Using Oxygen Isotope Sclerochronology to Evaluate the Role of Small Islands Among the Guale (AD 1325 to 1700) of the Georgia Coast, USA

ABSTRACT

In this article, we present the results of sequential oxygen isotope analysis performed on hard clam, Mercenaria spp. (n = 5) and eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica (n = 13) valves excavated from Pumpkin Hammock (9MC350). These data are used to evaluate Guale models of settlement and subsistence along the Georgia coast during the late pre-Contact and early Colonial eras (ca. AD 1325 to 1700). Season of collection data indicate shells were collected and deposited on the island during all four seasons, suggesting year-round occupation of the site. In addition, oxygen isotope values imply the Guale exploited mollusks from habitats over a wide range of salinity. We interpret this to signify that the Guale ranged broadly over the coastal landscape and that they were able to exploit these distant resources due to their use of watercraft. Finally, we place these findings within the broader context of the changing social landscape during the late pre-Contact and Colonial eras of the Georgia coast.

Keywords:

• American Southeast
• mobility
• colonialism
• watercraft
• shell midden
• sclerochronology

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This research was supported, in part, by a grant in association with the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER project, National Science Foundation grant (NSF grant OCE-0620959). We thank the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Department of Anthropology at The Ohio State University, the Department of Geosciences at the University of Alabama, and the Department of Anthropology at the University of West Florida. Several individuals were instrumental in supporting our fieldwork and include John Turck, David Crass, Dorset Hurley, Fred Hay, and Buddy Sullivan, and Chester DePratter, Heather Black, and Rue Chitwood. Sara Glen conducted much of the sample preparation and micromilling, and Joe Lambert, Kelley Rich, and Robin Cobb performed the isotope measurements. We would also like to thank the undergraduate students of the 2007 and 2008 University of West Florida archaeological field schools. Their help, enthusiasm, and endurance ultimately made this work possible. Finally, the authors would like to thank Steven Pennings and Merryl Albers of the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research project for their support of our past and ongoing research. Comments by three anonymous reviewers greatly improved the quality of our article. As always, the authors are responsible for all errors, omissions, mistakes, and gaffes.