Intercluster Lithic Patterning at Nobles Pond: A Case for “Disembedded” Procurement among Early Paleoindian Societies

Abstract

This study examines the relation between raw-material procurement and subsistence behavior among foraging societies. “Embedded procurement” of raw materials may characterize many or most modern foraging societies (Binford 1979). Past societies, however, present economic configurations different than those of any contemporary society. The Early Paleoindian societies of North America present extreme examples in this regard, and were characterized by high mobility, low population density, and high weapon reliability. A lithic-debitage analysis of a portion of the Nobles Pond site (33ST357) supports the argument that the acquisition of lithic raw materials was not embedded in subsistence behavior, but rather, was a specialized activity required by the particular demands of band aggregation in a location far removed from sources of acceptable lithic materials.

Measuring Paleoindian range mobility and land-use in the Great Lakes/Northeast

“…As noted earlier, some have argued such trips were made and if they were, range mobility estimates would be inflated. I agree with Seeman (1994) that the presence of certain raw material sources may have channeled the movement patterns of groups through specific areas during normal settlement movements. Yet, for two reasons, I do not think logistical mobility has had a major effect on estimates of range mobility.…”

“…Then, as things warmed up in the spring, they could gear up at particular sources before moving north. Alternatively, as Seeman (1994) suggested, the particular route they followed may have been channeled through intervening toolstone source areas on the way. In later times, when the more northerly locations were better known and settled on a more regular basis, they could have shifted chert procurement slightly from just before moving north to just after reaching northern locations, a strategy that would cut down on the bulk of material that needed to be carried over some distance.…”

Evaluating protein residues on Gainey phase Paleoindian stone tools

“…The predominant component is early Paleoindian with diagnostics attributable to the Gainey phase ca. 11,200-10,800 BP (Seeman, 1994;Seeman et al, 1994). Nearly 6000 m 2 have been excavated at the site, and over 55,000 flakes and tools have been recovered, mainly from plow-disturbed contexts.…”

Expediting and standardizing stone artifact refitting using a computerized suitability model

“…Just as importantly, refitting can inform on stone tool technology, raw material use, and other aspects of the chaîne opératoire [7,9,12,25,38,39,52,62]. Through refitting, the steps performed during tool production and maintenance can be retraced.…”