Revisiting McKeithen Weeden Island: Complexity, Ritual, and Pottery

Prudence M. Rice revisits the ancient Indigenous McKeithen site in northern Florida, reassessing it in light of new data, analyses, and theories. She discusses current theoretical trends in studies of ritual and belief systems and their relation to mound-building at McKeithen in the early stages of developing societal complexity. The site is best known for its mortuary mounds and mortuary ritual, including unusual pottery bird effigies. Rice's case study fosters understanding of later Mississippian society and other civilizations around the world at this time period.

Format: Hardback
Length: 132 pages
Publication date: 12 December 2023
Publisher: The University of Alabama Press

Reassessing the ancient Indigenous McKeithen site in northern Florida in light of new data, analyses, and theories further illuminates an Indigenous Late Woodland (ca. AD 200–900) mound-and-village community in northern Florida that was first excavated in the late 1970s. Since then, some artifacts received additional analyses, and the topic of prechiefdom societies has been broadly reconsidered in anthropology and archaeology. These developments allow new perspectives on McKeithens history and significance.

Prudence M. Rice, a Mayanist who began her career at the University of Florida, revisits what is known about McKeithen and recontextualizes the 1970s excavations. Weeden Island and McKeithen are best known through mortuary mounds and mortuary ritual, mainly involving unusual pottery bird effigies. Rice discusses current theoretical trends in studies of ritual and belief systems and their relation to mound-building at McKeithen in early stages of developing societal complexity.

Revisiting McKeithen Weeden Island serves as a masterful example of an esteemed archaeologist advancing the field through rethought and updated interpretations of the site and its significance, primarily through its pottery. Rices case study ultimately also fosters understanding of later Mississippian society and other civilizations around the world at this time period. Archaeologists, anthropologists, and social historians as well as students and avocational readers will welcome Rices insight.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780817321758