Health and diet at the Drda Site (11MS32), Madison County, Illinois

Yu Dong, Kristin M. Hedman, Eve A. Hargrave

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Human skeletal remains from multiple individuals were found within Feature 5, Burial 1 at the Drda site (11MS32), Madison County, Illinois, during the 1979 Phase II survey by archaeologists from Illinois State University. This article expands upon a preliminary osteological analysis by Shaw and Nickels (1985), resulting in a reassessment of the demographic composition of the sample and of the pathological conditions experienced by these individuals. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of select elements is used to make inferences about the diet of those individuals, such as evidence of maize and protein consumption. Radiocarbon dates derived from bone collagen indicate a temporal affiliation of Terminal Late Woodland (formerly Emergent Mississippian) (A.D. 900-1050). The Terminal Late Woodland is associated with significant population movement in the American Bottom and immediately precedes the rise of the Cahokian polity (see Fortier and McElrath 2002).
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)668-689
JournalIllinois Archaeology: Journal of the Illinois Archaeology Survey
Volume22
Issue number2
StatePublished - 2010

Keywords

  • ISAS

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Health and diet at the Drda Site (11MS32), Madison County, Illinois'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this