The Williams Cemetery: Biological Variation and Affinity with three Glacial Kame Groups

Abstract

Comparisons of cranial and postcranial metrics and discrete triats among the Late Archaic, Western Basin Williams site and three Glacial Kame sites, Stratton-Wallace, Clifford Williams, and Muzzey Lake, show that these groups are indistinguishable with respect to shape variation but cluster according to cultural affiliation with respect to size variation. Because size variation corresponds to the geographical distribution of these sites a north (larger)—south (smaller) clinal distribution of size variation is hypothesized for Late Archaic populations in Ohio. The overall pattern of variability suggests these four samples were drawn from large interacting, related populations. This hypothesis is similar to that suggested for the spread and maintenance of burial ceremonialism seen in Late Archaic groups in general.