Apalachicola Valley Archaeology: Prehistory through the Middle Woodland Period, Volume 1

Nancy Marie White provides a comprehensive synthesis of the archaeological record and what is known or speculated about the ancient Apalachicola and lower Chattahoochee Valley region of northwest Florida, southeast Alabama, and southwest Georgia. She reveals that Paleoindian habitation was more extensive than previously thought, with Archaic sites widespread and societies persisting after the Ice Age. Pottery appeared in the Late Archaic period, and Early Woodland–period burial mounds demonstrated a flowering of religious and ritual systems. Middle Woodland societies expanded this mortuary ceremony, and the complex pottery of the Swift Creek and the early Weeden Island ceramic series showed an increased fascination with the ornate and unusual.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 354 pages
Publication date: 29 February 2024
Publisher: The University of Alabama Press

In this comprehensive and meticulously researched work, Nancy Marie White offers a holistic synthesis of the archaeological record and the knowledge and speculation surrounding the ancient Apalachicola and lower Chattahoochee Valley region of northwest Florida, southeast Alabama, and southwest Georgia. White breathes new life into a previously overlooked research area, weaving a captivating narrative that spans from the earliest human settlement, approximately 14,000 years ago, to the Middle Woodland period, culminating around AD 700.

What emerges from White's study is a revelation of the Paleoindian habitation's true extent, with archaic sites being widespread and these societies enduring even after the Ice Age ended 10,000 years ago. The Late Archaic period witnesses the emergence of pottery, while the Early Woodland–period burial mounds showcase a flourishing of religious and ritual systems. Middle Woodland societies further enriched this mortuary ceremony, and the intricate pottery of the Swift Creek and the early Weeden Island ceramic series reveals an increasing fascination with ornate and unique designs.

However, amidst this cultural transformation, the fundamental Native American way of life persisted, with subsistence traditions rooted in gathering, fishing, and hunting, reminiscent of their ancestors. This volume, in conjunction with its companion, stands as the definitive reference on the Apalachicola–lower Chattahoochee Valley region for scholars and enthusiasts alike, providing a deep understanding of the Native Americans of the Southeast.

Weight: 550g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780817361303