Temporal Trends Indicated by a Survey of Archaic and Woodland Plant Food Remains from Southeastern North America

Abstract

This survey of the literature presents a compilation of data from 25 reports of relatively extensive collections of archaeological plant remains from 119 Archaic and Woodland occupations at 60 sites in the Southeast. Quantities of nutshells, seeds, and cultigens are compared by chronological periods. Nut and crop taxa are discussed individually. Overall seed quantities increase relative to nutshell, especially seeds of grain crops but also seeds of fleshy fruits. Patterns of change in relative quantities of various nuts are less discernable.