- Geologist, prehistorian, author, and hunter/curator of prehistoric artifacts.edit
Is it a good assumption that High Plains Upper Republican was the western extension of the Upper Republican phase of the Central Plains? Based on archaeological evidence, the Central Plains and High Plains people lived vastly different... more
Is it a good assumption that High Plains Upper Republican was the western extension of the Upper Republican phase of the Central Plains?
Based on archaeological evidence, the Central Plains and High Plains people lived vastly different lifestyles. On the Central Plains, horticulture was an important part of the economy while on the High Plains horticulture appeared to play little or no role. Even with the different lifestyles, there was a relationship between the High Plains and Central Plains people during the Upper Republican phase. At High Plains
sites, archeologists found Upper Republican pottery manufactured with clay from the Central Plains, and at Central Plains sites, archaeologists found raw material originating on the High Plains. We know that the Upper Republican people from the Central Plains and High Plains used the same styles of side-notched and tri-notched projectile points. What was that relationship?
Based on archaeological evidence, the Central Plains and High Plains people lived vastly different lifestyles. On the Central Plains, horticulture was an important part of the economy while on the High Plains horticulture appeared to play little or no role. Even with the different lifestyles, there was a relationship between the High Plains and Central Plains people during the Upper Republican phase. At High Plains
sites, archeologists found Upper Republican pottery manufactured with clay from the Central Plains, and at Central Plains sites, archaeologists found raw material originating on the High Plains. We know that the Upper Republican people from the Central Plains and High Plains used the same styles of side-notched and tri-notched projectile points. What was that relationship?
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In the afternoon, I was exploring a two-foot high cutbank when I noticed a piece of chert stuck in a layer of soil. It appeared to be an artifact. My initial reaction was surprise which quickly morphed into anticipation as I pulled the... more
In the afternoon, I was exploring a two-foot high cutbank when I noticed a piece of chert stuck in a layer of soil. It appeared to be an artifact. My initial reaction was surprise which quickly morphed into anticipation as I pulled the exposed base of a Pelican Lake dart point. My next reaction wasn’t delight, it was a disappointment. I pulled the lower half of a projectile point from the ground. I wet the broken end of the projectile point with saliva to determine if it was a new or old fracture. I was disappointed to see the cloudy-white patina return to the fractured
end as the projectile point dried. That meant an old break lowered my
chances of finding the projectile point tip nearby. The tip of the projectile point could be anywhere. The prehistoric hunter might have broken the projectile point while hunting and then discarded the projectile point base from its foreshaft when he returned to camp. I find projectile point bases in prehistoric campsites all the time. Nevertheless, I dug into that cutbank like a gopher on caffeine.
end as the projectile point dried. That meant an old break lowered my
chances of finding the projectile point tip nearby. The tip of the projectile point could be anywhere. The prehistoric hunter might have broken the projectile point while hunting and then discarded the projectile point base from its foreshaft when he returned to camp. I find projectile point bases in prehistoric campsites all the time. Nevertheless, I dug into that cutbank like a gopher on caffeine.
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One thing I love about artifact hunting is that you never know what you will find. For those of us old enough to remember, artifact hunting is like finding the prize in a Cracker Jack box - you never knew what that prize is going to be.... more
One thing I love about artifact hunting is that you never know what you will find. For those of us old enough to remember, artifact hunting is like finding the prize in a Cracker Jack box - you never knew what that prize is going to be. On my artifact hunts, I always start out with hopes of finding that elusive three-inch Folsom or that bushel basket full of bird points. No one can denounce or refute that hope until the hunt is over. Over the years, I have been on a few great hunts, a pile of decent hunts, and several real stinkers, but there was one thing in common. At the beginning of each hunt, I always hoped that I could slay the artifact dragon!
Join me on my latest adventure in prehistoric time.
Join me on my latest adventure in prehistoric time.
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Follow me into Wyoming as I explore the land in search of evidence of prehistoric humans.
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My relentless pursuit of the elusive prehistoric projectile point introduced me to several of its artifact relatives over the years. One of those relatives was the plano-convex end scraper. Many of my artifact hunts were saved when I... more
My relentless pursuit of the elusive prehistoric projectile point introduced me to several of its artifact relatives over the years. One of those relatives was the plano-convex end scraper. Many of my artifact hunts were saved when I found a well-crafted and beautifully made plano-convex end scraper. On most of the well-known sites in my area, surface artifact hunters have found most of the projectile points, but an occasional nice end scraper can still be found. Why do heavily hunted sites still yield a few plano-convex end scrapers while most projectile points are gone? I will answer that question after I briefly introduce you to the plano-convex end scraper type.
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Most prehistoric projectile points that I discover on the surface of the ground in the field are damaged in one way or another. On most of the prehistoric projectile points that I find, the damage appears to come from modern-day sources... more
Most prehistoric projectile points that I discover on the surface of the ground in the field are damaged in one way or another. On most of the prehistoric projectile points that I find, the damage appears to come from modern-day sources such as cows, plows, or earth-moving equipment. Most of the time the modern-day damage is obvious because of fresh breaks or fractures on the projectile point. However, there are a few projectile points where it is obvious that the damage happened in
prehistoric times. The Midland projectile point is one of the latter.
prehistoric times. The Midland projectile point is one of the latter.
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When the Europeans arrived in North America, they introduced American Indians to many things such as cloth materials, wool blankets, horses, firearms, metal tools, cooking pots, skillets, and weapons. The list was endless. One of the... more
When the Europeans arrived in North America, they introduced American Indians to many things such as cloth materials, wool blankets, horses, firearms, metal tools, cooking pots, skillets, and weapons. The list was endless. One of the items that the Europeans traded to the Indians was iron arrow points which in many cases replaced the stone arrow points the Indians were using at the time.
As early as 1700, the Comanche tribe traded for thousands of iron arrow points from the Spaniards (Hamm 1991:132). According to Linton (1940), the Comanche Indians were at first eager to obtain muskets from the Europeans, but once that novelty wore off, they returned to the bow and arrow for hunting and war. While the muskets possessed a greater firing range, the firearms were cumbersome, hard to reload on horseback, and brandished a much lower rate of fire. According to Carter (1935) and Marcy (1938), a Comanche warrior could hit an object the size of a doorknob four out of five times at a distance of fifty yards with a bow and
arrow. Once repeating rifles became available to the Comanche Indians, they shifted away from the bow and arrow. Here is the story about the iron points that tipped the American Indians' arrows.
As early as 1700, the Comanche tribe traded for thousands of iron arrow points from the Spaniards (Hamm 1991:132). According to Linton (1940), the Comanche Indians were at first eager to obtain muskets from the Europeans, but once that novelty wore off, they returned to the bow and arrow for hunting and war. While the muskets possessed a greater firing range, the firearms were cumbersome, hard to reload on horseback, and brandished a much lower rate of fire. According to Carter (1935) and Marcy (1938), a Comanche warrior could hit an object the size of a doorknob four out of five times at a distance of fifty yards with a bow and
arrow. Once repeating rifles became available to the Comanche Indians, they shifted away from the bow and arrow. Here is the story about the iron points that tipped the American Indians' arrows.
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My analysis of a Paleoindian ovate biface surface found on private land in Oregon in the 1960s.
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Coming up on my fifth year anniversary of this event. Researching large prey animal behavior.
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In part one of my two-part series on radiocarbon dating, I discussed the process. In part two, I discuss how radiocarbon dates are reported in archaeological journals and books.
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My article is on two camps of projectile point typology: the lumpers and the splitters. Which one are you?
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Figure One-Three-inch long Montana Clovis point made from a multi-colored jasper and around 13,000 years old. How do I know how old this Clovis point is? Answer: radiocarbon dating. John Bradford Branney Collection.
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Scottsbluff knife form from Wilson County, Texas. The most interesting feature of this 10,000-year-old beauty is its burinated tip. John Bradford Branney Collection.
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My synopsis on the current state of artifact collecting and those who buy and sell artifacts, along with the science or black magic of artifact authentication. I originally published this in 2018 in Prehistoric AMERICAN magazine but have... more
My synopsis on the current state of artifact collecting and those who buy and sell artifacts, along with the science or black magic of artifact authentication. I originally published this in 2018 in Prehistoric AMERICAN magazine but have updated to my latest thoughts.
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After the projectile points of the Cody Complex came and went in the archaeological record, an abrupt change took place in projectile point technology on the High Plains. The stemmed projectile points with transverse pressure flaking of... more
After the projectile points of the Cody Complex came and went in the archaeological record, an abrupt change took place in projectile point technology on the High Plains. The stemmed projectile points with transverse pressure flaking of the Cody Complex disappeared from the archaeological record and a series of lanceolate-shaped projectile points with parallel-oblique flaking appeared. Instead of stemmed Alberta, Scottsbluff, and Eden points from the Cody Complex, the new projectile point style was indented with concave bases and parallel oblique flaking on many. Why the change from stems to indented bases? It might have been that indented bases worked better with the hafting method at the time, or it might be as simple as human preferences shifted. The indented base probably fit as "snug as a bug in a rug" in the hafting elements of the spear or dart weaponry. Paleoindians used what worked. After all, this was not the first time that indented base technology showed up in archaeological records with Clovis, Goshen, Folsom, and Midland as examples.
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Since the technology used to make Agate Basin lanceolate-style points was different than the technology used to make Folsom fluted points, did two separate prehistoric cultures make them or did the same culture make a technological change?
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There are several theories about the Midland and Folsom projectile point relationship. Some researchers contend that Midland points were nothing more than reworked Folsom points, or that the Midland points were Folsom channel flakes. My... more
There are several theories about the Midland and Folsom projectile point relationship. Some researchers contend that Midland points were nothing more than reworked Folsom points, or that the Midland points were Folsom channel flakes. My theory is that the flintknappers started out with flakes too thin to flute and created Midland points. Or
perhaps everyone in the tribe or culture did not have the proper skill or experience to flute Folsom points. What is your theory?
perhaps everyone in the tribe or culture did not have the proper skill or experience to flute Folsom points. What is your theory?
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During the Pleistocene, massive sheets of ice flowed southward across Canada into the northern United States about seventeen times. These ice events lasted for approximately 1.65 million years. Imagine what Canada and other northern... more
During the Pleistocene, massive sheets of ice flowed southward across Canada into the northern United States about seventeen times. These ice events lasted for approximately 1.65 million years.
Imagine what Canada and other northern hemisphere countries were like with a mile or so of ice on top of the land for thousands of years. The ice sheets were heavy enough to push the Earth's crust down approximately 1000 feet. Where did all the water for the ice come from? Answer: the oceans! Sea levels dropped substantially!
Do we know what caused these Ice Ages?
Let me present one plausible theory.
Imagine what Canada and other northern hemisphere countries were like with a mile or so of ice on top of the land for thousands of years. The ice sheets were heavy enough to push the Earth's crust down approximately 1000 feet. Where did all the water for the ice come from? Answer: the oceans! Sea levels dropped substantially!
Do we know what caused these Ice Ages?
Let me present one plausible theory.
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Side A of a 2.8-inch long Hekifinowatitis prehistoric knife form found in 1905 in Natrona County, Wyoming by George Cobban. John Bradford Branney Collection. I wonder what Paleoindians would think about us 'modern-day folk' spending so... more
Side A of a 2.8-inch long Hekifinowatitis prehistoric knife form found in 1905 in Natrona County, Wyoming by George Cobban. John Bradford Branney Collection. I wonder what Paleoindians would think about us 'modern-day folk' spending so much time and effort discussing, describing, naming, and classifying their prehistoric tools, especially stone projectile points?
Would they say, "Hey man, I was just making something to help me get something to eat!"
In my opinion, we have gone overboard trying to classify and cubby hole every projectile point into a defined projectile point type. And when we cannot place a particular projectile point into a cubby hole with other projectile points, someone comes up with a new projectile point type. What if that prehistoric flintknapper who created that oddball projectile point was just having a bad flint day? Or maybe he or she wanted to create something different on that day or week or year. Or maybe, just maybe, he or she was just not as skilled as their fellow flintknappers. I am sure prehistoric people were less interested in meeting some specific criteria than in using that projectile point to kill game that they could eat.
Would they say, "Hey man, I was just making something to help me get something to eat!"
In my opinion, we have gone overboard trying to classify and cubby hole every projectile point into a defined projectile point type. And when we cannot place a particular projectile point into a cubby hole with other projectile points, someone comes up with a new projectile point type. What if that prehistoric flintknapper who created that oddball projectile point was just having a bad flint day? Or maybe he or she wanted to create something different on that day or week or year. Or maybe, just maybe, he or she was just not as skilled as their fellow flintknappers. I am sure prehistoric people were less interested in meeting some specific criteria than in using that projectile point to kill game that they could eat.
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In parts one and two of my three-part series on the atlatl weapon system I introduced or reintroduced readers to the basics of the atlatl or spear- thrower weapon system. I focused on the physics of the throw and the spear in flight. In... more
In parts one and two of my three-part series on the atlatl weapon system I introduced or reintroduced readers to the basics of the atlatl or spear- thrower weapon system. I focused on the physics of the throw and the spear in flight. In part three, I am analyzing a surviving piece of an atlatl weapon system, an atlatl spur that was surface recovered on private land in Kings County, California by Connie Hudson prior to 1970.
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Figure One-Photo of a painting called Pre-Columbian Indian with Atlatl by well-known western artist James Bama. In part one of my series on the atlatl, I discussed the components of a basic atlatl weapon system. I then went through the... more
Figure One-Photo of a painting called Pre-Columbian Indian with Atlatl by well-known western artist James Bama. In part one of my series on the atlatl, I discussed the components of a basic atlatl weapon system. I then went through the advantage of lengthening the spear thrower's arm with an atlatl handle. With everything else being equal, lengthening the throwing arm by using a spear thrower or an atlatl increases the velocity and distance of an airborne spear or dart. For a given mass, higher velocity translates to better penetration into a prey animal which then translates into more tissue and organ damage. Of course, there is always too much of a good thing, and increasing the length of an atlatl handle past a certain limit significantly decreases the spear's accuracy.
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In part one of my series on the atlatl weapon system, I explored the basics of the atlatl weapon system and the physics behind the atlatl throw.
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Technology innovation from Clovis projectile point technology to Cody Complex projectile point technology.
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An ultrathin knife form was a specialized tool form made by highly skilled knappers using a specialized flaking technology. Ultrathin knife forms are most often associated with the Folsom Paleoindian Complex, but unless a person recovers... more
An ultrathin knife form was a specialized tool form made by highly skilled knappers using a specialized flaking technology. Ultrathin knife forms are most often associated with the Folsom Paleoindian Complex, but unless a person recovers the ultrathin knife form within stratigraphic and/or archaeological context, it is impossible to attribute any ultrathin knife form to the Folsom Complex, conclusively. Occasionally, later prehistoric cultures used similar flaking technology to create thin knife forms reminiscent of ultrathin knife forms.
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My analysis of a prehistoric knife form, a surface find from Wyoming.
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My article on returning to one of my most prolific archaeological sites and how I originally located the site. I have added stories about the site and a few of the artifacts I found there.
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My article covers the origins of the Lookingbill projectile point type with examples from my collection, as well as a story or two.
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Husted (1969:12) described the Lovell Constricted point as "medium to large in size with a concave base and a definite constriction of the lateral edges slightly distal to the base. The lateral edges above the constriction usually are... more
Husted (1969:12) described the Lovell Constricted point as "medium to large in size with a concave base and a definite constriction of the lateral edges slightly distal to the base. The lateral edges above the constriction usually are smoothly convex. Basal edges vary from shallowly to moderately concave. Flaking is crudely paralleloblique with the flake scars extending downward to the right. Lateral edges are ground smooth from the base forward for up to one-half of the length of the points. Cross sections are lenticular."
Here is the story of the Lovell Constricted or Fishtail projectile point type.
Here is the story of the Lovell Constricted or Fishtail projectile point type.
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George Agogino (1961) defined the Hell Gap projectile point type from examples found in Hell Gap Valley in Wyoming. Hell Gap projectile points were medium to large lanceolate-shaped points that were similar to Agate Basin points, except... more
George Agogino (1961) defined the Hell Gap projectile point type from examples found in Hell Gap Valley in Wyoming. Hell Gap projectile points
were medium to large lanceolate-shaped points that were similar to Agate Basin points, except that the Hell Gap projectile points bore shoulders. Hell Gap stems were long and contracting. The blade edges from tip to base were either straightto-concave or convex-to-straight-to-concave. The basal edges of the points were often ground and polished which gave investigators an indication as to how far up the projectile point was hafted. The basal corners ranged from sharp to ground and polished smooth.
were medium to large lanceolate-shaped points that were similar to Agate Basin points, except that the Hell Gap projectile points bore shoulders. Hell Gap stems were long and contracting. The blade edges from tip to base were either straightto-concave or convex-to-straight-to-concave. The basal edges of the points were often ground and polished which gave investigators an indication as to how far up the projectile point was hafted. The basal corners ranged from sharp to ground and polished smooth.
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Many of the Pryor Stemmed projectile points found in controlled archaeological sites did not possess the three distinguishing features defined by Husted for the point type: 1). basal stemming, 2). alternate edge beveling, and 3).... more
Many of the Pryor Stemmed projectile points found in controlled archaeological sites did not possess the three distinguishing features
defined by Husted for the point type: 1). basal stemming, 2). alternate edge beveling, and 3). paralleloblique flaking. A surface found stemmed point without all three features becomes problematic for identifying the projectile point type. That stemmed point could be a Pryor Stemmed point or a McKean Shouldered point or a Cody Complex point! When an archaeologist finds that same stemmed point in situ under good stratigraphic and archaeological control, there is a better than average chance that it is a Pryor Stemmed point if it is the right age. The following is a story about the enigmatic and problematic Pryor Stemmed projectile point typology.
defined by Husted for the point type: 1). basal stemming, 2). alternate edge beveling, and 3). paralleloblique flaking. A surface found stemmed point without all three features becomes problematic for identifying the projectile point type. That stemmed point could be a Pryor Stemmed point or a McKean Shouldered point or a Cody Complex point! When an archaeologist finds that same stemmed point in situ under good stratigraphic and archaeological control, there is a better than average chance that it is a Pryor Stemmed point if it is the right age. The following is a story about the enigmatic and problematic Pryor Stemmed projectile point typology.
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My luck with finding a true atlatl weight changed on February 27, 2023. I no longer needed to insert the adjectives alleged or so-called for those rocks that resembled atlatl weights. I recovered an undeniable atlatl weight from a dry... more
My luck with finding a true atlatl weight changed on February 27, 2023. I no longer needed to insert the adjectives alleged or so-called for those rocks that resembled atlatl weights. I recovered an undeniable atlatl weight from a dry stream bed while hunting artifacts and fossils on a private ranch in northeastern Colorado. I spotted what appeared to be an old ballpoint pen lying in the sand. I picked up that old ballpoint pen and it was made of stone! A shock wave coursed through my old bones. Instead of a
modern-day writing utensil, I held in my hand a beautiful, well-made atlatl weight. Join me in exploring what prehistoric people used atlatl weights for. I bet your opinion will change as mine did.
modern-day writing utensil, I held in my hand a beautiful, well-made atlatl weight. Join me in exploring what prehistoric people used atlatl weights for. I bet your opinion will change as mine did.
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My article is about a prehistoric artifact type called a limace. Don't worry if you don't recognize the name. Most people don't. I didn't until someone mentioned limaces to me. Then, I did my research. I found that people called limaces... more
My article is about a prehistoric artifact type called a limace. Don't worry if you don't recognize the name. Most people don't. I didn't until someone mentioned limaces to me. Then, I did my research. I found that people called limaces by other names such as hump-backed scrapers, humpies, flakeshavers, awls, perforators, unifacial drills, slug-like scrapers, narrow side scrapers, unifacial flaked drills, groovers, slugs, bars, boats, Hendrix scrapers, bipointed bars, and I am probably missing a few.
Since French archaeologists were the first ones to name the artifact type called limace, that was the name I stuck with. Here is the rest of my story.
Since French archaeologists were the first ones to name the artifact type called limace, that was the name I stuck with. Here is the rest of my story.
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The Spanish Diggings were some of the largest prehistoric rock quarries in the world. For over thirteen millennia, prehistoric people came to Spanish Diggings and mined orthoquartzite and chert from the hills and valleys. When the... more
The Spanish Diggings were some of the largest prehistoric rock quarries in the world. For over thirteen millennia, prehistoric people came to Spanish Diggings and mined orthoquartzite and chert from the hills and valleys. When the prehistoric people left the rock quarries, they carried the raw material with them and spread their finished artifacts and chipping debris across the countryside for hundreds of miles in every direction. Here is my story.
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I am an artifact hunter and prehistorian who spends much of my spare time hunting rocks on the high plains of Wyoming and Colorado. When I think about the most popular raw materials for toolmaking during high plains prehistory, I think of... more
I am an artifact hunter and prehistorian who spends much of my spare time hunting rocks on the high plains of Wyoming and Colorado. When I think about the most popular raw materials for toolmaking during high plains prehistory, I think of beautiful Hartville Uplift Jasper or Spanish Diggings Quartzite or Flattop Chalcedony, or the subject of this article: Knife River Chalcedony.
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Anyone who has hunted artifacts for any length of time has picked up a rock or two that they did not know whether ole Mother Nature or a prehistoric human modified it. Every time I go artifact hunting, I bring back a couple of mystery... more
Anyone who has hunted artifacts for any length of time has picked up a rock or two that they did not know whether ole Mother Nature or a prehistoric human modified it. Every time I go artifact hunting, I bring back a couple of mystery stones to study under better light and magnification. More often than not, I toss those mystery stones out with the other rocks and chipping debris alongside the road in our pasture. Those tossed pieces are a story unto themselves. Someday when I am long dead and gone, some curious lad or lass will be walking along that road and see all the chipping debris and think they discovered the motherlode, maybe the next Lindenmeier archaeological site. This article is about a few of those mystery stones.
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In this article, I will briefly discuss a fossilization process called permineralization and show four sets of examples that I found in the field. The Dictionary of Geological Terms by Robert L. Bates and Julia A. Jackson defines... more
In this article, I will briefly discuss a fossilization process called permineralization and show four sets of examples that I found in the field. The Dictionary of Geological Terms by Robert L. Bates and Julia A. Jackson defines permineralization as the process of fossilization wherein the original hard parts of an animal have additional mineral matter deposited in their pore spaces.
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Flattop Chalcedony is the most abundant prehistoric tool stone found by collectors in northeastern Colorado. Anyone who hunts artifacts in northeastern Colorado, the panhandle of Nebraska, or southeastern Wyoming finds artifacts and/or... more
Flattop Chalcedony is the most abundant prehistoric tool stone found by collectors in northeastern Colorado. Anyone who hunts artifacts in northeastern Colorado, the panhandle of Nebraska, or southeastern Wyoming finds artifacts and/or chipping debris made from Flattop Chalcedony. It is nearly impossible to avoid the material when artifact hunting in those areas, especially in northeastern Colorado. What is Flattop Chalcedony and where is its geological source? I will explore that and much more in my article.
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My story begins thirty-five or so miles northeast of Amarillo, Texas on what is now known as the Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument. The monument encompasses 1371 acres with over 700 visible prehistoric mining pits. For 13,000... more
My story begins thirty-five or so miles northeast of Amarillo, Texas on what is now known as the Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument. The monument encompasses 1371 acres with over 700 visible prehistoric mining pits. For 13,000 years or more, prehistoric humans mined a special rock type there that they used to make their projectile points and stone tools. In the following paragraphs, I will explore some of the history, prehistory, and geology surrounding that special rock type known as Alibates agatized dolomite.
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Pedogenic (secondary) carbonate is mostly CaCO₃ or calcium carbonate. Pedogenic carbonation occurs when rainwater mixes with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Together they form a diluted carbonic acid or H₂CO₃ in the soil. That weak... more
Pedogenic (secondary) carbonate is mostly CaCO₃ or calcium carbonate. Pedogenic carbonation occurs when rainwater mixes with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Together they form a diluted carbonic acid or H₂CO₃ in the soil. That weak acidic mixture dissolves other minerals in the soil and yields water-soluble calcium carbonate, bicarbonate, and other salts capable of precipitating onto other rocks and minerals when groundwater conditions permit it.
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Cody Complex projectile points and knife forms are some of the most distinctive and sought-after artifacts from Prehistoric America. Based on archaeological evidence, it appears that the people who made Cody Complex artifacts occupied... more
Cody Complex projectile points and knife forms are some of the most distinctive and sought-after artifacts from Prehistoric America. Based on archaeological evidence, it appears that the people who made Cody Complex artifacts occupied North America for approximately 2,800 years (Knell and Muniz 2013:p.13). The geographical reach of Cody Complex artifacts is second only to the Clovis prehistoric culture. We have found Cody Complex artifacts from the Great Basin in the west to the St. Lawrence River in the east, and from the Canadian plains in the
north to the Texas gulf coast in the south. This is the rest of the story.
north to the Texas gulf coast in the south. This is the rest of the story.
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The Angostura point type chronologically and morphologically overlaps with three other projectile point types on the High Plains: Frederick, Lusk, and Jimmy Allen. Some scholars have proposed lumping all four of these types into a single... more
The Angostura point type chronologically and morphologically overlaps with three other projectile point types on the High Plains: Frederick, Lusk, and Jimmy Allen. Some scholars have proposed lumping all four of these types into a single category called oblique-flaked Plano points, foregoing the use of specific point type names (Cassells 1986). Other scientists have proposed lumping these four projectile point types in what they called the Frontier Complex (Kornfeld et.al. 2010). A few scholars believe that the Angostura point type was not necessary at all because it fitted neatly within the Agate Basin projectile point type (Wood 1998). I am in the latter camp. In this article, I address the Angostura and Agate Basin projectile point types.
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Figure one shows a photograph of five projectile points from my collection. These points were all surface finds, recovered out of archaeological and geological context. I have classified these points as Paleoindian-made based on my... more
Figure one shows a photograph of five projectile points from my collection. These points were all surface finds, recovered out of archaeological and geological context. I have classified these points as Paleoindian-made based on my experience at projectile point identification. I determined that there are probably four projectile
point types in this batch of five. The objective for this photograph is to show readers how difficult and subtle it is to categorize projectile points that have many of the same features.
Originally, archaeologists interpreted the sequence of Goshen to Folsom to Midland to Plainview as more or less a serial transition, moving from one projectile point type to the next while the culture and lifestyle of the people making the projectile points remained much the same. Radiocarbon dating on old and new archaeological sites challenges the original interpretation of that serial transition.
point types in this batch of five. The objective for this photograph is to show readers how difficult and subtle it is to categorize projectile points that have many of the same features.
Originally, archaeologists interpreted the sequence of Goshen to Folsom to Midland to Plainview as more or less a serial transition, moving from one projectile point type to the next while the culture and lifestyle of the people making the projectile points remained much the same. Radiocarbon dating on old and new archaeological sites challenges the original interpretation of that serial transition.
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The Midland projectile point type is somewhat of a 'catchall' for several other types of projectile points. It is my experience that collectors and professionals alike tend to lump different types of indented Paleoindian projectile points... more
The Midland projectile point type is somewhat of a 'catchall' for several other types of projectile points. It is my experience that collectors and professionals alike tend to lump different types of indented Paleoindian projectile points under the Midland projectile point type umbrella. I have seen what I would call Goshen-Plainview, Allen, and even Cody Complex points categorized as Midland points. That does not make me right and those people wrong. That just demonstrates the difficulty people have differentiating Midland projectile points from other thin, indented base
Paleoindian projectile points. I have that same difficulty. This is my written response to that difficulty.
Paleoindian projectile points. I have that same difficulty. This is my written response to that difficulty.
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Investigators found Plainview points in Texas above Folsom points in the geologic column at the Plainview site. Applying the geological law of superposition, that meant Plainview projectile points were younger than Folsom projectile... more
Investigators found Plainview points in Texas above Folsom points in the geologic column at the Plainview site. Applying the geological law of superposition, that meant Plainview projectile points were younger than Folsom projectile points. However, at the Hell Gap site in Wyoming, investigators discovered the new Plainview lookalike projectile point below the Folsom geological horizon making that Plainview lookalike projectile point older than Folsom.
The dilemma was that the projectile points from the Plainview and Hell Gap Sites were morphologically and technologically the same type, but the
Plainview projectile points in Texas were younger than Folsom projectile points while at the Hell Gap Site, the Plainview lookalike point was older than Folsom. Based on that "age dilemma", Henry Irwin reluctantly proposed a new projectile point type called Goshen, after the county where the Hell Gap site was located.
Are Goshen and Plainview the same archaeological complex?
The dilemma was that the projectile points from the Plainview and Hell Gap Sites were morphologically and technologically the same type, but the
Plainview projectile points in Texas were younger than Folsom projectile points while at the Hell Gap Site, the Plainview lookalike point was older than Folsom. Based on that "age dilemma", Henry Irwin reluctantly proposed a new projectile point type called Goshen, after the county where the Hell Gap site was located.
Are Goshen and Plainview the same archaeological complex?
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Pronghorn antelope are one of the most common creatures on the great plains of North America. Some people love them while other people shun and look down on them. People call them prairie ghosts, pronghorns, antelope, goats, speed goats,... more
Pronghorn antelope are one of the most common creatures on the great plains of North America. Some people love them while other people shun and look down on them. People call them prairie ghosts, pronghorns, antelope, goats, speed goats, and stinkalopes. However, they have been around a lot longer than the human species. Here is part of their story.
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We know from current archaeological evidence that Clovis flintknapping technology started showing up in North American sites around 13,500 years ago. But where did the Paleoindians who made that technology come from? That's the... more
We know from current archaeological evidence that Clovis flintknapping technology started showing up in North American sites around 13,500 years ago. But where did the Paleoindians who made that technology come from? That's the million-dollar question. The first and longest-held belief was the Clovis First Theory which in
broad strokes stated that ancestral Clovis people, originating in Siberia, crossed the Bering Strait into Alaska during the last ice age when ocean levels were low. The theory proposed that these ancestral Clovis people holed up in Beringia until the Laurentide and Cordilleran ice sheets began melting and growing apart. The theory asserted that the Clovis people then migrated south between the ice sheets from Beringia through Canada and into the United States and Mexico.
The Clovis First Theory held water for decades and there are still a few scientists who hold onto that premise. Yet, we have not found any evidence or smoking gun that proves Clovis Paleoindians crossed the Bering Strait and brought their technology with them into North America. In other words, if Clovis people and their technology came to North America via Siberia, why can't we trace Clovis technology back to Beringia or Siberia
broad strokes stated that ancestral Clovis people, originating in Siberia, crossed the Bering Strait into Alaska during the last ice age when ocean levels were low. The theory proposed that these ancestral Clovis people holed up in Beringia until the Laurentide and Cordilleran ice sheets began melting and growing apart. The theory asserted that the Clovis people then migrated south between the ice sheets from Beringia through Canada and into the United States and Mexico.
The Clovis First Theory held water for decades and there are still a few scientists who hold onto that premise. Yet, we have not found any evidence or smoking gun that proves Clovis Paleoindians crossed the Bering Strait and brought their technology with them into North America. In other words, if Clovis people and their technology came to North America via Siberia, why can't we trace Clovis technology back to Beringia or Siberia
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We know from archaeological evidence that different Paleoindian cultures used different projectile point types. We know from investigations at several single-episode bison kill sites that Paleoindian hunters used the same projectile point... more
We know from archaeological evidence that different Paleoindian cultures used different projectile point types. We know from investigations at several single-episode bison kill sites that Paleoindian hunters used the same projectile point types. That suggests to me that the specific tribe or culture involved in each bison kill determined the projectile point style and technology used by the hunters who participated in the bison kills. A few examples of High Plains Paleoindian bison kill sites and the respective projectile point types in parentheses are Casper (Hell Gap), Olsen-Chubbuck (Firstview), Hudson-Meng (Alberta), Jimmy Allen (Jimmy Allen) and the Horner Site (Cody Complex). Either that means that everyone in the tribe was flintknapping the same style of projectile points or perhaps, there were one or two expert flintknappers within the tribe making all the projectile points for everyone else.
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Ever since the discovery of the famous Folsom, Clovis, and Plainview sites in the early part of the twentieth century, there has been an ongoing effort to identify and categorize all Paleoindian projectile points into specific projectile... more
Ever since the discovery of the famous Folsom, Clovis, and Plainview sites in the early part of the twentieth century, there has been an ongoing effort to identify and categorize all Paleoindian projectile points into specific projectile point types. Before the discovery of the above sites, archaeologists and collectors lumped most finely made western Paleoindian projectile points into a broad category called Yuma, named after the town in Colorado, where collectors found these artifacts in
sand blowouts during the Dust Bowl years of the 1930s. Two of the most recognizable Paleoindian projectile points are the Clovis and the Folsom. Here are some of their differences.
sand blowouts during the Dust Bowl years of the 1930s. Two of the most recognizable Paleoindian projectile points are the Clovis and the Folsom. Here are some of their differences.