The Dallas phase (c. 1300–1600 CE) is an archaeological phase, within the Mississippian III period, in the South Appalachian Geologic province in North America.Sullivan and Prezzano 201Sullivan and Prezzano 281

Geography Dallas peoples moved into what is now southwest Virginia from northeastern Tennessee in the early 13th century.Sullivan and Prezzano 220 Dallas phase settlements ranged from along the Holston River to Cobb Island, and up the Nolichucky River and Little Pigeon Creek in Tennessee, and along the Clinch River in Virginia.Sullivan and Prezzano 208

Characteristics The Dallas phase settlements typically have one to three platform mounds; however, some (40Un11 and 40An44) have no mounds at all. Their society was hierarchical. It is characterized by distinctions between nobles, and commoners in burial practices. Elites were buried in mounds, unlike the remaining population.Peregrine 49 Artifacts included shell gorgets, ear pins, and beads.Harle 79

Dallas peoples built "large log houses."Sullivan and Prezzano 203 Their towns had central plazas, surrounded by winter and summer homes.Harle 81

Ceramics

Dallas Ware pottery was tempered with mussel shells and featured lugs, incised decoration, notched fillets, and strap handles.Sullivan and Prezzano 204 Two distinct styles were Dallas Plain and Dallas Cordmarked.Sullivan and Prezzano 218

Sites

Dallas phase sites include the following: Bussell Island (40LD17), Loudon County, Tennessee Chiaha, Jefferson County, Tennessee Citico (40HA65), Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee Cox site (40AN19), Anderson County, Tennessee David Davis Site (40HA301), Hamilton County, TennesseeHarle 7 DeArmond Site (40RE12),Harle 47 Roane County, Tennessee Fain's Island (40JE1), Jefferson County, Tennessee Henderson Site (40SV4), Sevier County, Tennessee Henry Farm Site (40LD53), Loudon County, Tennessee Hiwassee Island Site (40MG31), Meigs County, Tennessee Hixon Site (40HA3), Hamilton County, Tennessee McMahan Mound Site (40SV1),Harle 59 Sevier County, Tennessee Toqua (40MR6),Peregrine 86 Monroe County, Tennessee

Overhill Cherokee sites, such as Citico (40Mr7), Hiwassee Old Town (40Pk3), and Chilhowee (40Bt7) have Dallas phase artifacts;Sullivan and Prezzano 285 however, the Dallas phase is associated with ancestral Muscogee Creek peoples.Harle 50

Dates In the same region, the Hiwassee Island phase ran from 1000 to 1250 CE, followed by Early Dallas from 1250–1450 CE. Late Dallas ranged from 1450–1650 CE, which was followed by the Overhill Cherokee and Mouse Creek phases.

See also List of archaeological sites in Tennessee

Notes

References Harle, Michaelyn S. "Biological Affinities and the Construction of Cultural Identity for the Proposed Coosa Chiefdom." University of Tennessee. Trace: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. 2010. Peregrine, Peter Neal. Archaeology of the Mississippian Culture: A Research Guide. Taylor and Francis, 1996. . Sullivan, Lynne P. and Susan C. Prezzano, eds. Archaeology of the Appalachian Highlands. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2001. .

External links The Archaeology of Everyday Life at Early Moundville Gregory D. Wilson South Appalachian and Protohistoric Mortuary Practices in Southwestern North Carolina