Distributions of prehistoric sites in southern New England are evaluated for the past 12,000 years. Currently popular assumptions and propositions concerning the distribution of prehistoric sites across the landscape, settlement patterns, population change, and the effect of environmental change on human groups are evaluated using a regional computer data base of more than 5,000 sites. Many of the propositions have been based on local observations, but are shown to be valid in the rest of the region. Some are not supportable. Fluctuations in site frequency since Paleoindian times are compared with changes in the region's pollen record. Results suggest that two episodes of mast pollen decline occurred during the seventh and sixth millennia and after the fourth. Both episodes correlate with a decline in prehistoric site frequency, as does the onset of a colder climate 2,000 years ago. Peaks in mast pollen frequency correspond with peaks in the frequency of prehistoric sites and a catastrophic decline of hemlock pollen at 4,500 B.P. A subsequent increase in mast-pollen at the time corresponds with the greatest number of sites in prehistory. These correlations have important implications for understanding prehistoric human behavior. Computer-generated site distributional maps are provided at thousand year intervals starting with the Paleoindian millennia (10,000 to 12,000 B.P.). Maps are generated for 47 diagnostic artifact styles recognized for the region. The spatial distribution of sites is evaluated using geological, climatic and environmental data in a Geographic information system.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UMASS/oai:scholarworks.umass.edu:dissertations-8900 |
| Date | 01 January 1984 |
| Creators | MULHOLLAND, MITCHELL TYLER |
| Publisher | ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst |
| Source Sets | University of Massachusetts, Amherst |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Source | Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest |
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