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Iowa State University

A zooarchaeological analysis of the Skadeland site (13CK402): a Mill Creek culture occupation in northwest Iowa.

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>The late prehistoric entity of the Mill Creek cultures underwent extensive research during the 1960s and 1970s to address the effects of climate change on Mill Creek populations in northwest Iowa. Through this research numerous sites have been excavated including the currently unanalyzed site of Skadeland, which is the focus of my research. Previous Mill Creek faunal analyses have examined faunal remains to record abundance and focused on the exploitation of bison as a food resource, which neglects the numerous small mammals, avian and aquatic resources found at these sites. Therefore, the objective of my research is to address Mill Creek people's exploitation of all faunal resources at the Skadeland site (13CK402) using a taphonomically informed approach to zooarchaeological analysis. This method provides new details about late prehistoric faunal exploitation and creates a data set that can be used to draw comparisons with other late prehistoric faunal assemblages. To determine the economic and symbolic value of faunal resources, my research examines ethnographic and ethno-historic records of animal exploitation on the northern plains for evidence of cultural and subsistence values placed on species.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts
Level thesis:degree_level
thesis
Department dc:contributor.department
Anthropology Program
Year dc:date.issued
2010

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Powell, Hilary
Advisors dc:contributor.advisor
  • Kaila E. Folinsbee
  • Margaret S. Mook

Rights

Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Identifier
archive/lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/11566/
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dr.lib.iastate.edu:20.500.12876/25772

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Iowa State University
Base URL
dr.lib.iastate.edu/server/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Powell, Hilary. A zooarchaeological analysis of the Skadeland site (13CK402): a Mill Creek culture occupation in northwest Iowa.. thesis thesis, 2010. https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/handle/20.500.12876/25772