List of Figures . . v List of Tables . . viii Foreword . . ix Acknowledgments . . xi 1 Introduction . . 1 Theoretical Background: The Study of Interactions in Anthropology and Archaeology . . 2 History of the Early Woodland and Meadowood Concepts . . 7 Contrasting Interpretations of the Meadowood Interaction Sphere . . 8 Methodology: Evaluating Interaction Sphere Models in Archaeology . . 10 Description of Sites Analyzed . . 13 2 The Material Manifestations of the Meadowood Interaction Sphere . . 17 Flaked Stone Artifacts . . 17 Polished Stone Artifacts . . 39 Ground Stone Artifacts . . 49 Unmodified Stones and Minerals . . 53 Antler and Bone Artifacts . . 55 Shell and Native Copper Artifacts . . 67 Ceramic Artifacts . . 67 Discussion . . 69 3 Distribution of Meadowood Sites and Diagnostics in the Northeast . . 73 Lakes Ontario/Erie Lowlands and Northern Glaciated Allegheny Plateau . . 74 St. Lawrence/Champlain Lowlands and Eastern Townships . . 78 Hudson/Mohawk/Susquehanna Lowlands . . 82 Atlantic Coastal Plain . . 84 Maine-Maritime Province . . 86 Western Great Lakes . . 89 Canadian Shield . . 91 Discussion . . 91 4 Environmental and Cultural Contexts of Meadowood Material Manifestations . . 103 Finished Products . . 104 Raw Materials . . 112 Discussion . . 124 5 Environmental Productivity and Meadowood Communities . . 127 Subsistence Strategies . . 128 Caches and the Question of Specialization . . 147 Meadowood Settlement Patterns and Population Density . . 148 Burial Practices and Funerary Rituals . . 152 Discussion . . 164 6 Discussion and Conclusions . . 169 Material Manifestations . . 170 Spatial Distribution of Sites and Exotic Items . . 172 Meadowood Subsistence and Social Organization . . 173 Conclusion . . 175 Appendix A: Inventory of Meadowood Components/Diagnostics . . 177 References Cited . . 189