Kevin C. Nolan

I am a Ph.D. Candidate conducting dissertation research on Fort Ancient (AD 1000-1650) subsistence and settlement patterns. I am interested in the application of evolutionary perspectives to investigate these issues at multiple space and time scales. My long-term goals include expanding knowledge of the distribution and spatial structure of archaeological remains in the upper/middle Scioto Valley through a combination of "siteless" survey and selective excavation. I have a special interest in documentation and exploration of typically ignored site types in the region (e.g., special purpose, or logistic camps). Below is a modified version of my NSF DDIG project summary statement (http://www.checkout.org.cn/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=0832272).

Project Summary: I am investigating the Late Prehistoric (AD 1000-1650) pattern of environmental exploitation and village structure at the Reinhardt site (33PI880). Recent investigations shed light on important aspects of local variability for the Fort Ancient Tradition and other Ohio Valley Late Prehistoric groups. Yet there is a paucity of investigated Late Prehistoric sites in the Central Scioto Valley.
Two goals guide this project. First, the examination of availability and use of resources using screened and flotation samples. A representative sample of floral and faunal remains will be obtained using targeted examination of magnetometry identified features and then I will reconstruct the subsistence choices of the villagers. Next, the archaeobotanical and archaeofaunal samples will be compared against expectations based on the distribution of habitat types and the availability of specific resource types derived from catchment analyses. The subsistence strategies and degree of parochialism will be assessed with a GIS based site catchment analysis. The GIS analysis includes coverages of environmental data – topography, landforms, soil classes, locations of bodies of water – coupled with a series of irregular catchments based on estimations of travel time over different types of terrain (Tobler hiking function). This type of catchment construction will have the advantage of allowing efficient examination of relative procurement costs incurred by the village inhabitants for specific resources and may give clues as to resource stress. The subsistence data will be assessed in light of documented regional and local variability in dependence on maize by Late Prehistoric farmers.
Second, the results of this project will contribute to understanding variability in Fort Ancient settlement structure. Knowledge of site structure is important for evaluating models of intra-community social relations. Fort Ancient sites have been argued to exhibit variability in settlement structure through time. However, many investigations expose only small portions of sites. Specifically, previous studies in the Central Scioto Valley have either exposed small portions of the village (Voss), or were conducted prior to modern excavation and recording methods (Gartner). As a result we have little data on the structure of Fort Ancient villages in the Central Scioto Valley and no concept of variability in village structure. This project provides an opportunity to document the site structure of an Early Fort Ancient site in the Central Scioto Valley through a combination of geophysical survey, intensive surface collection, shovel test sampling, and feature excavation. Additionally, the investigation of the structure of the Reinhardt site provides an opportunity to address local Fort Ancient origins. There is regional variation in whether or not the Fort Ancient are considered indigenous or immigrants. The upriver location and the early temporal position of Reinhardt will allow the addition of valuable data to these debates.

Intellectual Merit: This project contributes to current trends towards documenting local cultural variability. The appropriate starting point for such an analysis is the site. This project builds a comprehensive model of Fort Ancient subsistence and settlement structure that captures spatial and temporal variability. It builds this model from the site outwards combining the Reinhardt site results and several recent projects utilizing the digital state site records database. Understanding of variability and persistence are crucial to building theoretically informed narratives of change over time in material culture.

Broader Merit: This project will inform local educational outreach efforts. I incorporate current archaeological knowledge into public outreach presentations. The future presentations will present a nuanced illustration of Ohio Late Prehistory that is understandable by the general public and embraces the goals of public education. In addition, this project is designed to facilitate preservation planning by and for the City of Columbus. NSF support coupled with funding already obtained will aid in the preservation, education and presentation of significant cultural remains for the people of Ohio.

Contact Information

Email: