WILLIAMS, WILLIAM STANLEY JR.

Four regional manifestations of Hopewell were selected on
the basis of readily available evidence. These regional manifestations
were compared to note their similarities and differences. Similarities
were readily explained by commonality of participation in the Hopewell
Cult. Differences were explained in terms of the type of environment
to which each regional manifestation was subjected.
These differences in complexity led to a definition of
Hopewell more consistent with the evidence at hand, and were the
result of the use of the Cultural Ecological approach as an explanatory
model. Cultural ecology, through the use of theories provided by
Steward and others, gives us tools by which culture and culture change
can be studied and perhaps general laws can be developed. The most
important factor of cultural ecology is the relationship of technology
and environment. The above regional manifestations were studied in
terms of technology and environment and their relationship forms the
basis for the evidence in the thesis.