brewerton-type pointsThe Late Archaic period within the temperate riverine valleys of the Northeast is viewed as a time of increasing population density, cultural diversity, and territorial development (Curtin 1996; Versaggi et al. 2001). The evidence suggests that the preceding Early and Middle Archaic periods were a time when groups probably made only sporadic forays into northeastern valleys for limited periods of time. However, the Late Archaic witnessed a fluorescence of seasonal and territorial land use. This land use was not confined only to productive valley floors, but covered entire landscapes within watersheds. The presence of a Brewerton projectile point places at least one of the Herrick Hollow sites within this time period.


woodland period potteryThe remaining Herrick Hollow sites with diagnostics date to the Woodland periods (1000 B.C.-A.D. 1400). These periods are traditionally defined by the extensive manufacture and use of decorated clay pottery, establishment of more permanent villages, and increased reliance on native plant species, culminating in the practice of maize, bean, and squash horticulture. This era is divided into Early, Middle, and Late periods. Within the Northeast, the Early Woodland is the least distinct in the Susquehanna and Upper Delaware Valleys. The sites’ very presence in an area thought to be almost devoid of Early Woodland sites presents a unique potential to modify existing models for this time period in the area.

During the Middle Woodland it appears that groups were exploiting a wider regional range by moving residential bases seasonally and then remaining sedentary for a greater period of time. While this would suggest an increase in logistical organization, the variety of site types expected within a highly logistical system are absent. For instance, the Upper Susquehanna data indicate that summer, multi-task foraging sites are rare, possibly suggesting that fissioning of residential bases into small groups did not occur (Versaggi 1996).

The Late Woodland period is characterized by the adoption of agriculture, based first on imported tropical cultigens, specifically maize and squash, then followed by another tropical cultigen, beans (Hart and Brumbach 2003). Associated with the adoption of agriculture is the development of relatively large villages occupied year round. In many
winter scene in the uplandsregards, the Late Woodland period is the ultimate in logistical organization in that villages are permanently tethered to one spot, usually adjacent to fertile farm fields. This increased the need for specialized work groups to range far beyond the village walls for needed resources. However, with few exceptions researchers have only recently started to focus on these ancillary sites associated with Late Woodland villages (Abel 2000; Hartgen 1989; Miroff 2002; Montag 1998). These studies have accessed new, rich dimensions of prehistoric land use and economic organization. The fact that many of these studies have uncovered Late Woodland camps in rugged upland locations further highlights the importance of these secondary sites for understanding the full Late Woodland system of land use and community organization.


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