Points in Time: Direct Radiocarbon Dates on Great Basin Projectile Points

2013 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 580-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey M. Smith ◽  
Pat Barker ◽  
Eugene M. Hattori ◽  
Anan Raymond ◽  
Ted Goebel
Keyword(s):  
Great Basin ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Projectile Point ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Projectile Points ◽  
Primary Means ◽  
Point Types ◽  
Cross Dating ◽  
Age Estimates

AbstractTypological cross-dating is the primary means by which archaeological sites are placed into chronological frameworks. This approach relies on the assumption that artifacts at undated sites—usually projectile points—are coeval with similar artifacts found at Other, dated sites. While typological cross-dating is necessary in regions dominated by open-air lithic scatters, the approach can be problematic when undated and dated sites are separated by significant distances. Here, we present radiocarbon dates on projectile points with organic hafting material still attached or found within organic storage bags. Our results provide unequivocal ages for various morphological projectile point types at several Great Basin locales and should be useful to researchers seeking local age estimates for those point types, which often involves relying on chronological data from more distant sites. The results also highlight potential issues with uncritically applying typological cross-dating using typologies based on metric attributes, and in two cases, suggest the need to revise the age ranges for certain point styles in the western Great Basin.

The Earliest Cultures in the Western United States

1962 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex D. Krieger
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Projectile Point ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Projectile Points ◽  
Chipped Stone ◽  
Point Types ◽  
Geological Position

AbstractNearly all writers on the antiquity of man in America assume that the oldest archaeological sites contain chipped-stone projectile points and therefore cannot exceed an age of some 12,000 to 15,000 years, the estimates usually given to such projectile-point types as Sandia and Clovis. Suggestions of older sites, with radiocarbon dates ranging from some 21,000 years to as much as “greater than 37,000 years,” with simpler artifacts and an absence of stone projectile points, are generally viewed with suspicion if not abhorrence.A recent paper by E. H. Sellards considers seven localities in the western United States and Baja California which, because of geological position and radiocarbon dates, are probably too old to contain stone projectile points. The writer agrees with Sellards that these localities are archaeological (except for that at Texas Street in San Diego, California), but disagrees that those in coastal locations are different from those in inland locations for “ecological” reasons such as food supply and availability of stone. The differences may be explained in that those sites on the shores of extinct lakes were never covered by overburden, whereas those which were covered by alluvium or sand are known to us now only by varying amounts of exposure by erosion or excavation (or both).

Identifying Dart and Arrow Points in the Great Basin: Comment on Smith Et Al.'s “Points in Time: Direct Radiocarbon Dates on Great Basin Projectile Points“

2014 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 561-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan Hockett ◽  
William R. Hildebrandt ◽  
Jerome H. King
Keyword(s):  
Great Basin ◽  
Projectile Point ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Projectile Points ◽  
New Information ◽  
Point Types ◽  
Large Side

Smith et al. (2013) provided important new information concerning the ages of a variety of projectile point types found in the Great Basin. Two of their interpretations, however, deserve further discussion. Smith et al. (2013) concluded that the Nicholarsen (or Nicolarsen) Cache contains both dart and arrow points. However, our application of methods developed by Hildebrandt and King (2012) to distinguish dart and arrow points, indicates that the Nicholarsen Cache contains arrow points exclusively. In addition, we suggest that the two ca. 6,800-year-old “Elko-Eared” points identified by Smith et al. (2013) are Large Side-notched points.

scholarly journals Assessing Prehistoric Chronology in Piedmont Contexts

1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-59
Author(s):  
Michael D. Petraglia ◽  
Dennis A. Knepper
Keyword(s):  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Projectile Point ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Projectile Points ◽  
Site Occupation ◽  
Point Types ◽  
The Relationship

The chronology of six prehistoric archaeological sites in piedmont contexts of northern Virginia are evaluated. Timing of site occupation and regional chronology is assessed on the basis of commonly accepted projectile point styles and radiocarbon dates. The relationship between projectile points and absolute dates is examined. Three projectile point types, the Lobate, the Piscataway, and the Woodland Site-Notched, are evaluated with regard to their possible temporal contexts. Methodological issues and problems relating to the presence and quality of chronological data are explored.

A Review of Lynch's Descriptions of South American Pleistocene Sites

1991 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 342-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Gruhn ◽  
Alan L. Bryan
Keyword(s):  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
South American ◽  
Bearing Surface ◽  
Projectile Point ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Projectile Points ◽  
Stratigraphic Unit ◽  
Eyewitness Reports

The description of major South American Pleistocene sites by Lynch (1990) contains significant errors and omissions. The artifact assemblage at the Colombian site of Tibitó, dated at 11,740 ± 140 B.P., is much larger than indicated by Lynch and well represents the Abriense industry, which features small unifacially retouched flake tools and core tools, with no stone projectile points. Lynch did not describe the 1976 stratigraphic profile at the Venezuelan site of Taima-Taima, and he failed to refer to the evidence for butchering of the juvenile mastodon with which an El Jobo projectile point fragment and a utilized flake were associated directly. The descriptions of Brazilian sites also feature serious mistakes. For the site of Alice Boër, Lynch overlooked a thick sterile stratigraphic unit (Bed IV) that intervenes between Bed III, with its thermoluminescence dates as early as 10,970 ± 1020 B.P. and radiocarbon dates as early as 14,200 ± 1150 B.P., and the artifact-bearing surface of Bed V. For Lapa Vermelha, Lynch failed to indicate that several artifacts were recovered from an older cemented cave fill that yielded radiocarbon dates of 22,410 B.P. and > 25,000 B.P. Lynch’s description of the site of Toca do Boqueirào da Pedra Furada does not correspond to eyewitness reports, and his description of the nearby Toca do Sitio do Meio was incomplete and confused. Finally, in his description of the stratigraphy of the Patagonian site of Los Toldos, Cueva 3 Lynch misquoted and misconstrued the original reports, which indicate clearly the stratigraphic priority and integrity of the Level 11 industry. For accurate descriptions of early South American archaeological sites, readers are urged to examine the original sources.

Preceramic Projectile-Point Typology in Belize

1993 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas C. Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Type A ◽  
Projectile Point ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
New Era ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Projectile Points ◽  
Point Types

AbstractSufficient numbers of preceramic projectile points have now been found in Belize to define two morphologically distinct projectile-point types, Lowe and Sawmill. A provisional type —Allspice—is proposed but lacks both the necessary numbers and adequate context for acceptance as a diagnostic type. A single Clovis point is so far the only diagnostic of the Paleoindian period. This study also suggests that the projectile-point typology, the foundation for much of the Belize Archaic Archaeological Reconnaissance chronology, is so badly flawed that the resulting chronology has little merit. Recent discoveries of major preceramic sites with associated radiocarbon dates and their possible association with early raised-field agriculture indicate that studies of preceramic Belize are entering an exciting new era. This typology should provide a useful tool for future studies and is the beginning of a meaningful chronology.

Stone Artifacts

1949 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 152-178
Author(s):  
Alex D. Krieger
Keyword(s):  
Projectile Point ◽  
Projectile Points ◽  
Stone Artifacts ◽  
Stratigraphic Position ◽  
Point Types ◽  
Three Phases

With some exceptions, notably the projectile points, the various artifacts of stone, flint, and pigment are simple in nature and will be but briefly described. Figures 53-61 provide illustrations of nearly every descriptive grouping, specimens having been selected to show ranges of variation; the more variation —as in projectile point types—the more specimens are shown.Tables 17-18 show the stratigraphic position of all stone artifacts and pigments found. Ordinary household artifacts such as milling stones, hammerstones, hones, knives, scrapers, and gravers were but sparsely represented in the mound, as might be expected. But since the mound provides our only sure stratigraphic control, the general dearth of utilitarian artifacts in it renders their occurrence in the three phases of occupation uncertain. That is, absence from one or more of the mound phases could be due to chance where only ten or a dozen (or fewer) specimens of a particular group came from the mound.

The Burin-Faceted Projectile Point

1963 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremiah F. Epstein
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Projectile Point ◽  
Projectile Points ◽  
Point Types ◽  
Indian Point

AbstractA series of Paleo-Indian and Archaic projectile points with burin facets at either the proximal or distal end is described. Most of the points come from Texas. The burin facets appear to be intentional products of the burin technique, used either for the production of burins and burin spalls, or for modifying the shape of the point itself. Paleo-Indian point types with burin facets include Clovis, Cumberland, Folsom, Plainview, Meserve, Angostura, and a number of variant forms. The data suggest that the burin or the burin technique may have been widespread throughout North America during early fluted-point times.

Projectile Point and Hafting Design Review

1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 291-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calvin D. Howard
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Change ◽  
Archaeological Record ◽  
Continuous Change ◽  
Design Review ◽  
Projectile Point ◽  
Projectile Points ◽  
Design Variation ◽  
Point Types ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Comparative Nature

Design review provides insight into possible factors influencing the rapid change of lithic point types and their associated hafting technology during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. The contribution of foreshafts, fluting, notching, and point morphology to weapon system performance was reviewed. Comparison of functional characteristics of lithic projectile points versus rod-shaped points of calcareous materials suggests a prehistoric preference for lithic points that was primarily due to the comparative nature and hemorrhage characteristics of the wounds produced. The design review indicates that the technological chronology observed in the archaeological record is far too complex and non-linear to be envisioned simply as a continuum of functional and maintainability improvement, but is best explained as the result of experimentation and design variation in response to continuous change in hunting conditions, methods, and emphasis.

Aspects of Culture Change in the Late Prehistoric Period on the Northwestern Plains

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-332
Author(s):  
Caroline R. Hudecek-Cuffe
Keyword(s):  
Culture Change ◽  
Late Prehistoric ◽  
Stylistic Variation ◽  
Projectile Point ◽  
Projectile Points ◽  
Late Prehistoric Period ◽  
Northwestern Plains ◽  
Point Types ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Point Type

Stylistic and temporal differences in projectile points have long been used by Plains archaeologists to establish chronologies of cultural complexes for the Northern Plains. This practice is often extended to using changes in projectile point types as indicators of culture change. However, since culture is a multivariate phenomenon, culture change cannot be based on a single variable such as a projectile point type, but rather, all aspects of culture as represented in the archaeological record must be considered. With regards to the culture changes between the Avonlea and Old Women's phases of the Late Prehistoric Period on the Northwestern Plains, archaeological evidence of lithic and ceramic assemblages indicates a general continuity between the two phases rather than a distinct break. Thus, any differences between the two phases should not be regarded as involving major culture change but rather as a sequential transition with gradual stylistic variation in projectile points and ceramics.

The Desert Culture of the Western Great Basin: A Lifeway of Seasonal Transhumance

1963 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Lou Davis
Keyword(s):  
Great Basin ◽  
Mono Lake ◽  
The Other ◽  
Central Feature ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Projectile Points ◽  
Ethnographic Studies ◽  
Point Types ◽  
California Archaeology ◽  
Very High

AbstractThe practice of seasonal transhumance was a central feature of the Desert culture of the western Great Basin. Ethnographic studies have provided us with considerable knowledge of the land-use and seasonal rounds of protohistoric groups such as the Kuzedika Paiute of Mono Lake, California. Archaeology carries ethnography backward in time, indicating that Paiute sites were formerly utilized by a long succession of predecessors, most of whom were generalized Desert culture gatherers who hunted on the side.An analysis of projectile points from the Sierra piedmont indicates that Desert culture peoples ranged very high and were upland hunters at certain seasons. On the other hand, the earliest people were valley and grassland hunters. Recent discoveries of both Clovis and Folsom artifacts in the stream valleys of Nevada and California point to a pre-Desert culture way of life, with an emphasis on big meat rather than on seeds, roots, insects, and rodents. The transition from this early hunting of large, grassland herbivores to later general collecting and to seasonal transhumance appears to represent an unbroken evolution. These changes are shown by intergrading point types which constitute part of the data in this study.

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