UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2001 Paleoindian technological provisioning in the western Great Basin Kelly Elizabeth Graf University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Graf, Kelly Elizabeth, "Paleoindian technological provisioning in the western Great Basin" (2001). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 1286. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/0vqp-l6l4 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. 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PALEOINDIAN TECHNOLOGICAL PROVISIONING IN THE WESTERN GREAT BASIN by Kelly Elizabeth Graf Bachelor o f Science Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri 1995 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillm ent o f the requirements for the Master of Arts Degree Department of Anthropology and Ethnic Studies College of Liberal Arts Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas August 2001 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1406398 Copyright 2001 by Graf, Kelly Elizabeth All rights reserved. UMI UMI Microform 1406398 Copyright 2002 by Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Information and Leaming Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright by Kelly Elizabeth Graf 2001 A ll Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thesis Approval IINTV The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas July -5- The Thesis prepared by Kelly E. Graf Entitled Paleoindian Technological Provisioning in the Western Great Basin is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts /LUJ,. Examination Committee Chair Dean of the Graduate College Examination CommitteeMember LxamM lion Committee Member Graduate College Faculty Representative PR/I017-53/1-00 u Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Paleoindian Technological Provisioning In the Western Great Basin by Kelly Elizabeth Graf Dr. Alan H. Simmons, Examination Committee Chair Professor o f Anthropology University o f Nevada, Las Vegas North American archaeologists researching Paleoindian adaptations have suggested that Paleoindians, represented by Clovis, Folsom, and Plano traditions, were highly mobile foragers. By contrast, “ Paleoarchaic” hunter-gatherers o f the Great Basin are thought to have become increasingly sedentary through time, specially adapted and tethered to diverse lacustrine/marsh resources. My research project aims to understand human adaptation during the early Holocene through characterization o f the lithic assemblages Aom two stemmed point sites in western Nevada, the Sadmat and Coleman sites. These sites are located in the Lahontan basin and possess data sets unique and compelling in addressing the research objectives proposed in this study. Further, this thesis examines the technological organization and provisioning strategies represented at these sites in order to address the relative degrees of mobility of early Holocene peoples in the western Great Basin. Ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.........................................................................................................................iii LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................................ vi LIST OF FIGURES..............................................................................................................vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...................................................................................................... x CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................1 Background ................................................................................................................3 Tethered Wetland Adaptation..........................................................................6 Mobile Forager.............................................................................................. 7 Planning and Technological Provisioning Strategies .................................................... 8 Provisioning Places ........................................................................................ 8 Provisioning Individuals ................................................................................. 9 Research Goals.........................................................................................................10 CHAPTER 2 MATERIALS: SADMAT AND COLEMAN SITES......................................... 11 Sadmat Site, 26CH163 .............................................................................................. 13 Coleman Site, 26WA208 ...........................................................................................17 Previous Investigations o f Sadmat and Coleman Site Assemblages .............................. 20 Discussion ................................................................................................................23 Chronological Challenges ............................................................................. 23 Artifact Collection Challenges ....................................................................... 28 Reasons for Studying the Sadmat and Coleman Artifact Assemblages ..............29 CHAPTERS METHODOLOGY......................................................................................... 31 Descriptive Analysis .................................................................................................32 Raw M aterial............................................................................................... 32 Core Analysis .............................................................................................. 32 Debitage Analysis ........................................................................................ 35 Tool Assemblage......................................................................................... 37 Integrative Analysis..................................................................................................45 Statistical Analysis ....................................................................................... 45 X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analysis .............................................................. 46 Biface-to-Core Ratio .....................................................................................46 Formal Versus Informal Tool Production ....................................................... 47 Tool Use-life Histories ................................................................................. 47 Summary ..................................................................................................................50 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER 4 THE SADMAT AND COLEMAN ASSEMBLAGES........................................52