Ramey state

The Ramey state is a term used by scholars to describe a state theorized to have existed in the American Bottom whose capitol was the ancient city of Cahokia. According to the theory, the state's economy was derived from mostly agricultural labor, with unskilled workers building large ceremonial structures for a small elite. A class of traders existed as well as a tribute system.[1]

Artists recreation of central Cahokia. Cahokia's east-west baseline transects the Woodhenge, Monks Mound, and several other large mounds

Debate

Many models of the politics of Cahokia theorize the city was the head of a chiefdom, while a minority of scholars believe that due to Cahokia's size and other archaeological factors Cahokia was instead the center of a more organized state. The term "Ramey state" was coined by scholars Conrad and Harn in 1972 to refer to a state controlled by its capitol Cahokia, believed to influence all places where ancient Ramey pottery has been found.[2]

The majority opinion that Cahokia was instead the center of a chiefdom or a pre-state is due to the fact that certain indicators of a state aren't apparent in Cahokia's ruins. Despite Cahokia's large size, certain determining technological and political advance indicating a typical state haven't been found in studies of Cahokia.[3]

Models

Various models of how the theorized Ramey state functioned exist. Most of the models differ due to different interpretations of existing archaeological finds. One model believes Cahokia was the center of a trade and tribute system with a territory of farmers that consistently fed the city. This territory spanned much of the American Midwest.[2] Evidence of an elite with political power and a legitimate use of force comes from evidence of massive human sacrifices at Cahokia.[4]

Another model is that Cahokia was the center of a Theatre state where important religious rituals performed at Cahokia wielded influence over the state's common people.[2]

See also

References
  1. o'Brien, Patricia J. (2017). "Early State Economics: Cahokia, Capital of the Ramey State". Early State Economics. Taylor and Francis Group: 143–175. doi:10.4324/9781351316606-7. ISBN 9781351316606.
  2. Holt, Julie Zimmermann (2009). "Rethinking the Ramey State: Was Cahokia the Center of a Theater State?". American Antiquity. Cambridge University Press. 74 (2): 231–254. doi:10.1017/S0002731600048587. JSTOR 20622425.
  3. "The Cahokia question: Small state or jumbo chiefdom?". Santa Fe Institute. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  4. O'Brien, Patricia J. (1990). "Cahokia: The Political Capital of the "Ramey" State?". North American Archaeologist. SAGE Journals. 10 (4): 275–292. doi:10.2190/RDK3-QFFN-MPJ9-WTEK.


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