Conference Presentations by Charity Moore Norton
West Virginia Archeological Society Annual Meeting, 2018
Rock piles and other rock features are a prevalent phenomena throughout West Virginia. Due to th... more Rock piles and other rock features are a prevalent phenomena throughout West Virginia. Due to their ambiguous, often amorphous nature, rock features are difficult to identify, yet alone interpret for age, function, and significance. This problem has faced archaeologists since at least the mid-twentieth century, yet no comprehensive research has been undertaken within the state. The author proposes a holistic, programmatic approach to rock features, informed by indigenous knowledge and archaeological theory concepts like Tilley's "phenomenology of landscape" and Ingold's "dwelling perspective." In order to understand how past peoples interacted with their landscapes through the placement of rock features and the material affordances of stone, archaeologists must document the environmental settings of ceremonial stone landscapes. In West Virginia, sites like the Bear Knob Rock Piles (46-UP-342) are primarily identified in upland settings, often in association with natural features in the landscape.
The "stone mound problem" noted in 1960 by archaeologist James Kellar still persists, with these ... more The "stone mound problem" noted in 1960 by archaeologist James Kellar still persists, with these features still often ignored, misrepresented, or misunderstood by the professionals who should be responsible for their study and protection. As one part of the holistic, programmatic approach previously proposed by the authors and other researchers, the environmental settings of ceremonial stone landscapes must be documented. Throughout the northeastern United States, stone features are primarily identified in upland settings, often in association with natural features in the landscape. Sites across West Virginia, such as the authors' Bear Knob Rock Piles (46UP342) or the infamous Mount Carbon site (46FA1), are no exception. Although recognizing patterns in stone feature distribution is important, archaeologists must not stop at a two-dimensional, "plan map" way of understanding these landscapes. Instead, we can learn to more thoroughly document and interpret ceremonial stone landscapes by engaging with their three-dimensional settings, which is particularly important in situations with no indigenous knowledge or involvement. This can be better accomplished by drawing on archaeological concepts like Tilley's "phenomenology of landscape" and Ingold's "dwelling perspective."
Rock piles are some of the most ambiguous features encountered in cultural resource management, e... more Rock piles are some of the most ambiguous features encountered in cultural resource management, encompassing diverse origins and functions (e.g. field clearance cairns, byproducts of road construction, and Native American burials or markers). A single pile can appear to be consistent with multiple interpretations and each interpretation carries implications for how the rock pile is then recorded (or not recorded) and evaluated against the National Register of Historic Places criteria. Drawing on recent fieldwork and case studies from the Upper Ohio River Valley, this paper will explore historical sources, archaeological techniques, and tools used to examine rock piles and will call for the adoption of similar best practices and guidelines at federal and state levels. With a comprehensive, programmatic approach, we can expand our understanding of the ways people augment and interact with landscape through the construction of rock piles and the material affordances of stone.
Papers by Charity Moore Norton
Rock piles are some of the most ambiguous features encountered in the Upper Ohio Valley, encompas... more Rock piles are some of the most ambiguous features encountered in the Upper Ohio Valley, encompassing diverse origins and functions. A single pile can appear to be consistent with multiple interpretations and each interpretation carries implications for how the rock pile is then recorded (or not recorded) and evaluated against the National Register of Historic Places criteria. Building on recent fieldwork at the Bear Knob Rock Piles (46UP342), this article explores historical sources, regional case studies, and archaeological methods that can be used to examine rock features, and calls for the adoption of similar best practices and guidelines at the federal and state levels. Only through a comprehensive, programmatic approach, informed by indigenous knowledge, can archaeologists overcome the ambiguity of rock piles and expand their understanding of the ways people augment and interact with the landscape through the construction of rock features and the material affordances of stone.
Books by Charity Moore Norton
The "stone mound problem" noted in 1960 by archaeologist James Kellar still persists, with these ... more The "stone mound problem" noted in 1960 by archaeologist James Kellar still persists, with these features often ignored, misrepresented, or misunderstood by the professionals who should be responsible for their study and protection. As one part of the holistic, programmatic approach previously proposed by the authors and other researchers, the environmental settings of ceremonial stone landscapes must be documented. Throughout the northeastern United States, stone features are primarily identified in upland settings, often in association with natural features in the landscape. Sites across West Virginia, such as the Bear Knob Rock Piles (46UP342) and Lynncamp Rock Feature Site (46RT161) identified by the authors or the infamous Mount Carbon site (46FA1), are no exception. Although recognizing patterns in stone feature distribution is important, archaeologists must not stop at a two-dimensional, "plan map" way of understanding these landscapes. Instead, we can learn to more thoroughly document and interpret ceremonial stone landscapes by engaging with their three-dimensional settings, which is particularly important in situations with no indigenous knowledge or involvement. This can be better accomplished by drawing on archaeological concepts like Tilley's "phenomenology of landscape" and Ingold's "dwelling perspective."
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Conference Presentations by Charity Moore Norton
Papers by Charity Moore Norton
Books by Charity Moore Norton