Thesis Defense Announcement

College of Arts and Sciences announces the Final Thesis Defense of

Thomas Gates

for the Degree of Master of Science

February 28, 2019 at 2:30 PM in Johnson Hall, Room 222

Advisor: Andrew Mickelson

Spatial Analysis of Unit 6 at the Chucalissa Site: Evaluating the Late Mississippian Period Main Residential Area

ABSTRACT: Abstract Gates, Thomas Edward. M.S. The University of Memphis. May 2018. Spatial Analysis of Unit 6 at the Chucalissa Site: Evaluating the Late Mississippian Period Main Residential Area. Major Professor: Dr. Andrew Mickelson. In this thesis, I present a spatial analysis of the main residential area (Unit 6) at the Chucalissa site (40SY1), a prehistoric Mississippian period (ca. 1200-1500) site located in Southwest Tennessee. Unit 6 excavations were conducted from 1940-1987, and data from the Unit 6 excavations have been digitized for spatial analysis using a Geographic Information System. The goals of this spatial analysis include intra-structural patterning, inter-structure, and the functional aspects of residential structures found within Unit 6. Of particular interest is House 10, a large structure located in the southwest corner of Unit 6, which contains specialized artifacts spanning the Boxtown phase (A.D. 1250-1350) and the Walls phase (A.D. 1350-1520) occupation periods of the site. This thesis will contribute to our understanding of the culture dynamics during the Middle and Late Mississippian periods in the Central Mississippi River Valley.