The best laid plans: Assemblage formation and abandonment at two house sites in the Central Plains

Abstract

Systematic, fine-grained data recovery and spatial analysis facilitate interpretation of household assemblage formation and abandonment at two late prehistoric (AD 1000–1500) lodges in the Central Plains: the Scott and Phil sites in northeastern and north-central Kansas, respectively. This is based on patterns in lodge design, construction, storage, and domestic activities inferred from the distribution of burned wood, burned stone, daub, ceramics, chipped stone tools, and lithic debris. These reflect patterns of cultural material discard, displacement, clean-up, and gendered space utilization, as well as planned vs. unplanned abandonment that may compare to households of other sedentary, low level food producers in the Great Plains and other regions.