Geophyte field processing, storage, and women’s decision-making in hunter-gatherer societies: An archaeological case study from western North America

Abstract

Geophytes are a critical food staple for many hunter-gatherer societies across the world. Despite recognition of their importance in the archaeological record, geophyte handling has often been portrayed in simplistic terms and the important processing, storage, and social components of their handling have not been fully realized. We present a case study from the Southern Plateau of western North America that addresses these issues. We begin by offering a framework for processing and storage that highlights storage diversity and the front-back loaded nature and flexibility of geophytes. Next, we present a geophyte field processing model to predict when field versus central place processing would occur, which provides important insights into archaeological site and artifact distributions. We then turn to the social dynamics of geophyte handling, suggesting that women were major producers and drivers of geophyte-related economies who could buffer the costs of intensive field processing strategies through bulk processing and by engaging family groups in geophyte-related activities. These logistical strategies helped to increase geophyte utility and offset transport costs and the opportunity cost that geophyte handling presented to childcare. We conclude with archaeological predictions for geophyte processing and storage signatures among societies using pedestrian, equestrian, and canoe modes of transportation.