Feasting in small-scale societies: A fort ancient example.

Archaeological and ethnographic feasting studies have been dominated by competitive feasts, especially those in complex societies. By studying feasting in small-scale egalitarian societies, archaeologists can better understand the range of social aspects of feasting. Turpin, an early Fort Ancient site near the confluence of the Little Miami and Ohio Rivers, provides a case study for feasting in a small-scale agricultural society. Feature 100, a large pit feature, was initially interpreted as the remains of a feasting event. Using zooarchaeological, ceramic, and paleoethnobotanical data, the assemblage of Feature 100 was compared to that of an everyday domestic deposit. Based on these multiple lines of evidence, this study supports the hypothesis that Feature 100 is evidence of feasting at Turpin. This study also provides insight into Fort Ancient subsistence and social practices and reveals key elements of feasting in an early agricultural village.