A Critical Analysis of the Adoption of Maize in Southern Ontario and its Spatial, Demographic, and Ecological Signatures

Abstract

This thesis centers on analyzing the spatial, temporal, and ecological patterns associated with the introduction of maize horticulture into Southern Ontario - contextualized against social and demographic models of agricultural transition. Two separate analyses are undertaken: a regional analysis of the spread of maize across the Northeast using linear regression of radiocarbon data and a standard Wave of Advance model; and a local analysis of village locational trends in Southern Ontario using a landscape ecological framework, environmental data and known village sites. Through the integration of these two spatial and temporal scales of analysis, this research finds strong support for both migration and local development. A third model of competition and coalescence is presented to describe the patterning in the data.

Author Keywords: Demographic Modeling, Environmental Modeling, Geostastical Analysis, Maize, Ontario Archaeology, Spread of Agriculture

    Item Description
    Type
    Contributors
    Creator (cre): Beales, Eric John
    Thesis advisor (ths): Conolly, James
    Degree committee member (dgc): Fox, William
    Degree committee member (dgc): MacDonald, Robert
    Degree committee member (dgc): Fitzsimons, Rodney
    Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University
    Date Issued
    2014
    Date (Unspecified)
    2014
    Place Published
    Peterborough, ON
    Language
    Extent
    407 pages
    Rights
    Copyright is held by the author, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise noted.
    Subject (Topical)
    Local Identifier
    TC-OPET-10075
    Publisher
    Trent University
    Degree
    Master of Arts (M.A.): Anthropology