Fort Walton Mississippian Beginnings in the Apalachicola–Lower Chattahoochee River Valley of Northwest Florida, Southwest Georgia, and Southeast Alabama

In the Apalachicola-lower Chattahoochee River valley, new data reaffirm a relatively seamless Fort Walton emergence from resident late Weeden Island groups circa A.D.900-1000 that was characterized by blending external Mississippian influences with local traditions. Check-stamped and other Woodland ceramics continued as Mississippian forms were adopted, but in non-shell-tempered wares. Maize was grown inland but agriculture may not have developed along the coast. Platform mounds were built and Woodland mound centers were reoccupied. Taken together, these data suggest that Fort Walton beginnings here involved negotiations between maintaining local identity and incorporating outside Mississippian practices.

Archaeology · Geography · River valley · Woodland · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Archaeology and Natural History · Ecology · Forestry · Historical and Cultural Archaeology Studies