Life in a Mississippian Warscape: Common Field, Cahokia, and the Effects of Warfare

Meghan E. Buchanan's book explores the microscale of daily lives of people living at Common Field, a large, palisaded mound center, during the period of Cahokias abandonment and the spread of violence and warfare throughout the Southeast. She argues that to understand the big histories of warfare, political fragmentation, and resilience in the past, archaeologists must analyze and interpret the microscale actions of the past. The people of Common Field engaged in novel and hybrid practices such as adopting new ceramic tempering techniques, producing large numbers of serving vessels decorated with warfare-related imagery, adapting their food practices, and erecting a substantial palisade with specially prepared deposits.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 04 October 2022
Publisher: The University of Alabama Press

In order to comprehend the grand narratives of warfare, political disintegration, and resilience in the past, archaeologists must also examine and interpret the minute actions of the past. These are the daily activities of people before, during, and after historical events. Battles occur in people's front yards, family members die, and the effects of violence in near and distant places are felt on a daily basis within war zones. This book explores the microscale of daily lives of people living at Common Field, a large, palisaded mound center, during the period of Cahokia's abandonment and the spread of violence and warfare throughout the Southeast.

Linking together ethnographic, historical, and archaeological sources, Buchanan discusses the evidence that the people of Common Field engaged in novel and hybrid practices in these dangerous times. At the microscale, they adopted new ceramic tempering techniques, produced large numbers of serving vessels decorated with warfare-related imagery, adapted their food practices, and erected a substantial palisade with specially prepared deposits. The overall picture that emerges at Common Field is of a people who engaged in risk-averse practices that minimized their exposure to the outside of the palisade and attempted to seek intercession from otherworldly realms through public ceremonies involving warfare-related iconography.

The people of Common Field lived in a time of great change and uncertainty. The Cahokia Mounds, once a thriving urban center, had been abandoned for over a century, and the region was plagued by warfare and violence. Despite these challenges, the people of Common Field adapted and survived, engaging in novel and hybrid practices to minimize their exposure to danger and seek intercession from otherworldly realms.

One of the most significant practices that the people of Common Field adopted was the use of new ceramic tempering techniques. These techniques allowed them to create stronger and more durable pottery, which was essential for storing and preparing food in a time of scarcity. The people of Common Field also produced large numbers of serving vessels decorated with warfare-related imagery, such as warriors and shields. These vessels were used in public ceremonies and were believed to have the power to protect the people from harm.

In addition to their ceramic practices, the people of Common Field adapted their food practices to cope with the challenges of warfare. They grew a variety of crops, including corn, beans, and squash, which were essential for sustaining life in a time of scarcity. They also used a variety of cooking techniques, such as roasting and grinding, to make their food more palatable and nutritious.

Another significant practice that the people of Common Field adopted was the erection of a substantial palisade. The palisade was a wall of logs and timbers that surrounded the mound center, providing protection from intruders and protecting the people from the effects of warfare. The palisade was also used as a platform for public ceremonies and was believed to have the power to summon otherworldly realms to protect the people.

Despite these risk-averse practices, the people of Common Field were not immune to the effects of warfare. Many family members died in battles, and the people were forced to adapt to a new way of life. However, they continued to engage in public ceremonies and seek intercession from otherworldly realms, believing that they could overcome the challenges of their time.

In conclusion, the people of Common Field lived in a time of great change and uncertainty, but they were able to adapt and survive by engaging in novel and hybrid practices. These practices included the use of new ceramic tempering techniques, the production of large numbers of serving vessels decorated with warfare-related imagery, the adaptation of food practices, and the erection of a substantial palisade. Despite the challenges of warfare, the people of Common Field continued to engage in public ceremonies and seek intercession from otherworldly realms, believing that they could overcome the challenges of their time.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780817321383