Lithic Analysis of an Early Archaic Assemblage on the Great Plains
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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Anthropology Department Theses and Anthropology, Department of Dissertations 4-2019 Lithic Analysis of an Early Archaic Assemblage on the Great Plains: The prS ing Creek Site (25FT31) Andrea Elizabeth Kruse Univeristy of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/anthrotheses Part of the Anthropology Commons Kruse, Andrea Elizabeth, "Lithic Analysis of an Early Archaic Assemblage on the Great Plains: The prS ing Creek Site (25FT31)" (2019). Anthropology Department Theses and Dissertations. 57. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/anthrotheses/57 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Anthropology, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Anthropology Department Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Lithic Analysis of an Early Archaic Assemblage on the Great Plains: The Spring Creek Site (25FT31) By Andrea Elizabeth Kruse A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Arts Major: Anthropology Under the Supervision of Professor Phil R. Geib Lincoln, Nebraska April 2018 Lithic Analysis of an Early Archaic Assemblage on The Great Plains: The Spring Creek Site (25FT31) Andrea E. Kruse, M.A. University of Nebraska, 2018 Advisor: Phil R. Geib Early Archaic sites on the Great Plains are few in number and often little studied and poorly reported, as they are almost always found via salvage or compliance archaeology. Of those Early Archaic sites that have been studied, rarely has the recovered debitage been analyzed in detail nor have tools been fully evaluated for use-wear. This thesis describes the lithic assemblage from the Spring Creek (25FT31) site located in southwestern Nebraska. As one of two important early sites in the state, detailed lithic analysis will complement the thorough analysis of faunal remains conducted in the 2000s. This thesis presents the methods used to complete debitage and tool analyses including use-wear analysis. By using lithic analysis along with fauna analysis, archaeologists can gain better understanding of the relationship of the resources procured by Early Archaic hunter-gatherers on the Great Plains landscape. i Acknowledgements A huge thank you goes to the Bureau of Reclamation for letting me use this collection for my thesis. Thank you also to History Nebraska for working with me to gather the collection, looking at old field notes, and getting photos. Thank you to Trisha Nelson and Catherine G. Griffin for your help in obtaining the Spring Creek Collection! I give many thanks to my committee members Dr. Dawn Bringelson, Dr. LuAnn Wandsinder, and Dr. Phil Geib for their advice and recommendations during this process. Dr. Geib thank you for your patience in teaching me all the ins and outs of flakes and lithics, wonderful classes, and support in this thesis. Thank you to UNL Graduate Studies Travel Award and UNL Department of Anthropology’s Ward Weakly Memorial Fund for the funding to present this research at the SAA. Massive thanks goes to Jade Robison for helping edit my drafts, being a sounding board, and supporting me during my time at UNL. Another big thank you goes to Anna Demsey for being a great classmate, climbing partner and for letting me talk all about my thesis. Thanks to Amy, Sara, Brian, and June for being great classmates and for your help over the years. A great deal of thanks to my family and friends for all the support over the years and for the encouragement of starting down this path of “digging in the dirt”. My parents, Kurt and Jerene and brother Kyle for all you understanding, support, patience, love, and reading and learning about random anthropology and archaeology over these years! Along with the Luther Girls, BG girls, Steamboat kiddos, and wonderful co-workers at Rout NF for getting me all started (Eric, Bridget, Missy, Kelsey, Erin, Cal, Brit). Colin Betts and Mama Lori Stanley for all your support “back in the day” at Luther and helping me fall in love with anthropology and archaeology, but also all your encouragement still to this day! ii Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................1 Outline of Thesis ............................................................................................................. 3 CHAPTER 2: LANDSCAPE OF EARLY ARCHAIC GREAT PLAINS AREA .......5 Physiography ................................................................................................................... 5 Grassland Ecology, Vegetation, and Fauna .................................................................... 6 Climate ............................................................................................................................ 8 CHAPTER 3: EARLY ARCHAIC- BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH INSIGHTS ............................................................................................................................................12 Before the Early Archaic ............................................................................................... 12 Sites in the Great Plains ................................................................................................ 14 Cherokee Sewer Site .................................................................................................. 16 Simonsen Site ............................................................................................................ 22 Logan Creek .............................................................................................................. 24 Hill Site ...................................................................................................................... 27 Hawken Site ............................................................................................................... 28 The Growen Site ........................................................................................................ 32 Schudel Site Complex ............................................................................................... 34 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 37 Chapter 4: Optimal Foraging Theory: Interpreting Early Archaic Sites on the Great Plains .................................................................................................................................39 Hunter-Gatherers ........................................................................................................... 39 Optimal Foraging Theory .............................................................................................. 41 Diet during the Early Archaic and Bison on the Plains................................................. 42 Domesticated Canid ...................................................................................................... 44 Stone Sourcing .............................................................................................................. 48 Lithic Technology ......................................................................................................... 50 Site Function ................................................................................................................. 51 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 51 CHAPTER 5: Spring Creek Research ...........................................................................53 Spring Creek 1960s ....................................................................................................... 53 Spring Creek 2000s ....................................................................................................... 63 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 66 iii Chapter 6: Methods .........................................................................................................67 Lithic Analysis .............................................................................................................. 67 Groundstone .................................................................................................................. 73 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 73 Chapter 7: Analysis of the Spring Creek Lithic Assemblage ......................................74 Debitage ........................................................................................................................ 75 Flaked Tools .................................................................................................................. 83 Retouched Flakes ....................................................................................................... 90 Bifaces ....................................................................................................................... 95 Projectile Point Preforms ........................................................................................... 99 Projectile Points ......................................................................................................