Bladelets and Middle Woodland Situations in Southern Ohio

Abstract

Chipped-stone bladelets are common at Middle Woodland sites throughout Ohio and many other areas of the midcontinent, reflecting both broad patterns and local diversity characteristic of situations as explored in this special issue. In previous studies, bladelets were often viewed through dichotomous categories such as sacred and secular. In this article, I attempt to break down these artificial oppositions imposed by archaeologists and refocus the interpretation of these artifacts using notions of situations and assemblages. I argue that doing so provides new insights into the use of bladelets at sites throughout southern Ohio and beyond. The related concepts of citations and capacities help illustrate the connections between bladelets and other material elements of Middle Woodland institutions. Examination of bladelet use illustrates how situations lead to shared conditions of action while individuals engage in multiple outcomes during manifestations of Middle Woodland ceremonies.