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University of Nevada, Reno Evaluating Gaps in the Radiocarbon Sequences of Northwestern Great Basin Sandals A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology by Aaron Patrick Ollivier Dr. Geoffrey M. Smith/Thesis Advisor May, 2016 ©Aaron Patrick Ollivier All Rights Reserved THE GRADUATE SCHOOL We recommend that the thesis prepared under our supervision by AARON OLLIVIER Entitled Evaluating Gaps In The Radiocarbon Sequences Of Northwestern Great Basin Sandals be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Geoffrey M. Smith, Ph.D., Advisor J. Pat Barker, Ph.D., Committee Member Peter Weisberg, Ph.D., Graduate School Representative David W. Zeh, Ph.D., Dean, Graduate School May, 2016 i ABSTRACT Large gaps occur in the radiocarbon sequences of Multiple Warp and Spiral Weft sandals. The gaps begin during the initial Middle Holocene and last for several millennia; however, the sandal types are technologically indistinguishable on either side of them. To test hypotheses regarding the cause of these gaps, I evaluate the existing radiocarbon sequences of both sandal types, present 24 additional radiocarbon dates on sandals, and critically evaluate chronological data from sandal-bearing sites in the northwestern Great Basin. My results demonstrate that the gaps in the sandal radiocarbon sequences are highly unlikely to occur due to chance. Instead, the gaps are likely a product of changing land-use patterns during the initial Middle Holocene. During this generally arid period of Great Basin prehistory, groups began utilizing areas where reliable water was found in both lowland and upland areas. This change necessitated abandoning the caves and rockshelters groups occupied during the Early Holocene, areas that afford excellent preservation of perishable artifacts like sandals. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The following people and organizations provided invaluable support for completing this thesis. First, the Great Basin Paleoindian Research Unit (GBPRU), the Sven and Astrid Liljeblad Endowment, the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Graduate Student Association, and the Lakeview BLM funded my research. Second, the Summit Lake Paiute Tribe, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada State Museum, UNR Anthropology Museum, and Lakeview BLM granted permission to radiocarbon date additional sandals from Last Supper Cave, South Warner Cave, and LSP-1.Third, my committee members – Dr. Geoffrey Smith, Dr. Pat Barker, and Dr. Peter Weisberg – offered guidance and patience throughout the writing process. I am especially thankful for the time my advisor, Dr. Smith, has invested in my education. Dr. Dave Rhode helped me understand how to interpret gaps in radiocarbon sequences, and Dr. Tom Connolly and Dr. Dennis Jenkins provided important unpublished information about several sites. Finally, my family has loved and supported me through the years, my friends provided a stiff drink to help alleviate the frustrations of academic work, and my graduate cohort offered companionship throughout my time at UNR, which has affirmed my decision to make archaeology my career. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.........................................................................................................................i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...................................................................................................ii LIST OF TABLES..............................................................................................................vi LIST OF FIGURES...........................................................................................................vii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION........................................................................................1 Background..............................................................................................................2 Sandal Technology.................................................................................................12 Definition of Types....................................................................................12 Temporal and Spatial Distribution.............................................................15 Unresolved Research Questions............................................................................18 CHAPTER 2: MATERIALS AND METHODS...............................................................22 Materials................................................................................................................22 Previously Dated Sandals..........................................................................23 Additional Directly Dated Sandals............................................................23 Chronological Data of Sandal-Bearing Sites.............................................29 Sandal-Bearing Sites..................................................................................40 iv The Good...................................................................................................40 The Bad......................................................................................................41 The Ugly....................................................................................................45 Methods.................................................................................................................50 CHATPTER 3: RESULTS................................................................................................61 Mind the Gaps........................................................................................................61 Additional Radiocarbon Dated Specimens............................................................63 Evaluating the Chronological Data........................................................................65 The Good...................................................................................................66 The Bad......................................................................................................73 The Ugly....................................................................................................80 Summary....................................................................................................86 CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION.............................................................................................89 Null Hypothesis.....................................................................................................89 Hypothesis #1.........................................................................................................90 Hypothesis #2.........................................................................................................93 Middle Holocene Land-Use...................................................................................94 The Lunette Lake Period............................................................................95 The Bergen Period.....................................................................................97 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION........................................................................................100 v Summary of Interpretations.................................................................................102 Future Research Directions..................................................................................104 REFERENCES CITED....................................................................................................105 vi LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1 Dated Multiple Warp and Spiral Weft Sandals..........................................25 Table 2.2 Radiocarbon Dates from Northwestern Great Basin Sites.........................30 Table 2.3 Age Ranges for Projectile Point Types......................................................37 Table 2.4 Projectile Point Frequencies from Northwestern Great Basin Sites..........39 Table 2.5 Defining Attributes of Additional Radiocarbon-Dated Sandals................59 Table 3.1 New Sandal Radiocarbon Dates.................................................................64 Table 3.2 Summary of Evidence for Middle Holocene Hiatuses..............................88 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1 The Hydrographic Great Basin....................................................................3 Figure 1.2 Summed Probability Distribution of the Fort Rock Basin Radiocarbon Sequence.................................................................................6 Figure 1.3 Summed Probability Distribution of the Western Lahontan Basin Radiocarbon Sequence.......................................................7 Figure 1.4 Northwestern Great Basin Sandal Types...................................................14 Figure 1.5 V-Twined Sandals......................................................................................15 Figure 1.6 Geographic Distributions of Northwestern Great Basin Sandals..............17 Figure 2.1 Sandal-Bearing Sites of the Northwestern Great Basin.............................27 Figure 2.2a Sandals from Last Supper Cave.................................................................53 Figure 2.2b Last Supper Cave Sandals, Continued.......................................................54 Figure 2.3 Sandals from South Warner Cave..............................................................55 Figure 2.4 Profile of Pit F.14.10, LSP-1.....................................................................57 Figure 2.5 Sandals from LSP-1...................................................................................58