FOLSOM LAND USE PATTERNS in the CENTRAL PLAINS By
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FOLSOM LAND USE PATTERNS IN THE CENTRAL PLAINS By Emily G. Williams Submitted to the graduate degree program in Anthropology and the Graduate Faculty of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. ________________________________ Chairperson Jack L. Hofman ________________________________ Frédéric Sellet ________________________________ Daniel S. Amick ________________________________ Rolfe D. Mandel ________________________________ Terry A. Slocum Date Defended: February 17th, 2015 The Dissertation Committee for Emily G. Williams certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: FOLSOM LAND USE PATTERNS IN THE CENTRAL PLAINS ________________________________ Chairperson Jack L. Hofman Date approved: February 17th, 2015 ii Abstract Folsom people lived in the Plains regions from 10,950 to 10,250 RCYBP. The calibrated radiocarbon ages for Folsom range between 12,900 to 12,000 years BP. In order to study Folsom land use in the Central Plains this study performs regional analyses of Paleoindian surface finds. Few stratified Folsom or early Paleoindian cultural deposits have been recorded in the Central Plains of Kansas and Nebraska (Blackmar and Hofman 2006; Hofman and Graham 1998), although many Paleoindian projectile points have been found in the region (Hofman 1996; Mandel 2008:342). Regional analyses are paramount to studying large scale land use patterns of Folsom culture in the Central Plains and Plains region (Amick 1994; Hill 2007; LeTourneau 2000; Meltzer 2006:16; Andrews et al. 2008). Accurate documentation and study of diagnostic Folsom artifacts (projectile points, preforms, and channel flakes) from both site and non-site contexts are required in order to perform regional analyses. The use of surface collections is key in addressing questions at a regional scale, especially in Nebraska which has no stratified or well-documented sites. As such, the study of surface artifacts offers the current best opportunity to study Folsom land use and organization in Nebraska and the Central Plains region. This study gives a description of the Central Plains Folsom dataset and what it represents and concludes by considering how this study’s dataset supports, enhances, or varies from the expectations of previous models of Folsom land use and technological organization. iii Dedication I dedicate this dissertation to my Dad, Anthony (Tony) Wayne Williams. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all your help throughout my college education. iv Acknowledgments I would like to thank my adviser, Dr. Jack Hofman, for his time, guidance, patience, and feedback throughout the dissertation process and graduate school years. I know this is a much better dissertation because of all of your input. I would also like to thank my committee members Dr. Frédéric Sellet, Dr. Dan Amick, and Dr. Rolfe Mandel for giving their time, thoughtful feedback, comments, and suggestions. I would like to thank Dr. Terry Slocum, my outside committee member for his time, feedback, and willingness to serve on my committee at the last minute. There are several dozen avocational archaeologists that have made this work possible and I would like to thank them all. Because of privacy issues I am not listing their names here. I would like to thank Dr. Steve Holen and Kevin Hammond for sending me information about additional Folsom artifacts for this project. I thank Rhonda Houser for her kindness and GIS knowledge, tips, and tricks that she shared with me. The maps in this dissertation would not have been possible without her imparting some of her extensive GIS skills and knowledge. Also, I thank my friend and mentor, Dr. Mary Adair, for her support, friendship, and mentoring throughout the years. I also thank Dr. Adair for being the best darn carpool buddy a girl could have. I thank my many fellow graduate students and friends, you are too many to name here, but I thank each and every one of you. I want to thank my friend Dr. Shawna Chapman— you always knew I could do it and you were right. I thank my siblings—Erin, Bridget, Joe, and Kate—for their support throughout the graduate school years. I thank my parents, Tony and Janet, for their encouragement to continue my education. Also, I thank my grandparents Bill and Willa for their support throughout the v graduate school years. I want to thank my husband, Koushik Adhikari, for his emotional support throughout the dissertation process. vi Table of Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... iii Dedication ...................................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................... v Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... vii List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. viii List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. x Chapter 1: Introduction and Background to the Study Area ........................................................... 1 Chapter 2: Method and Theory for Regional Non-Site Archaeology and Early Paleoindian Period Research ........................................................................................................................................ 17 Chapter 3: Pattern Recognition in the Data: Overall Spatial Patterns .......................................... 56 Chapter 4: Evaluation of Potential Modern Biases ....................................................................... 87 Chapter 5: Pattern Recognition in the Data: Lithic Materials and Reduction Stages ................. 120 Chapter 6: Folsom Land Use and Technological Organization in the Central Plains: What Do the Patterns Mean? ............................................................................................................................ 194 Chapter 7: Summary ................................................................................................................... 217 References Cited ......................................................................................................................... 230 Appendix: Nebraska Folsom Projectile Point, Preform, and Channel Flake Data ..................... 241 vii List of Figures Figure 1.1: Ecoregions of Nebraska.............................................................................................. 12 Figure 1.2: Names of Nebraska Counties ..................................................................................... 13 Figure 3.1: Overall Folsom Artifact Distribution by County ....................................................... 59 Figure 3.2: Overall Folsom Artifact Distribution by Ecoregion ................................................... 60 Figure 3.3: Folsom and Midland Projectile Point Distribution by County ................................... 67 Figure 3.4: Folsom and Midland Projectile Point Distribution by Ecoregion .............................. 68 Figure 3.5: Preform and Channel Flake Distributions by County ................................................ 71 Figure 3.6: Preform and Channel Flake Distributions by Ecoregion............................................ 72 Figure 3.7: Complete and Nearly Complete Projectile Points Distribution by County ................ 76 Figure 3.8: Complete and Nearly Complete Projectile Points Distribution by Ecoregion ........... 77 Figure 3.9: Projectile Point Blades and Edge Distribution by County ......................................... 79 Figure 3.10: Projectile Point Blades and Edge Distribution by Ecoregion................................... 80 Figure 3.11: Projectile Point Bases Distribution by County ......................................................... 82 Figure 3.12: Projectile Point Bases Distribution by Ecoregion .................................................... 83 Figure 3.13: Projectile Point Tips Distribution by County ........................................................... 85 Figure 3.14: Projectile Point Tips Distribution by Ecoregion ...................................................... 86 Figure 4.1: Clovis Distribution in Nebraska. Figure adapted from Holen’s 2003 Clovis distribution study ........................................................................................................................ 115 Figure 4.2: Folsom Distribution in Nebraska ............................................................................. 115 Figure 5.1: Frequency of Material Types ................................................................................... 126 Figure 5.2: White River Group Silicates Distribution by Reduction Stage and County ............ 132 Figure 5.3: White River Group Silicates Distribution by Reduction Stage and Ecoregion ........ 134 Figure 5.4: Hartville Chert Distribution by Reduction Stage and County .................................. 141 Figure 5.5: Hartville Chert by Reduction Stage and Ecoregion ................................................. 143 Figure 5.6: Smoky Hill Jasper Distribution by Reduction Stage and County ...........................