Radiocarbon re-dating of contact-era Iroquoian history in northeastern North America

Author(s)

Sturt W. Manning, Jennifer Birch, Megan A. Conger, Michael W. Dee, Carol Griggs, Carla S. Hadden, Alan G. Hogg, Christopher Bronk Ramsey, Samantha Sanft, Peter Steier, Eva M. Wild

Abstract

A time frame for late Iroquoian prehistory is firmly established on the basis of the presence/absence of European trade goods and other archeological indicators. However, independent dating evidence is lacking. We use 86 radiocarbon measurements to test and (re) define existing chronological understanding. Warminster, often associated with Cahiague visited by S. de Champlain in 1615-1616 CE, yields a compatible radiocarbon-based age. However, a well-known late prehistoric site sequence in southern Ontario, Draper-Spang-Mantle, usually dated similar to 1450-1550, yields much later radiocarbon-based dates of similar to 1530-1615. The revised time frame dramatically rewrites 16th-century contact-era history in this region. Key processes of violent conflict, community coalescence, and the introduction of European goods all happened much later and more rapidly than previously assumed. Our results suggest the need to reconsider current understandings of contact-era dynamics across northeastern North America.

Organisation(s)

Isotope Physics

External organisation(s)

Cornell University, University of Waikato, University of Georgia, University of Groningen, University of Oxford

Journal

Science Advances

Volume

4

No. of pages

10

ISSN

2375-2548

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aav0280

Publication date

12-2018

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

103014 Nuclear physics, 101019 Stochastics

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Portal url

https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/radiocarbon-redating-of-contactera-iroquoian-history-in-northeastern-north-america(ec23f7b9-da8d-41de-bb65-ee233b657df3).html