Beyond Diet: Faunal Remains and Ritual during the Late Woodland through Mississippian Periods in the American Bottom Region

Steven R. Kuehn, Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Killarney Research Annex, 726 West Killarney Street, Urbana, IL 61801, [email protected]©2016 Illinois Archaeological Survey, Inc., Illinois Archaeology, vol. 28, pp. 533–566.533Beyond DietFaunal Remains and Ritual during the Late Woodland through Mississippian Periods in the American Bottom RegionSteven R. KuehnThe examination of prehistoric faunal assemblages has traditionally focused on dietary patterns, resource exploitation, and ecological reconstruction. Only limited attention has been given to the ritual use of animal remains. In the American Bottom, despite an abundance of archaeological sites and assemblages, few studies have explored this aspect of Native American ritual behavior. This article provides an overview of Late Woodland, Terminal Late Woodland, and Mississippian ritual use of bone and shell in the American Bottom and considers broad patterns of animal part use and changes in use over time. Using approaches formulated within social zooarchaeology, examination of this aspect of ritual behavior provides further insight into human-animal relations during the late prehistoric period.