Hey Rich

Since you sent this to the list, I guess it's not a yet to be revealed 
aspect anymore. 

Anyway, the "why" of adopting subsistence agriculture is an a bit of an 
anthropological no-brainer. Raising food allows one to stockpile 
food...hence developing a reliable source of calories...hence allowing for 
the rise of non-food producing workers...hence settlements...

Maybe you mean the question Jonathan is exploring is "how"? 

As for Cahokia, it was all there...good forests for firewood, building and 
hunting, good bottomland along the river for farming, lots of river 
resources to supplement farming (fish and shellfish especially), along 
trade routes linking Copper country with mezoamerica. 

Diane

On Tue, 27 Jun 2006 19:42:16 -0400, [log in to unmask] wrote:

>Dave
>
>This is as yet to be revealed aspect of farming however it is entirely of 
a fundamental nature. 'Farming' our subsistence agriculture will be one of 
the themes explored in great detail within the framework of the new Hall 
of Native American cultures that will open at the Field Museum in the 
spring.
>
>Curator Jonathan Haas has worked very hard at detailing how the emergence 
of 'farming' was directly related to the emergence of culture in the 
Americas. In addition they will tackle issues of conservation and how or 
if or if so...WHY did early human beings switch from hunting and gathering 
to 'farming' as a way of making a living. This topic is especially 
relevant especially within the framework of the Midwest as one of the 
largest metropolitan settlements known in the ancient world was in 
Southern Illinois at Cahokia. Cahokia ranks only slightly behind the major 
urban cultures of the Maya and Aztec in force of sheer numbers.
>
>Rich
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: BECKER, DAVID <DABECKER@BROOKFIELDZOO.ORG>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Sent: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 18:33:10 -0500
>Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] farm themes, programs and exhibits
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Please post:
>
>Hi friends and colleagues,
>
>I am looking for examples of outstanding exhibits and programs that 
involve farm related themes and experiences. Any favorites out there? 
Anything that struck you as particularly thoughtful and insightful?
>
>Would be particularly interested in ways the farm and farming has been 
addressed in other types of museums outside of living history farms.
>
>Thanks,
>Dave
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