Justin M Reamer | Bowdoin College (original) (raw)

Book Reviews by Justin M Reamer

Research paper thumbnail of Review of: The Nature and Pace of Change in American Indian Cultures: Pennsylvania, 4000-3000 BP, edited by R. Michael Stewart, Kurt W. Carr, and Paul A. Raber

Papers by Justin M Reamer

Research paper thumbnail of Evidence for the Eastern Agricultural Complex Crops in the Upper Delaware Valley: Botanical Analysis from the Manna Site (36Pi4

American Antiquity, 2024

From the Archaic period onward, Indigenous populations across the Eastern Woodlands cultivated a ... more From the Archaic period onward, Indigenous populations across the Eastern Woodlands cultivated a suite of crops known to archaeologists as the Eastern Agricultural Complex. However, aside from squash (Cucurbita pepo) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus), little evidence exists for the cultivation of these plants in the northeastern Algonquian homeland. Botanical analysis from the Manna site (36Pi4), located in the Upper Delaware Valley, provides evidence for the cultivation of the full suite of Eastern Agricultural Complex crops. Flotation samples analyzed from Manna provide the first evidence for possible Lenape cultivation of chenopodium (Chenopodium berlandieri), squash, sunflower, and marshelder (Iva annua) from contexts dating to AD 0-1650 (Middle and Late Woodland) at Manna. Lenape cultivation of these crops complicates the traditional view of Indigenous agricultural systems in northeastern North America and raises questions about when and how these species were introduced to the region. Resumen Desde el período Arcaico en adelante, las poblaciones indígenas de los bosques del este cultivaron un conjunto de cultivos conocidos por los arqueólogos como el Complejo Agrícola del Este. Sin embargo, aparte de la calabaza (Cucurbita pepo) y el girasol (Helianthus annuus), existe poca evidencia del cultivo de estas plantas en la tierra natal del noreste de Algonquian. El análisis botánico del sitio Manna (36Pi4), ubicado en el valle superior de Delaware, proporciona evidencia del cultivo del conjunto completo de cultivos del Complejo Agrícola del Este. Las muestras de flotación analizadas en Manna proporcionan la primera evidencia del cultivo en Lenape de chenopodium (Chenopodium berlandieri), calabaza, girasol y marshelder (Iva annua) en contextos que datan del 0 al 1650 d.C. (bosque medio y tardío) en Manna. El cultivo de estos cultivos por parte de Lenape complica la visión tradicional de los sistemas agrícolas indígenas en el noreste de América del Norte y plantea preguntas sobre cuándo y cómo se introdujeron estas especies en la región.

Research paper thumbnail of OLD COLLECTIONS, NEW DATA: INSIGHTS ON THE MINISINK SITE AND UPPER DELAWARE VALLEY ARCHAEOLOGY FROM THE PHILHOWER AND SOMMERVILLE COLLECTIONS

Journal of Middle Atlantic Archaeology, 2020

The "curation crisis" is a wide-ranging set of problems facing archaeology in the 21 st century s... more The "curation crisis" is a wide-ranging set of problems facing archaeology in the 21 st century surrounding the curation and long-term maintenance of archaeological collections. One proposed solution for resolving part of the curation crisis is to slow the pace of excavations that generate new collections needing curation by turning to previously excavated collections held in archaeological repositories. In addition to helping slow the pace of new collections entering archaeological repositories, analyzing legacy collections can be useful in generating new data and interpretations. In this article, I discuss my work on two previously unanalyzed legacy collections from the Minisink site in the Upper Delaware Valley: the Charles A. Philhower Collection at the New Jersey State Museum and the Maxwell Sommerville Collection at the University of Pennsylvania Museum. A total of 10,040 sherds were analyzed for signs of intended vessel function and use-wear. Preliminary results on vessel size distribution, sooting, and residue are presented, as well as future avenues for research to continue on these collections.

Research paper thumbnail of Evidence for the Eastern Agricultural Complex Crops in the Upper Delaware Valley: Botanical Analysis from the Manna Site (36Pi4

American Antiquity, 2024

From the Archaic period onward, Indigenous populations across the Eastern Woodlands cultivated a ... more From the Archaic period onward, Indigenous populations across the Eastern Woodlands cultivated a suite of crops known to archaeologists as the Eastern Agricultural Complex. However, aside from squash (Cucurbita pepo) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus), little evidence exists for the cultivation of these plants in the northeastern Algonquian homeland. Botanical analysis from the Manna site (36Pi4), located in the Upper Delaware Valley, provides evidence for the cultivation of the full suite of Eastern Agricultural Complex crops. Flotation samples analyzed from Manna provide the first evidence for possible Lenape cultivation of chenopodium (Chenopodium berlandieri), squash, sunflower, and marshelder (Iva annua) from contexts dating to AD 0-1650 (Middle and Late Woodland) at Manna. Lenape cultivation of these crops complicates the traditional view of Indigenous agricultural systems in northeastern North America and raises questions about when and how these species were introduced to the region. Resumen Desde el período Arcaico en adelante, las poblaciones indígenas de los bosques del este cultivaron un conjunto de cultivos conocidos por los arqueólogos como el Complejo Agrícola del Este. Sin embargo, aparte de la calabaza (Cucurbita pepo) y el girasol (Helianthus annuus), existe poca evidencia del cultivo de estas plantas en la tierra natal del noreste de Algonquian. El análisis botánico del sitio Manna (36Pi4), ubicado en el valle superior de Delaware, proporciona evidencia del cultivo del conjunto completo de cultivos del Complejo Agrícola del Este. Las muestras de flotación analizadas en Manna proporcionan la primera evidencia del cultivo en Lenape de chenopodium (Chenopodium berlandieri), calabaza, girasol y marshelder (Iva annua) en contextos que datan del 0 al 1650 d.C. (bosque medio y tardío) en Manna. El cultivo de estos cultivos por parte de Lenape complica la visión tradicional de los sistemas agrícolas indígenas en el noreste de América del Norte y plantea preguntas sobre cuándo y cómo se introdujeron estas especies en la región.

Research paper thumbnail of OLD COLLECTIONS, NEW DATA: INSIGHTS ON THE MINISINK SITE AND UPPER DELAWARE VALLEY ARCHAEOLOGY FROM THE PHILHOWER AND SOMMERVILLE COLLECTIONS

Journal of Middle Atlantic Archaeology, 2020

The "curation crisis" is a wide-ranging set of problems facing archaeology in the 21 st century s... more The "curation crisis" is a wide-ranging set of problems facing archaeology in the 21 st century surrounding the curation and long-term maintenance of archaeological collections. One proposed solution for resolving part of the curation crisis is to slow the pace of excavations that generate new collections needing curation by turning to previously excavated collections held in archaeological repositories. In addition to helping slow the pace of new collections entering archaeological repositories, analyzing legacy collections can be useful in generating new data and interpretations. In this article, I discuss my work on two previously unanalyzed legacy collections from the Minisink site in the Upper Delaware Valley: the Charles A. Philhower Collection at the New Jersey State Museum and the Maxwell Sommerville Collection at the University of Pennsylvania Museum. A total of 10,040 sherds were analyzed for signs of intended vessel function and use-wear. Preliminary results on vessel size distribution, sooting, and residue are presented, as well as future avenues for research to continue on these collections.