The Middle to Late Woodland Transition in Maryland

Abstract

In far western Maryland, the Middle Woodland is marked by a probable Ohio Valley influence. The Late Woodland appears directly related to expansion of Monongahela groups in southwestern Pennsylvania. The Great Valley represents a buffer area between coastal and western groups during the Middle Woodland. During the Late Woodland, occupation by northeastern and northwestern populations overlaps in the Great Valley. In the Blue Ridge and Monocacy Valley, there appears to be no resident Middle Woodland population, and occupation is restricted to Coastal groups exploiting rhyolite. This is followed by a Late Woodland expansion of northern Owasco-related groups. Except for along the Potomac, die Eastern Piedmont appears to have been virtually uninhabited throughout the Middle and Late Woodland periods. On the Western Shore of the Coastal Plain, the Middle Woodland is represented by the Selby Bay complex, with an apparent concentration in the Patuxent drainage. The population appears fairly sedentary, and in situ development to Late Woodland Townsend groups is likely.