believed. The pottery and the shape of the proto-longhouse at Levanna support a Haudenosaunee matrilineal and matrilocal culture living at the site; ceramic decorative styles and types are melded together and built upon each other as would be present in a matrilocal household. The ceramic analysis at the Levanna site corroborates the in-situ development of the Haudenosaunee back to the 10th century, supporting review of the previous typology, the phases and the prehistory of Central New York.

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Christina T. Rogers

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Format

application/pdf

Language

en

File Size

137 p.

Discipline

Archaeology

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