Fish, Fires, and Foresight: Middle Woodland Economic Adaptations in the Abbott Farm National Landmark

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Abstract
The “Abbott Farm site,” now known as the Abbott Farm National Landmark, is known for its unique and abundant artifact assemblages from presumed Middle Woodland contexts. Several researchers attributed the presence of large quantities of argillite raw material, argillite and chert blades and blade caches, cut and uncut mica, and aberrant zone-decorated ceramics to either Hopewellian manifestations or to the Abbott Farm's role in the regional redistribution of argillite. On the basis of a cultural resource survey conducted by Louis Berger and Associates prior to the proposed construction of I-195 and I-295 and New Jersey Routes 29 and 129, a specialized economic adaptation focused upon the intensive procurement, processing, and storage of anadromous fish, especially sturgeon, is hypothesized.