Oliver Phase
Encyclopedia
The Oliver Phase is the name for a Late Woodland
Native American
culture that flourished from 1200 and 1450 CE along the east and west forks of the White River
in central and southern Indiana
. The Oliver Phase is of the Western Basin Tradition which includes the Springwells Phase, the Younge Phase, and the Riviere au Vase Phase. Oliver people were village dwelling farmers with a heavy reliance on maize
, very similar to other Late Woodland peoples in the area the Oneota
, Fort Ancient
, and Monongahela cultures. The name was originally coined by archaeologist James B. Griffin
in 1946 to describe a Late Woodland ceramic complex centered in Hamilton
and Marion
counties in the valley of the West Fork of the White River first extensively studied at the Bowen site
.
s, and earthen moats found in the Whittlesey Tradition, although they also lived in smaller farmsteads. Although their sites began in central Indiana, over the years they spread to the southeast. The Clampitt Site (12-Lr-329) was excavated in the summer of 1992. It was a settlement in the East Fork White River Valley, occupied by a late prehistoric to protohistoric agricultural population. Most of the settlements in this area were nucleated villages and hunting camps. The larger villages such as Clampitt (in Lawrence County
) and Bowen Site
s(in Marion County
) were roughly one to two acres in size. They intentionally located their sites on alluvial floodplains, usually a kilometer or so from tributary streams of the river, to take advantage of the richer soils there. The Bowen Site (12 MA 61) was located on the West Fork of the White River, a little to the northeast of Indianapolis
, and was occupied at least twice by two similar but slightly different cultures.
and Fort Ancient cultures.
Woodland period
The Woodland period of North American pre-Columbian cultures was from roughly 1000 BCE to 1000 CE in the eastern part of North America. The term "Woodland Period" was introduced in the 1930s as a generic header for prehistoric sites falling between the Archaic hunter-gatherers and the...
Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
culture that flourished from 1200 and 1450 CE along the east and west forks of the White River
White River (Indiana)
The White River is a two-forked river that flows through central and southern Indiana and is the main tributary to the Wabash River. Via the west fork, considered to be the main stem of the river by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the White River is long.-West Fork:The West Fork, long, is...
in central and southern Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. The Oliver Phase is of the Western Basin Tradition which includes the Springwells Phase, the Younge Phase, and the Riviere au Vase Phase. Oliver people were village dwelling farmers with a heavy reliance on maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, very similar to other Late Woodland peoples in the area the Oneota
Oneota
Oneota is a designation archaeologists use to refer to a cultural complex that existed in the eastern plains and Great Lakes area of what is now the United States from around AD 900 to around 1650 or 1700. The culture is believed to have transitioned into various Macro-Siouan cultures of the...
, Fort Ancient
Fort Ancient
Fort Ancient is a name for a Native American culture that flourished from 1000-1750 CE among a people who predominantly inhabited land along the Ohio River in areas of modern-day Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, Southeastern Indiana and Western West Virginia. They were a maize based agricultural...
, and Monongahela cultures. The name was originally coined by archaeologist James B. Griffin
James Bennett Griffin
James Bennett Griffin was an American archaeologist. He is regarded as one of the most influential archaeologists in North America in the 20th century.-Personal life:...
in 1946 to describe a Late Woodland ceramic complex centered in Hamilton
Hamilton County, Indiana
Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Census 2010 recorded a population of 274,569. The county seat is Noblesville....
and Marion
Marion County, Indiana
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Census 2010 recorded a population of 903,393, making it the largest county in the state and 55th most populated county in the country, greater than the population of six states. The county seat is Indianapolis, the state capital and...
counties in the valley of the West Fork of the White River first extensively studied at the Bowen site
Bowen site
The Bowen site is the most prominent of several late Woodland Period settlements located in modern Indiana along the White River in Marion County. It is sited on a glacial out-wash terrace. The site was extensively studied and excavated beginning in 1959 when it was discovered by gravel miners...
.
Villages
Their villages, like their neighbors to the southeast the Fort Ancient culture, were usually circular with wooden palisadePalisade
A palisade is a steel or wooden fence or wall of variable height, usually used as a defensive structure.- Typical construction :Typical construction consisted of small or mid sized tree trunks aligned vertically, with no spacing in between. The trunks were sharpened or pointed at the top, and were...
s, and earthen moats found in the Whittlesey Tradition, although they also lived in smaller farmsteads. Although their sites began in central Indiana, over the years they spread to the southeast. The Clampitt Site (12-Lr-329) was excavated in the summer of 1992. It was a settlement in the East Fork White River Valley, occupied by a late prehistoric to protohistoric agricultural population. Most of the settlements in this area were nucleated villages and hunting camps. The larger villages such as Clampitt (in Lawrence County
Lawrence County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 45,922 people, 18,535 households, and 13,141 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 20,560 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
) and Bowen Site
Bowen site
The Bowen site is the most prominent of several late Woodland Period settlements located in modern Indiana along the White River in Marion County. It is sited on a glacial out-wash terrace. The site was extensively studied and excavated beginning in 1959 when it was discovered by gravel miners...
s(in Marion County
Marion County, Indiana
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Census 2010 recorded a population of 903,393, making it the largest county in the state and 55th most populated county in the country, greater than the population of six states. The county seat is Indianapolis, the state capital and...
) were roughly one to two acres in size. They intentionally located their sites on alluvial floodplains, usually a kilometer or so from tributary streams of the river, to take advantage of the richer soils there. The Bowen Site (12 MA 61) was located on the West Fork of the White River, a little to the northeast of Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, and was occupied at least twice by two similar but slightly different cultures.
Pottery
Pottery styles were originally used to determine the existence of the Oliver Phase. Most items were globular, grit-tempered jars that showed a mixture of traits associated with both the Great Lakes Late Woodland OneotaOneota
Oneota is a designation archaeologists use to refer to a cultural complex that existed in the eastern plains and Great Lakes area of what is now the United States from around AD 900 to around 1650 or 1700. The culture is believed to have transitioned into various Macro-Siouan cultures of the...
and Fort Ancient cultures.
See also
- Fort Ancient culture
- Caborn-Welborn culture
- Monongahela culture
- OneotaOneotaOneota is a designation archaeologists use to refer to a cultural complex that existed in the eastern plains and Great Lakes area of what is now the United States from around AD 900 to around 1650 or 1700. The culture is believed to have transitioned into various Macro-Siouan cultures of the...