A Diachronic Perspective on Wetland Resource Scheduling in Michigan: Evidence from the Potagannissing River

Summary

This is an abstract from the "The Archaeology of Wetlands" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Nearly 15% of Michigan is covered by wetlands. These environments are widely regarded as critical components of Michigan's unique ecological makeup. From an archaeological perspective, the biological diversity, productivity, and dependability of these natural communities fulfill a variety of societal needs. Moreover, as a site for seasonal aggregation, coastal or shoreline wetlands can be easy to locate, access, and provide a wealth of warm-weather foods that support the carrying capacity of larger populations. In the case of the multicomponent Cloudman site (20CH6) on the Potagannissing River, microfossil evidence has provided a fuller picture of the utility and desirability of wetland resources, including economically important foods like Manoomin, also known as wild rice (Zizania palustris). Using carpological, palynological, and faunal data, the role of wetland resources at the Cloudman site can be explored in terms of long-term resource scheduling throughout the Late Woodland period and into the historic period. Results have begun to reveal landscape management and seasonality across the different occupations.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• The Archaeology of Wetlands   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 41647.0