Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1987

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

Anthropology

Major Professor

Paul W. Parmalee

Committee Members

Walter E. Klippel, Jefferson Chapman

Abstract

Fort Southwest Point U0RE119), Tennessee, was a significant military post from 1792 until 1807. The Fort functioned in a variety of ways during its occupation, including serving as the headquarters for the Cherokee Indian Agency. An analysis of the faunal material recovered from excavations at the site (1984-1986) was completed in 1987. Data from the analysis provides insight into the pattern of faunal resource exploitation by the site's historical inhabitants. An effort was made throughout the study to determine whether the utilization of wild and domestic resources differed across the site.

The faunal data was then compared to those from the Tellico Blockhouse (Polhemus 1980). The Tellico Blockhouse, site of the government trade factory, was occupied during the same time period as Fort Southwest Point. Therefore, it was hoped the comparison would produce an even better understanding of faunal utilization at turn of the century military sites in Tennessee. Because of the differing functions of the sites, an effort was made to determine if distinctions in the assemblages might be related to garrison functions.

Of the 11,517 specimens recovered from historic context at Fort Southwest Point, 2469 were identifiable to 36 unequivocable taxa. Species identified included pig, cow, white-tailed deer, rabbit, chicken and turkey. No distinct pattern was found in the usage of wild versus domestic species at the site when related to the structures and their functions.

The comparison of the faunal data from the Tellico Blockhouse and Fort Southwest Point indicated only two small differences; neither considered to be the direct result of specific activities carried out at the two sites. Identified remains at the Fort demonstrated a greater use of pig over cow, whereas the reverse held true at Tellico. A slightly greater use of wild game species was also evident at Fort Southwest Point.

Overall, the pattern of faunal utilization at Fort Southwest Point demonstrates a reliance on domestic species in the diet, supplemented to a minor extent by wild game from the surrounding area.

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