Mary L Simon
Biographic Data
| ID | 4053366 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Mary L Simon |
| GIVEN NAMES | Mary L |
| FAMILY NAME | Simon |
| SIGNATURE | SIMON M L |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6487-9147 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 10 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 61 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 10 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2005 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Methodological Challenges to Tracking Zea mays (Maize) Historical Pathways Through Macrobotanical, Microbotanical, and Stable Isotope Evidence
Interpreting Isotopic and Macrobotanical Evidence for Early Maize in the Eastern Woodlands
In the following response to Hart and colleagues (2021) we clarify our interpretations of the archaeological record for maize use from western Illinois. The robust archaeological record, newly obtained AMS dates, and evaluations of enamel apatite combine to support a late date for maize cultivation in this region. We reiterate that maize histories in the Eastern Woodlands may vary among different regions
New Dates and Carbon Isotope Assays of Purported Middle Woodland Maize from the Icehouse Bottom and Edwin Harness Sites
Accelerated mass spectrometry (AMS) and carbon isotope analyses provide strong tandem methodologies used by archaeologists to evaluate and reevaluate the histories of maize use in the Midwest. In this article, we present newly obtained AMS dates and carbon isotope assays of alleged maize samples from the Icehouse Bottom (40MR23) and Edwin Harness sites (22RO33). Based on original studies, samples were thought to date to the Middle Woodland period…
Isotopic Confirmation of the Timing and Intensity of Maize Consumption in Greater Cahokia
The history of maize (Zea mays L.) in the eastern Woodlands remains an important study topic. As currently understood, these histories appear to vary regionally and include scenarios positing an early introduction and an increase in use over hundreds of, if not a thousand, years. In this article, we address the history of maize in the American Bottom region of Illinois and its importance in the development of regional Mississippian societies, spe…
Magic Plants and Mississippian Ritual
Reevaluating the Evidence for Middle Woodland Maize From the Holding Site
Maize fragments recovered from the Middle Woodland Holding site (11MS118) in the American Bottom have for several decades been recognized as the oldest directly dated maize east of the Mississippi River. A reevaluation of maize samples from this site indicates that finding was in error. Carbon isotope assessment (δ13C ratios) run on the original samples dated in 1994 indicated that they were not maize. Six additional samples originally identified…
Evidence for variability among squash seeds from the Hoxie site (11CK4), Illinois
Plants and Technology
With a single exception, the paleoethnobotany papers presented as a group in this issue of the MCJA emerged from a symposium, Plants and Technology/' organized by Mary Simon and Katie Parker as part of the 2006 Midwest Archaeological Conference in Champaign-Urbana. In considering possible themes for the symposium, we concluded that we would most like to hear about new or novel approaches to archaeobotanical research, as well as new discoveries ab…
An Analysis of Textile Fragments from the Janey B. Goode Site
Excavations at the Janey B.Goode site (11S1232), located in the American Bottom region of Illinois, yielded carbonized textile remains from two pit features dating to the Terminal Late Woodland period and from one pit feature dating to the Mississippian period. The remains comprise both twisted or braided cordage pieces and actual twined textile fragments ranging in size from 2×3 cm to over 9×9 cm. Four different twining techniques are represente…
Marginal Horticulturalists or Maize Agriculturalists? Archaeobotanical, Paleopathological, and Isotopic Evidence Relating to Langford Tradition Maize Consumption
Langford Tradition horticulture was long viewed as representing a marginalized form of Middle Mississippian agriculture resulting from an adaptation to the less fertile landscapes and marginal climatic conditions of northern Illinois. This adaptation was characterized as involving semi-sedentary maize horticulture combined with an intensive use of wild game and plants. Until recently direct evidence for reconstructing Langford diet and subsistenc…
Isotopic Confirmation of the Timing and Intensity of Maize Consumption in Greater Cahokia
The history of maize (Zea mays L.) in the eastern Woodlands remains an important study topic. As currently understood, these histories appear to vary regionally and include scenarios positing an early introduction and an increase in use over hundreds of, if not a thousand, years. In this article, we address the history of maize in the American Bottom region of Illinois and its importance in the development of regional Mississippian societies, spe…
Reevaluating the Evidence for Middle Woodland Maize From the Holding Site
Maize fragments recovered from the Middle Woodland Holding site (11MS118) in the American Bottom have for several decades been recognized as the oldest directly dated maize east of the Mississippi River. A reevaluation of maize samples from this site indicates that finding was in error. Carbon isotope assessment (δ13C ratios) run on the original samples dated in 1994 indicated that they were not maize. Six additional samples originally identified…
Marginal Horticulturalists or Maize Agriculturalists? Archaeobotanical, Paleopathological, and Isotopic Evidence Relating to Langford Tradition Maize Consumption
Langford Tradition horticulture was long viewed as representing a marginalized form of Middle Mississippian agriculture resulting from an adaptation to the less fertile landscapes and marginal climatic conditions of northern Illinois. This adaptation was characterized as involving semi-sedentary maize horticulture combined with an intensive use of wild game and plants. Until recently direct evidence for reconstructing Langford diet and subsistenc…
Evidence for variability among squash seeds from the Hoxie site (11CK4), Illinois
New Dates and Carbon Isotope Assays of Purported Middle Woodland Maize from the Icehouse Bottom and Edwin Harness Sites
Accelerated mass spectrometry (AMS) and carbon isotope analyses provide strong tandem methodologies used by archaeologists to evaluate and reevaluate the histories of maize use in the Midwest. In this article, we present newly obtained AMS dates and carbon isotope assays of alleged maize samples from the Icehouse Bottom (40MR23) and Edwin Harness sites (22RO33). Based on original studies, samples were thought to date to the Middle Woodland period…
Interpreting Isotopic and Macrobotanical Evidence for Early Maize in the Eastern Woodlands
In the following response to Hart and colleagues (2021) we clarify our interpretations of the archaeological record for maize use from western Illinois. The robust archaeological record, newly obtained AMS dates, and evaluations of enamel apatite combine to support a late date for maize cultivation in this region. We reiterate that maize histories in the Eastern Woodlands may vary among different regions
An Analysis of Textile Fragments from the Janey B. Goode Site
Excavations at the Janey B.Goode site (11S1232), located in the American Bottom region of Illinois, yielded carbonized textile remains from two pit features dating to the Terminal Late Woodland period and from one pit feature dating to the Mississippian period. The remains comprise both twisted or braided cordage pieces and actual twined textile fragments ranging in size from 2×3 cm to over 9×9 cm. Four different twining techniques are represente…
Marginal Horticulturalists or Maize Agriculturalists? Archaeobotanical, Paleopathological, and Isotopic Evidence Relating to Langford Tradition Maize Consumption
Langford Tradition horticulture was long viewed as representing a marginalized form of Middle Mississippian agriculture resulting from an adaptation to the less fertile landscapes and marginal climatic conditions of northern Illinois. This adaptation was characterized as involving semi-sedentary maize horticulture combined with an intensive use of wild game and plants. Until recently direct evidence for reconstructing Langford diet and subsistenc…
Plants and Technology
With a single exception, the paleoethnobotany papers presented as a group in this issue of the MCJA emerged from a symposium, Plants and Technology/' organized by Mary Simon and Katie Parker as part of the 2006 Midwest Archaeological Conference in Champaign-Urbana. In considering possible themes for the symposium, we concluded that we would most like to hear about new or novel approaches to archaeobotanical research, as well as new discoveries ab…
An Analysis of Textile Fragments from the Janey B. Goode Site
Excavations at the Janey B.Goode site (11S1232), located in the American Bottom region of Illinois, yielded carbonized textile remains from two pit features dating to the Terminal Late Woodland period and from one pit feature dating to the Mississippian period. The remains comprise both twisted or braided cordage pieces and actual twined textile fragments ranging in size from 2×3 cm to over 9×9 cm. Four different twining techniques are represente…
Evidence for variability among squash seeds from the Hoxie site (11CK4), Illinois
Reevaluating the Evidence for Middle Woodland Maize From the Holding Site
Maize fragments recovered from the Middle Woodland Holding site (11MS118) in the American Bottom have for several decades been recognized as the oldest directly dated maize east of the Mississippi River. A reevaluation of maize samples from this site indicates that finding was in error. Carbon isotope assessment (δ13C ratios) run on the original samples dated in 1994 indicated that they were not maize. Six additional samples originally identified…
Magic Plants and Mississippian Ritual
Isotopic Confirmation of the Timing and Intensity of Maize Consumption in Greater Cahokia
The history of maize (Zea mays L.) in the eastern Woodlands remains an important study topic. As currently understood, these histories appear to vary regionally and include scenarios positing an early introduction and an increase in use over hundreds of, if not a thousand, years. In this article, we address the history of maize in the American Bottom region of Illinois and its importance in the development of regional Mississippian societies, spe…
Interpreting Isotopic and Macrobotanical Evidence for Early Maize in the Eastern Woodlands
In the following response to Hart and colleagues (2021) we clarify our interpretations of the archaeological record for maize use from western Illinois. The robust archaeological record, newly obtained AMS dates, and evaluations of enamel apatite combine to support a late date for maize cultivation in this region. We reiterate that maize histories in the Eastern Woodlands may vary among different regions
New Dates and Carbon Isotope Assays of Purported Middle Woodland Maize from the Icehouse Bottom and Edwin Harness Sites
Accelerated mass spectrometry (AMS) and carbon isotope analyses provide strong tandem methodologies used by archaeologists to evaluate and reevaluate the histories of maize use in the Midwest. In this article, we present newly obtained AMS dates and carbon isotope assays of alleged maize samples from the Icehouse Bottom (40MR23) and Edwin Harness sites (22RO33). Based on original studies, samples were thought to date to the Middle Woodland period…
Methodological Challenges to Tracking Zea mays (Maize) Historical Pathways Through Macrobotanical, Microbotanical, and Stable Isotope Evidence
Archaeology (10 works) · Geography (10 works) · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies (8 works) · Biology (7 works) · Ecology (6 works) · Isotope Analysis in Ecology (6 works) · Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies (6 works) · Woodland (5 works) · Ecology (4 works) · History (4 works)