Textile Evidence for Ohio Hopewell Burial Practices

Abstract

Charred textile remains from Ohio Hopewellian sites are likely to have been associated with the cremation rituals practiced at these sites. Review of the archeologists' reports and examination of the textile fragments from Harness, Hopewell, Seip, and Tremper Mounds in southern Ohio provide evidence for scenarios of how the cremations could have been conducted. The Burial Practices Framework diagrams possibilities for treatment and handling of the corpse as well as of textiles utilized at various points in the cremation and burial process. Evidence of cremation is a characteristic feature in Ohio Hopewellian mound sites (Mills 1907, 1909, 1916; Shetrone 1926; Shetrone and Greenman 1931; WiIloughby 1938; Greber 1983; Greber and Ruhl 1989). Not only have burned bone and charred artifacts been recovered, but crematory basins themselves have been identified. Charred remains of organic artifacts from these sites have been found to contain information that persists even after exposure to heat (Thompson and Jakes 2002). The fact that the textiles themselves survive, although blackened and charred, reflects that although the fabrics had been exposed to heat, the temperatures were not as high as those needed to cremate a corpse. Baby (1954), who examined 128 cremations from the Raymond Ater Mound, Edwin Harness Mound, Seip Mounds, and Mound City group, reported three degrees of destruction by fire: completely incinerated, incompletely incinerated, and non-incinerated. The bone remains indicate that the cremations were performed in the flesh; heavier bones and those in the thorax were not calcined by fire because they were protected by the fleshy parts of the body (Baby 1954:3). The pattern of bone survival or lack thereof reflects that the people dismembered the remains just prior to the cremation, removing the head, lower legs, and perhaps the entire upper extremity (Baby 1954:4). Because the crematory basins are small, it may be concluded that human remains were dismembered before cremation. Konigsberg (1985) reviewed the remains of 87 cremated individuals from the Seip-Pricer Mound. All ages and sexes were present, thus representing a normal population distribution. He also found clinkers (carbonized soft tissue) that support Baby's (1954) conclusion that the bodies were cremated in the flesh before extensive decomposition had occurred. Small bones, such as the sesamoid bones of the hands and feet, were found as well (Konigsberg 1985:133), indicating careful removal of all parts of the individual from the crematory basins and thereby explaining the very clean crematory basins found at the sites. Konigsberg agrees with Baby that the crematory basins at Seip would fit bodies that were disarticulated at knees and neck, but the basins at Hopewell would be too small to accommodate even those bodies that were dismembered. Rather, the smaller basins are gathering places for bodies that were burned on flanges, that is, burned portions of floor around the small basins, noted but unexplained by excavators. The larger crematory area of the basin and flanges would have fit an articulated body. In addition, the bones did not show cut marks, so the bodies must not have been disarticulated. Perhaps the bones were shattered during cremation, a feature suggested by some of the specimens, and then burned to varying degrees as a consequence of their position in the mass of burning material (Konigsberg 1985:134). Neither Baby nor Konigsberg discussed the extent of destruction of burial artifacts due to the conditions of cremation. Both charred and uncharred textile fragments from Ohio Hopewellian sites have been recovered. The Ohio Historical Society (OHS) holds a large collection of these, particularly those from the Harness, Hopewell, Seip, Tremper, and Rutledge sites (Figure 1). The Seip site is further divided into the Seip-Pricer Mound and Seip Mound 2; the latter is subdivided into sections 1 through 3. …

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