Blood, Crops, and Weaving in Ancient Appalachia: Archaeology of Archaic Women in East Kentucky

This is a summary of a paper that had a lot of influence on the theoretical frameworks I use to interpret archaeological sites, as much for what it does right as for what I think it does very wrong. That's ok. Sometimes working through unfounded lines of evidence will guide you in a good direction. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan.
Cheryl Claassen 2011
Rock Shelters as Women's Retreats: Understanding Newt Kash
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Abstract:
This paper provides a cultural context for the cache of early domesticated seeds found in Newt Kash Shelter in eastern Kentucky. Based on the abundant fibers, bedding, nuts, cradleboard, bedrock mortar, shell spoons, abundance of potential medicinal plants, infrequent fauna, and arrangement of pits, Newt Kash may have been a women’s retreat place during
menstruation, birthing, and sickness, and possibly the meeting place of a medicine society. There are other possible retreat shelters in this region and elsewhere.