A biological distance study of Steed-Kisker origins

Abstract

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Nonmetric trait frequencies of crania affiliated with the Steed-Kisker phase of northwestern Missouri were compared with crania from the Northern and Central Plains and the American Bottom region to determine the origins of the Steed-Kisker phase. Mean measures of divergence and odds ratios of the nonmetric traits indicate that the Steed-Kisker crania are least similar to the American Bottom crania and most similar to the Central Plains crania. This indicates that the Mississippian style pottery found at Steed-Kisker phase sites is probably the result of trade or diffusion rather than a migration of Mississippian populations to northwestern Missouri.