Preceramic Archaic Sites in the Highlands of Honduras

Bullen, Ripley P.; Plowden, William W.

doi:10.2307/278281

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…On the basis of physical evidence collected during stratigraphic excavations, we believe that the rockshelter existed much as it does today throughout the period of human occupation. The possibility of early occupation in the region was first suggested by Bullen and Plowden (1963) and later reiterated by MacNeish MacNeish and Nelken-Terner 1983). Bullen and Plowden originally argued for a Paleoindian occupation based on the presence of aceramic sites with bifacial projectile points made of obsidian.…”

Section: El Gigante Rocksheltermentioning

confidence: 99%

The El Gigante Rockshelter: Preliminary Observations on an Early to Late Holocene Occupation in Southern Honduras

Scheffler¹,

Hirth²,

Hasemann

2012

Latin Am. antiq.

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La cueva de El Gigante en las tierras altas de Honduras fue ocupada tan temprano como 10,000 años a.P. y da información previamente desconocida sobre la prehistoria de Honduras. Las condiciones climáticas secas resultan en una excelente preservación de esta área residencial. Las excavaciones documentaron una clara secuencia de ocho estratos culturales bien definidos que contienen hogares, así como depósitos densos de lítica, y restos microbotánicos y faunísticos. Basándose en métodos de fechamiento de radiocarbon convencional y AMS, se identificaron tres horizontes culturales distintos. La ocupación más antigua es de la fase Esperanza, la cual representa ocupación del Arcaico Temprano que se extiende entre 10,040–9100 a.P. La segunda es la fase Marcala que corresponde al periodo Arcaico Medio, entre 7350–6050 a.P. La tercera y más reciente ocupación en estas cuevas es en la fase Estanzuela, entre 3900–1500 a.P. El Gigante fue usado como residencia durante los dos periodos del Arcaico. Varias puntas de proyectil largas fueron recuperadas en niveles estratigráficos claramente identificados como del Paleoindio. El examen de los datos faunísticos muestra que, mientras disminuyen los huesos de mamíferos grandes, aumentan los de mamíferos de menor tamaño y los de animales no mamíferos. Una gran cantidad de maíz (Zea sp.) está presente en el sitio durante el periodo Estanzuela. La variedad de materiales de comida encontrados entre la transición sugiere el mantenimiento a largo plazo de una amplitud dietética en el contexto de una economía flexible y mezclada. El Gigante es un sitio que revela información clave en relación a la colonización inicial de Centroamérica y la incorporación de especies domesticadas dentro de una base de forrajeo que acompaña a la transición a la agricultura.

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Section: El Gigante Rocksheltermentioning

confidence: 99%

The El Gigante Rockshelter: Preliminary Observations on an Early to Late Holocene Occupation in Southern Honduras

Scheffler¹,

Hirth²,

Hasemann

2012

Latin Am. antiq.

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“…Bullen and Plouden (1963) found "Archaic" points in Honduras but they were side notched, weak shouldered, and made of obsidian; some had long, narrow stems. Bullen and Plouden (1963) found "Archaic" points in Honduras but they were side notched, weak shouldered, and made of obsidian; some had long, narrow stems.…”

Section: Preceramic Neighborsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preceramic Projectile-Point Typology in Belize

Kelly

1993

Ancient Mesoam

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Sufficient 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.

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“…Of the six known Costa Rican examples, one is Type 3 and the rest are either Type 1 or Type 2, which is similar to the classic western Clovis. Farther north in Guatemala and Mexico, all known fluted points are Type 1 or Type 2; the so-called fishtail points found some years ago in Honduras (Bullen and Plowden 1963) are not now considered to be paleo-Indian (Roberto Reyes Mazzoni, personal communication). Gruhn and Bryan (1977:262-264), among others, have suggested that the fluted point tradition arose in south-central North America among people who simultaneously maintained the much longer established tradition of foraging, along with its different tool kit.…”

Section: Summary and Significance Of The Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cerro Mangote, a coastal shell midden site also dating to 7000-6000 B.P., is likewise characterized by manos, metates, and other ground stone implements (McGimsey 1956(McGimsey , 1958. In Honduras (Bullen and Plowden 1963), stemmed projectile points have been found which are apparently preceramic, but they are unlike the fishtail (Magellan) points typical of MacNeish's Stage IV in Panama and much of South America.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Turrialba: A Paleo-Indian Quarry and Workshop Site in Eastern Costa Rica

Snarskis¹

1979

Am. antiq.

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Turrialba, a multicomponent quarry and manufacturing site in eastern Costa Rica, has yielded in surface collections 18 fluted points, fragments, and preforms. Both North and South American paleo-Indian point types are represented. Also present are keeled scrapers, end scrapers with lateral spurs, large flake side scrapers, burins, knives, and large blades. Turrialba is as yet undated, but future excavations at the site will be crucial in understanding the diffusion and development of the fluted point tradition in the Americas.

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Preceramic Archaic Sites in the Highlands of Honduras

Cited by 17 publications

References 5 publications

The El Gigante Rockshelter: Preliminary Observations on an Early to Late Holocene Occupation in Southern Honduras

The El Gigante Rockshelter: Preliminary Observations on an Early to Late Holocene Occupation in Southern Honduras

Preceramic Projectile-Point Typology in Belize

Turrialba: A Paleo-Indian Quarry and Workshop Site in Eastern Costa Rica

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