The Cerutti Mastodon site and experimental archaeology's quiet coming of age

Eren, Metin I.; Bebber, Michelle R.

doi:10.15184/aqy.2019.50

Cited by 9 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Evoking an American Antiquity article by Surovell et al (2017), which characterises archaeological sites as a diminishing resource, Eren and Bebber (2019) suggest an experimental future for the field. Together with archaeological and genetic evidence, experimental archaeology will play an increasingly significant role in contemporary archaeological debates.…”

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confidence: 99%

Experimental futures in archaeology

et al. 2019

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Experimental archaeology can help to explain human patterns of production and discard from the Palaeolithic to historical periods, and can inform debates on topics as diverse as human migration and diet. When conducted unsystematically and used to support bold conclusions, however, experimental archaeology may quickly assume the trappings of bad science. Drawing on experimental and archaeological data, Holen et al. (2017) have argued for the presence of an approximately 130 000-year-old archaeological site in California. In our recent critique (Magnani et al. 2019), we evaluated the experimental data used by the authors to support their claims. In considering Holen and colleagues' rebuttal (2019), we first draw attention to their openness to quantitative analysis and further experimentation. While this approach is positive, we maintain that more rigorous experimentation should have been performed before publication of the original extraordinary claims. We agree with Eren and Bebber's (2019) succinct criticism: as with other scientific disciplines, experimental archaeology has matured. As Eren has stated elsewhere, This discussion might sound axiomatic or commonsensical, but we have encountered archaeologists who think that the mere act of 'busting rocks' or using a stone tool to butcher an animal constitutes publishable research. This may have been the case at one time in the same way that the act of dissecting a mollusk would have resulted in a published biology paper 150 years ago (Eren et al. 2016: 108).

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“…Although there are oft-repeated claims for a "pre-Clovis" presence in the Great Lakes-such as the Fenske, Hebior, Mud Lake, and Schaefer sites in southeastern Wisconsin-none of these is valid when scrutinized (Grayson and Meltzer 2015). (Eren et al 2018), Sheriden Cave (Redmond and Tankersley 2005), Nobles Pond (Seeman et al 1994), Jackson's Farm (Bebber, Miller, et al 2017), Black Diamond (Eren et al 2019), Salt Fork State Park (Werner et al 2017), and the Wauseon Preform (Eren, Redmond, et al 2016).…”

Section: Clovis Settlement Of the Great Lakes And Base Campsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yet, there is a clear south-to-north colonization of the Great Lakes supported by toolstone-source-to-discard patterns (Ellis 2011;Ellis et al 2011; see also Anderson 1990:190-196;Boulanger et al 2015;Loebel 2005;Simons 1997:115-118;Tankersley 1990:288, Figure 10). Current evidence suggests that Clovis colonizers primarily utilized a "collector-like" mobility strategy (e.g., Binford 1980) that emphasized logistical mobility to and from large base camps (e.g., Eren and Buchanan 2018;Eren et al , 2019Loebel 2005;Miller et al 2019). These larger camps were situated in "staging areas" (Anderson 1990(Anderson , 1995(Anderson , 1996Smallwood 2012;Smith 1990;Tankersley 1995) that would be used to "gear up" with tools and supplies before migration north into the next potential staging area (Boulanger et al 2015;Eren et al 2019;Miller et al 2019).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Current evidence suggests that Clovis colonizers primarily utilized a "collector-like" mobility strategy (e.g., Binford 1980) that emphasized logistical mobility to and from large base camps (e.g., Eren and Buchanan 2018;Eren et al , 2019Loebel 2005;Miller et al 2019). These larger camps were situated in "staging areas" (Anderson 1990(Anderson , 1995(Anderson , 1996Smallwood 2012;Smith 1990;Tankersley 1995) that would be used to "gear up" with tools and supplies before migration north into the next potential staging area (Boulanger et al 2015;Eren et al 2019;Miller et al 2019). The stone technologies produced, carried, used, and resharpened were portable, maintainable, and flexible (Eren 2011(Eren , 2013Eren and Andrews 2013;Thomas et al 2017; but see .…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Relevant to this colonization context is whether the Welling Clovis was an outcroprelated base camp (Lepper 1986(Lepper , 2005 or a lithic workshop (Prufer and Wright 1970;Seeman et al 1994). On the one hand, if it had been an outcrop-related base camp, then the site would have served as a known, immobile "hub" (Waters et al 2011) on the landscape where several Clovis groups would have been able to not only meet and procure rock but learn, feast, play games, share stories and information around the campfire, renew old acquaintances, make new alliances, and mourn the passing of friends and family who had died in the past year (Lepper 2005:45; see also Eren et al 2019;Meltzer 2009;Miller et al 2019). On the other hand, if Welling had been a lithic workshop, then it would have served only as a short-term locale where individual bands or task groups came to retool projectile points (Seeman et al 1994:81).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Was Welling, Ohio (33-Co-2), a Clovis Basecamp or Lithic Workshop? Employing Experimental Models to Interpret Old Collections

Martín¹,

Buchanan²,

Norris³

et al. 2020

Am. Antiq.

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Archaeological collections are foundational to the discipline. Yet, researchers who study curated assemblages can face challenges. Here, we show how experimental archaeology can play a vital role in the interpretation of old archaeological collections. The Welling site, in Coshocton County, Ohio, is a multicomponent, stratified site with a substantial Clovis component in its lower levels. Using experimental flaked stone replication, we create an analog model of a “pure” Clovis bifacial debitage assemblage, as might be found at a lithic workshop. We predicted that if the Welling Clovis debitage assemblage was representative of a lithic workshop, then it would be similar to the experimental model. If the debitage assemblage was representative of a base camp, however, then it would be significantly different from the model because Clovis people would have been using, transporting, resharpening, rejuvenating, and recycling the debitage—all activities that would modify a “pure” Clovis bifacial debitage assemblage. Our statistical analyses supported the latter prediction. Overall, our study illustrates how productive the integration of experimental and archaeological data can be, and it emphasizes how important the curation and accessibility of both archaeological and experimental collections are to the discipline.

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