Abstract
In this paper I will challenge one of the major unexamined assumptions in the archeology of Eastern North America, the assumption that the Arkansas River Valley and Ozark Highland regions of eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas, the so-called northern Caddoan Area, was the home of Caddo people who were closely related culturally and linguistically to the Caddo people of southwest Arkansas, northwest Louisiana, east Texas, and southeast Oklahoma. I will propose, instead, that the archeology of this locality is much more complex and interesting than the conventional wisdom would have it. What is involved here, I suggest, is not one region but parts of three, with three culturally and biologically distinct populations. Furthermore, I will propose that Spiro, the key site in this locality, is actually two sites, one Caddoan, the other Mississippian.
Highlights
If I were laboring in the Caddoan vineyard, I would stress the individuality of Caddoan culture, its independence of, not to say resistance to, the spread of Mississippian culture
With its spectacular hoards, its romantic history, and its reputation as "the principal and most famous site in the Caddoan area" (Brown 1984a:241) has come to exemplify Caddo Area archeology in the minds of all but a few regional specialists who know the Spiro phase Spiro has no parallels in the Caddo Area
This paper was originally presented at the 55th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, April 22, 1990, Las Vegas, Nevada
Summary
In this paper I will challenge one of the major unexamined assumptions in the archeology of Eastern North America, the assumption that the Arkansas River Valley and Ozark Highland regions of eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas, the so-called northern Caddoan Area, was the home of Caddo people who were closely related culturally and linguistically to the Caddo people of southwest Arkansas, northwest Louisiana, east Texas, and southeast Oklahoma. I will propose, instead, that the archeology of this locality is much more complex and interesting than the conventional wisdom would have it. I suggest, is not one region but parts of three, with three culturally and biologically distinct populations. I will propose that Spiro, the key site in this locality, is two sites, one Caddoan, the other Mississippian
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