Refining Paleo-Indian Lithic Technology at Shawnee-Minisink via an Artifact Refitting Study

Abstract

A collection of lithic artifacts from the Shawnee-Minisink site in Pennsylvania, originally excavated, analyzed, and published by American University in the 1970-80s, was re-studied using primarily the methodology of refitting. The results of this new study strengthen many of the original conclusions, contradict others, and provide a more nuanced interpretation of Clovis-period activities at the site. It confirms the remarkable spatial integrity of the site and supports the extensive refurbishment of scrapers that entered the site as finished products, as well as on-site production exploiting local chert sources and the use of distinctive hafting techniques. Refitting further confirms the predominance of endscrapers in the assemblage, including fragments that have been interpreted otherwise; suggests that many were made on blades and blade-like flakes, rather than flakes; and provides some evidence for core-blade reduction at the site. This re-analysis strengthens the view that the excavated portion of the site represents an area of intensive specialized economic activity.