Journal Articles by Brandon T Ritchison
Early Georgia, 2020
When the Sapelo Papers were published over 40 years ago, the first landscape-scale projects focus... more When the Sapelo Papers were published over 40 years ago, the first landscape-scale projects focusing on the Georgia Bight were newly completed and their impacts on the direction of future research in the region were beginning to
Advances in Archaeological Practice, 2022
The goal for many PhD students in archaeology is tenure-track employment. Students primarily rece... more The goal for many PhD students in archaeology is tenure-track employment. Students primarily receive their training by tenure-track or tenured professors, and they are often tacitly expected-or explicitly encouraged-to follow in the footsteps of their advisor. However, the career trajectories that current and recent PhD students follow may hold little resemblance to the ones experienced by their advisors. To understand these different paths and to provide information for current PhD students considering pursuing a career in academia, we surveyed 438 archaeologists holding tenured or tenure-track positions in the United States. The survey, recorded in 2019, posed a variety of questions regarding the personal experiences of individual professors. The results are binned by the decade in which the respondent graduated. Evident patterns are discussed in terms of change over time. The resulting portraits of academic pathways through the past five decades indicate that although broad commonalities exist in the qualifications of early career academics, there is no singular pathway to obtaining tenure-track employment. We highlight the commonalities revealed in our survey to provide a set of general qualifications that might provide a baseline set of skills and experiences for an archaeologist seeking a tenure-track job in the United States.
Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 2021
This report presents findings from recent systematic surveys and excavations at the site of Finle... more This report presents findings from recent systematic surveys and excavations at the site of Finley's Pond (9CH204) to evaluate craft production (e.g., shell beads) and settlement expansion on Ossabaw Island, Georgia, within the context of larger social, political, and economic changes that occurred along the Georgia coast over the last millennia. Shovel tests and excavation units were conducted at Finley's Pond as part of the University of Georgia's 2016 Field School. The spatial distribution and density of Woodland and Late Mississippian period Irene ceramics at Finley's Pond suggests settlement expansion and an increase in population size during the Mississippian period. The presence of beads in various forms of production, as well as raw materials and tools, such as whelk shells, abraders, and a microdrill, support the interpretation that Finley's Pond was a location of craft production, specifically shell beads. These data suggest that the economic pursuits of Indigenous communities on the Georgia Coast was far more varied than archaeologists once thought. Our report underscores the need for further research into how non-subsistence based economic pursuits articulated with the timing of settlement expansion and the shift from foraging to farming along the Georgia Coast.
PaleoAmerica, 2022
Archaeologists working in Mexico recently claimed evidence for pre-Last Glacial Maximum human occ... more Archaeologists working in Mexico recently claimed evidence for pre-Last Glacial Maximum human occupation in the Americas, based on lithic items excavated from Chiquihuite Cave, Zacatecas. Although they provide extensive array of ancillary studies of the cave’s chronostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental record, the data they present do not support their central argument, that these lithic items are anthropogenic and represent a unique lithic industry produced by early human occupants. They give limited consideration to the most plausible alternative explanation: that the assemblage is a product of natural processes of disintegration, roof fall, and mass movement of the cave fill, and thus the lithic materials are best explained as geofacts. We assess the evidence by considering the alternative hypotheses (1) that the observed phenomena are artifacts or (2) that they result from natural processes. We conclude that hypothesis 2 is more strongly supported and that Chiquihuite Cave does not represent evidence for the earliest Americans.
PaleoAmerica, 2021
Various chronologies of the earliest Native American occupations have been proposed with varying ... more Various chronologies of the earliest Native American occupations have been proposed with varying levels of empirical support and conceptual rigor, yet none is widely accepted. A recent survey of pre-Clovis dated sites (Becerra-Valdivia and Higham 2020) concludes a pre-Last Glacial Maximum (>26,500-19,000 cal yr BP) entry of humans in the Americas, in part based on recent work at Chiquihuite Cave, Mexico. We evaluate the evidence used to develop this inference. To provide clarity, we present three explicit dispersal models for the earliest human dispersals to the Americas: Strict Clovis-First (13,050 cal yr BP), Paleoindian (<16,000 cal yr BP), and Pre-Paleoindian (>16,000 cal yr BP, encompassing pre-LGM, preferred by Becerra-Valdivia and Higham (2020)), and we summarize the current genetic and archaeological evidence bearing on each. We regard all purported Pre-Paleoindian sites as equivocal and the Strict Clovis-First model to be equally unsupported at present. We conclude that current data strongly support the Paleoindian Dispersal model, with Native American ancestors expanding into the Americas sometime after 16,000 cal yr BP (and perhaps after 14,800 cal yr BP), consistent with well-dated archaeological sites and with genetic data throughout the western hemisphere. Models of the Americas' peopling that incorporate Chiquihuite or other claimed Pre-Paleoindian sites remain unsubstantiated.
Advances in Archaeological Practice, 2021
As the use of large-scale radiocarbon datasets becomes more common and applications of Bayesian c... more As the use of large-scale radiocarbon datasets becomes more common and applications of Bayesian chronological modeling become a standard aspect of archaeological practice, it is imperative that we grow a community of both effective users and consumers. Indeed, research proposals and publications now routinely employ Bayesian chronological modeling to estimate age ranges such as statistically informed starts, ends, and spans of archaeological phenomena. Although advances in interpretive techniques have been widely adopted, sampling strategies and determinations of appropriate sample sizes for radiocarbon data remain generally underdeveloped. As chronological models are only as robust as the information we feed into them, formal approaches to assessing the validity of model criteria and the appropriate number of radiocarbon dates deserve attention. In this article, through a series of commonly encountered scenarios, we present easy-to-follow instructions for running simulations that should be used to inform the design and construction of chronological models.
Radiocarbon, 2020
Population density is an important variable in the development of social complexity. Estimating p... more Population density is an important variable in the development of social complexity. Estimating population densities from the archaeological record requires combining estimates of population, area, and time. Archaeological population estimates tend to be reported as a maximum population derived from the total accumulation of discrete archaeological material types, usually ceramics or radiocarbon (14 C) dates. However, given the palimpsest nature of the archaeological record at recurrently occupied archaeological sites, these maximal, total estimates are, at best, a poor reflection of contemporaneous populations. I present a method for calculating average yearly population densities for occupations at a large, multicomponent site using a combination of distributional data and 60 14 C dates. By employing this method at other sites in the same region, modeling intra-regional population dynamics at fine time scales will be possible.
Quaternary International, 2020
The Georgia Coast of the eastern United States boasts some of the largest and spatially complex L... more The Georgia Coast of the eastern United States boasts some of the largest and spatially complex Late Archaic sites in North America, with the most famous of these being shell rings. The shell ring village phenomenon and its larger ceremonial landscapes did not, however, last throughout the Late Archaic. Climate shifts that led to local relative sea level change in the area at around 3800 cal. BP appears to have resulted in conditions that suppressed shellfish productivity and ultimately led to the uneven abandonment of shell ring sites. Our understanding of these changes along the Georgia Coast is limited by the fact that much of the research focuses exclusively on large shell midden sites. Investigations at several large terminal Late Archaic sites demonstrate continuity in the size of these occupations compared to earlier Late Archaic sites (i.e., shell rings), demonstrating a socio-ecological resiliency in these small-scale societies. We argue that, contrary to narratives of collapsing socio-ecological systems, the terminal Late Archaic was a time when displaced communities coalesced and forged new community bonds in the wake of a shifting resource base.
Science Advances, 2020
Victor D. Thompson, Torben Rick, Carey J. Garland, David Hurst Thomas, Karen Y. Smith, Sarah Berg... more Victor D. Thompson, Torben Rick, Carey J. Garland, David Hurst Thomas, Karen Y. Smith, Sarah Bergh, Matt Sanger, Bryan Tucker, Isabelle Lulewicz, Anna M. Semon, John Schalles, Christine Hladik, Clark Alexander, Brandon T. Ritchison
The eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is an important proxy for examining historical trajectories of coastal ecosystems. Measurement of ~40,000 oyster shells from archaeological sites along the Atlantic Coast of the United States provides a long-term record of oyster abundance and size. The data demonstrate increases in oyster size across time and a non-random pattern in their distributions across sites. We attribute this variation to processes related to Native American fishing rights and environmental variability. Mean oyster length is correlated with total oyster bed length within foraging radii (5 and 10 km) as mapped in 1889 and 1890. These data demonstrate the stability of oyster reefs despite different population densities and environmental shifts and have implications for oyster-reef restoration in an age of global climate change.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2018
Following the 14th century depopulation of the Savannah River Valley of modern Georgia and South ... more Following the 14th century depopulation of the Savannah River Valley of modern Georgia and South Carolina, the neighboring coastal region of Georgia exhibited significant changes in settlement. In the absence of other demographic proxies, Georgia state site file data show that there was a greater accumulation of archaeological components during the 14th century than in any other preceding period. Exploratory Bayesian modeling of settlement practices using a compiled set of legacy radiocarbon dates demonstrates that much of this expansion of settlement happened concomitant with the depopulation of the Savannah River Valley.
Southeastern Archaeology, 2018
This report presents an exploratory Bayesian modeling program of a recently compiled radiocarbon ... more This report presents an exploratory Bayesian modeling program of a recently compiled radiocarbon database for the Georgia Coast. Through use of the region’s well-established ceramic sequence as the a priori modeling framework, a refined temporal sequence for the region is presented. The model demonstrates gaps in the radiocarbon record between the Late Archaic and Refuge periods, the Deptford and Wilmington periods, and the Wilmington and St. Catherines periods. The model also suggests that the Savannah period wholly subsumes the St. Catherines period. Although biases exist based on the nature of the radiocarbon database utilized, the model demonstrates the utility of reinvestigating regional chronological sequences as well as the use of legacy radiocarbon data.
Ethnohistory, 2019
In honor of Ethnohistory's sixtieth anniversary, this paper compiles data on the journal and anal... more In honor of Ethnohistory's sixtieth anniversary, this paper compiles data on the journal and analyzes patterns and trends throughout the publication. We divided observations into four categories: (1) authorship of each article, particularly focusing on gender in authorship and coauthorship, (2) the region represented in each article, (3) the topic, and (4) data sources used by the author(s). We then analyzed each category in representative ten-year intervals from 1954 to 2013. Such data reveals trends that mirror intellectual, scholarly, and demographic changes in the social sciences overall. Female authorship, for example, steadily increases until the most recent decade, while coauthorship shows steady growth in raw numbers, but still represents a varying percentage with each decade. The North American region composes the majority of regional representation since the beginning, but Latin American regional representation as well as that outside of the Americas, shows significant increases over time. Meanwhile, fluctuating topics and data sources demonstrate diversification and expanding breadth within Ethnohistory.
In this study, we present the results of a comprehensive, landscape-scale remote sensing project ... more In this study, we present the results of a comprehensive, landscape-scale remote sensing project at Santa Elena on Parris Island, South Carolina. Substantial occupation at the site extends for over 4000 years and has resulted in a complex array of features dating to different time periods. In addition, there is a 40-year history of archaeological research at the site that includes a large-scale systematic shovel test survey, large block excavations, and scattered test units. Also, modern use of the site included significant alterations to the subsurface deposits. Our goals for this present work are threefold: (1) to explicitly present a logical approach to examine sites with long-term occupations; (2) to examine changes in land use at Santa Elena and its implications for human occupation of this persistent place; and (3) to use the remote sensing program and past archaeological research to make substantive suggestions regarding future research, conservation, and management of the site. Our research provides important insight into the distribution of cultural features at this National Historic Landmark. While the majority of archaeological research at the site has focused on the Spanish period, our work suggests a complex and vast array of archaeological features that can provide insight into over 4000 years of history in the region. At a gross level, we have identified possible Late Archaic structures, Woodland houses and features, Late Prehistoric and early Historic council houses, and a suite of features related to the Spanish occupation which builds on our previous research at the site. In addition to documenting possible cultural features at the site, our work illustrates the value of multiple remote sensing techniques used in conjunction with close-interval shovel test data.
In this study, we present the results of a comprehensive, landscape-scale remote sensing project ... more In this study, we present the results of a comprehensive, landscape-scale remote sensing project at Santa Elena on Parris Island, South Carolina. Substantial occupation at the site extends for over 4000 years and has resulted in a complex array of features dating to different time periods. In addition, there is a 40-year history of archaeological research at the site that includes a large-scale systematic shovel test survey, large block excavations, and scattered test units. Also, modern use of the site included significant alterations to the subsurface deposits. Our goals for this present work are threefold: (1) to explicitly present a logical approach to examine sites with long-term occupations; (2) to examine changes in land use at Santa Elena and its implications for human occupation of this persistent place; and (3) to use the remote sensing program and past archaeological research to make substantive suggestions regarding future research, conservation, and management of the site. Our research provides important insight into the distribution of cultural features at this National Historic Landmark. While the majority of archaeological research at the site has focused on the Spanish period, our work suggests a complex and vast array of archaeological features that can provide insight into over 4000 years of history in the region. At a gross level, we have identified possible Late Archaic structures, Woodland houses and features, Late Prehistoric and early Historic council houses, and a suite of features related to the Spanish occupation which builds on our previous research at the site. In addition to documenting possible cultural features at the site, our work illustrates the value of multiple remote sensing techniques used in conjunction with close-interval shovel test data.
Florida. We suggest that such artifacts, often interpreted as fishing gear, instead were items of... more Florida. We suggest that such artifacts, often interpreted as fishing gear, instead were items of personal adornment and magic, and thus important in community public rituals and ceremonies. As such, they serve as useful indicators of regional and macro-regional exchanges among varying communities. By tracking the different styles and material types found at sites in Florida through a typological and network analysis, we argue that certain sites, such as Crystal River, played a larger role in connecting subregions in Florida, and may have served as cultural brokers across the macro-region due to their connections to Hopewell sites throughout the Eastern Woodlands. Furthermore, it appears that such connections were limited in time and given the prominence of plummets buried with certain individuals, we suggest that specific places and persons were entwined with some of these larger scale processes. Fig. 2. The Crystal River site (9CI1) map, showing its layout and architecture.
Isotopic evidence from animal bones deposited in urban contexts offers a landscape perspective in... more Isotopic evidence from animal bones deposited in urban contexts offers a landscape perspective into urban life,
hinting at where animals lived before reaching their final resting place in the city. Here, we use stable carbon
and nitrogen isotope evidence from cattle (Bos taurus) bones excavated from commercial and residential sites
within historic Charleston, South Carolina, to evaluate whether markets pooled or segregated access to beef
cattle drawn into the urban economy from the broader landscape. Results indicate that stable isotope values of
cattle are varied, suggesting a broad catchment area, and differ significantly among site contexts, offering preliminary
evidence regarding the roles markets played in integrating the surrounding landscape through market
exchange.
The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, Jan 1, 2010
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Journal Articles by Brandon T Ritchison
The eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is an important proxy for examining historical trajectories of coastal ecosystems. Measurement of ~40,000 oyster shells from archaeological sites along the Atlantic Coast of the United States provides a long-term record of oyster abundance and size. The data demonstrate increases in oyster size across time and a non-random pattern in their distributions across sites. We attribute this variation to processes related to Native American fishing rights and environmental variability. Mean oyster length is correlated with total oyster bed length within foraging radii (5 and 10 km) as mapped in 1889 and 1890. These data demonstrate the stability of oyster reefs despite different population densities and environmental shifts and have implications for oyster-reef restoration in an age of global climate change.
hinting at where animals lived before reaching their final resting place in the city. Here, we use stable carbon
and nitrogen isotope evidence from cattle (Bos taurus) bones excavated from commercial and residential sites
within historic Charleston, South Carolina, to evaluate whether markets pooled or segregated access to beef
cattle drawn into the urban economy from the broader landscape. Results indicate that stable isotope values of
cattle are varied, suggesting a broad catchment area, and differ significantly among site contexts, offering preliminary
evidence regarding the roles markets played in integrating the surrounding landscape through market
exchange.
The eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is an important proxy for examining historical trajectories of coastal ecosystems. Measurement of ~40,000 oyster shells from archaeological sites along the Atlantic Coast of the United States provides a long-term record of oyster abundance and size. The data demonstrate increases in oyster size across time and a non-random pattern in their distributions across sites. We attribute this variation to processes related to Native American fishing rights and environmental variability. Mean oyster length is correlated with total oyster bed length within foraging radii (5 and 10 km) as mapped in 1889 and 1890. These data demonstrate the stability of oyster reefs despite different population densities and environmental shifts and have implications for oyster-reef restoration in an age of global climate change.
hinting at where animals lived before reaching their final resting place in the city. Here, we use stable carbon
and nitrogen isotope evidence from cattle (Bos taurus) bones excavated from commercial and residential sites
within historic Charleston, South Carolina, to evaluate whether markets pooled or segregated access to beef
cattle drawn into the urban economy from the broader landscape. Results indicate that stable isotope values of
cattle are varied, suggesting a broad catchment area, and differ significantly among site contexts, offering preliminary
evidence regarding the roles markets played in integrating the surrounding landscape through market
exchange.