Reevaluating the “Emergent Mississippian” in the American Bottom

The Emergent Mississippian period in the American Bottom was formally defined in the 1980s as the period between the pure Late Woodland Patrick phase and the Mississippian period. Subsequent excavations and analyses including radiocarbon date calibration have led researchers at the Illinois Transportation Archaeological Research Program to propose changing the name to the Terminal Late Woodland period. This paper will critically evaluate the terminology based on archaeological evidence and theoretical concepts including community, identity, and materiality.