AN ICE AGE QUARRY-WORKSHOP the West Athens Hill Site Revisited the UNIVERSITY of the STATE of NEW YORK Regents of the University
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AN ICE AGE QUARRY-WORKSHOP The West Athens Hill Site Revisited THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK Regents of The University ROBERT M. BENNETT, Chancellor, B.A., M.S. ................................................................... Tonawanda ADELAIDE L. SANFORD, Vice Chancellor, B.A., M.A., P.D. ............................................. Hollis DIANE O’NEILL MCGIVERN, B.S.N., M.A., Ph.D. .......................................................... Staten Island SAUL B. COHEN, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. ................................................................................. New Rochelle JAMES C. DAWSON, A.A., B.A., M.S., Ph.D. ................................................................... Peru ANTHONY S. BOTTAR, B.A., J.D. ....................................................................................... North Syracuse MERRYL H. TISCH, B.A., M.A. ......................................................................................... New York GERALDINE D. CHAPEY, B.A., M.A., Ed.D. .................................................................... Belle Harbor ARNOLD B. GARDNER, B.A., LL.B. ................................................................................... Buffalo HARRY PHILLIPS, 3rd, B.A., M.S.F.S. ............................................................................... Hartsdale JOSEPH E. BOWMAN,JR., B.A., M.L.S., M.A., M.Ed., Ed.D. .......................................... Albany LORRAINE A. CORTÉS-VÁZQUEZ, B.A., M.P.A. ................................................................ Bronx JAMES R. TALLON,JR., B.A., M.A. ................................................................................... Binghamton MILTON L. COFIELD, B.S., M.B.A., Ph.D. ........................................................................ Rochester JOHN BRADEMAS, B.A., Ph.D. .......................................................................................... New York President of The University and Commissioner of Education RICHARD P. MILLS Chief of Staff Counsel and Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs KATHY A. AHEARN Chief Operating Officer Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Management Services THERESA E. SAVO Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education CAROLE F. HUXLEY Director of the New York State Museum CLIFFORD A. SIEGFRIED Director, Research and Collections Division JOHN P. HART The State Education Department does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, religion, creed, disability, marital sta- tus, veteran status, national origin, race, gender, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or sexual orientation in its edu- cational programs, services, and activities. Portions of this publication can be made available in a variety of formats, including braille, large print or audio tape, upon request. Inquiries concerning this policy of nondiscrimination should be directed to the Department’s Office for Diversity, Ethics, and Access, Room 152, Education Building, Albany, N.Y. 12234. Requests for additional copies of the publication may be made by contacting Publications Sales, Room 3140, State Museum, Albany, N.Y. 12230. AN ICE AGE QUARRY-WORKSHOP The West Athens Hill Site Revisited by Robert E. Funk New York State Archaeologist (Emeritus) Anthropological Survey, New York State Museum New York State Museum Bulletin 504 2004 The University of New York The State Education Department © The New York State Education Department, Albany, New York 12230 Published 2004 Printed in the United States of America Copies may be ordered from: Publication Sales 3140 CEC New York State Museum Albany, New York 12230 Phone: (518) 402-5344 FAX: (518) 474-2033 Web address: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov./publications.html Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2004101578 ISBN: 1-55557-173-5 ISSN: 0278-3355 Cover Illustration: New York State Museum’s “Ice Age Hunters: New York’s First People” life group. iv EDITORIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS On September 19, 2002, just a few short days before his untimely and unexpected death, Bob Funk gave Beth Wellman for editing the manuscript that now constitutes this book. In the intervening months, a number of individuals have played important roles in bringing manuscript to publication. Bob’s son Al allowed me to access Bob’s home office to look for notes, photographs, and maps associated with the West Athens Hill site and the manuscript. Beth Wellman worked tirelessly in initial editing, assembling and iden- tifying figures and photographs, and checking proofs during the publication process. David Anderson, Jim Bradley, Jim Petersen, and Art Spiess all provided many useful comments and suggestions on the manuscript. Ted Beblowski scanned and electronical- ly edited the various line drawings and photographs. Jack Skiba checked proofs and managed the publication process. Leigh Ann Smith designed the cover. And, of course, Jim Petersen wrote a wonderful foreword placing Bob’s research at West Athens Hill into a larger context of Paleoindian research in the Northeast. I extend sincere thanks to every- one who made this publication happen. I think Bob would be very pleased. John P. Hart April 2004 v TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures .................................................................................................................................... vii List of Tables ...................................................................................................................................... ix Foreword ............................................................................................................................................ xi Prologue.............................................................................................................................................. l Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 Location and Discovery ................................................................................................................... 4 Regional Geography and Geology ................................................................................................. 5 Site Description and Setting ............................................................................................................ 10 Research Goals................................................................................................................................... 12 Excavation .......................................................................................................................................... 13 Sedimentary Contexts ...................................................................................................................... 15 Summary of Geological History ..................................................................................................... 23 Artifacts from Areas A and B .......................................................................................................... 25 Artifacts from Area C ....................................................................................................................... 57 Use-Wear Patterns on Artifacts ....................................................................................................... 71 Artifacts from Areas D, E, and F..................................................................................................... 76 Palynology.......................................................................................................................................... 77 Radiocarbon Dating.......................................................................................................................... 78 Stratigraphy, Typology, and Intrasite Settlement Patterns ......................................................... 79 Comparisons ...................................................................................................................................... 89 The Position of West Athens Hill among Northeastern Paleoindian Sites .............................. 117 A Speculative Reconstruction of Paleoindian Quarry and Workshop Activities.................... 123 General Conclusions......................................................................................................................... 125 Aknowledgments.............................................................................................................................. 132 Appendix: Descriptions of Cherts Commonly Found on Prehistoric sites in Eastern New York......................................................................................................................... 133 References Cited................................................................................................................................ 136 vi LIST OF FIGURES 1. Map of New York State showing location of West Athens Hill and other Paleoindian sites mentioned in the text........................................................................ 2 2. Geologic map of the middle Hudson Valley. ......................................................................... 8 3. Idealized west to east cross-section of bedrock formations in the vicinity of West Athens Hill. ................................................................................................................... 9 4. Map of the West Athens Hill site, showing major loci (Areas A, B, and C) and excavated areas. ................................................................................................................