The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Electronic Theses and Dissertations Fogler Library 2002 Variability and Continuity between Paleoindian Assemblages in the Northeast: A Technological Approach Edward Cyrus Moore Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/etd Part of the Archaeological Anthropology Commons, and the Paleontology Commons Recommended Citation Moore, Edward Cyrus, "Variability and Continuity between Paleoindian Assemblages in the Northeast: A Technological Approach" (2002). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 658. http://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/etd/658 This Open-Access Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. VARIABILITY AND CONTINUITY BETWEEN PALEOINDIAN ASSEMBLAGES IN THE NORTHEAST: A TECHNOLOGICAL APPROACH BY ~dwardCyrus Moore B.S. University of Oregon, 1993 A THESIS Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science (in Quaternary Studies) The Graduate School The University of Maine May, 2002 Advisory Committee: David Sanger, Professor of Anthropology and Quaternary Studies, Advisor Daniel Bellmap, Professor of Geological Sciences Richard Will, Adjunct Professor of Quaternary Studies VARIABILITY AND CONTINUITY BETWEEN PALEOINDIAN ASSEMBLAGES IN THE NORTHEAST: A TECHNOLOGICAL APPROACH By Edward C. Moore Thesis ~dvisor:Dr. David Sanger An Abstract of the Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science (in Quaternary Studies) May, 2002 The Paleoindian record in Maine consists almost exclusively of stone artifacts. Of these artifacts, the fluted projectile point is the most widely recognized and researched, particularly its morphology. Very little is known of the technological strategies involved in the production of Paleoindian stone tools or whether these strategies were consistent between Paleoindian sites. This research examines stone tool production methods and technological organization between two Paleoindian sites in Maine (Janet Cormier and Nicholas) using remnant technological attributes observed on discarded artifacts. Both sites are located in southwestern Maine within the Little Androscoggin River. The sites are situated on elevated, well-drained landforms far removed fiom the present Little Androscoggin River channel. The types of stone used for tool manufacture were transported fiom two primary sources, Mt. Jasper in Berlin, New Hampshire and the Munsungun Formation in northern Maine. These two sources are not distributed evenly between the sites suggesting some level of variation in lithic procurement strategies. The stone assemblages from the sites consist of a variety of tool forms manufactured with bifacial and unifacial flalung technologies. Tool production at both sites was organized around a biface Ad prepared core technology. The cores and biface forms associated with these technologies were initially prepared at other locations, perhaps near the quarry, and then transported to the sites. The biface technology is characterized by two strategies. One strategy involved the use of thin blanks that required minimal effort to reduce and shape into a desired tool form, while the other strategy used thicker blanks that involved more extensive reduction methods to produce the desired tool form. Tentatively, these biface production strategies correlate with non-fluted and fluted biface forms, respectively. The variation in production strategies may reflect a more economical use of the lithic resources utilized by Paleoindian groups that traditionally manufactured fluted points. The prepared core technology is best represented among unifacial tool forms, particularly those referred to as distal unifaces or end scrapers. It emphasized linear flaking along flake scar ridges andor comers of the core. The blanks from this technology were typically thick in section with a triangular longitudinal profile. A procedure sometimes associated with end scraper production, and present at both sites, is the removal of a single, parallel flake from the dorsal surface that resembles a flute. Other core forms possibly utilized in tool production include conical-shaped cores, multi- sided cores, and large biface cores. The latter may have been more heavily utilized among the Janet Cormier site inhabitants. DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my daughter Anna. May you grow up with love in your heart for all things and inspire those around as you have inspired me. Smile on. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am deeply indebted to several people who supported me throughout this process. First, thanks go to David Sanger, my advisor, for allowing me the opportunity to conduct this research. He has given me much insight on lithic technology and provided professional and intellectual guidance.' Sincere thanks go to my committee members, Rick Will and Dan Belknap for their editorial comments. Rick Will has been a fiiend and mentor to me throughout most of my archaeological career and I could not have accomplished this research without his support. Steve Bicknell has spent considerable effort and time in preparing graphics and plates. His expertise has certainly given me a great appreciation for the art of photography and all it entails. Thanks are due several institutions whose financial support made this research possible. First, the Institute for Quaterni%ry and Climate Studies at the University of Maine, Orono provided a research assistantship. Archaeological Research Consultants, Inc. of Ellsworth, Maine and the Maine Historic Preservation Commission contributed grants for field excavations at the Janet Cornier Site. In addition, Archaeological Research Consultants, Inc. loaned artifacts and provided technical support for preparation of this thesis. Additional thanks go to several volunteers who spent two field seasons excavating at the Janet Cornier Site. Finally, my family and friends deserve credit for the sacrifices they have made during this experience. I owe considerable thanks to Teresa Williams who gave me confidence and support throughout this endeavor. Also, thanks go to my mother who has guided me throughout my life and has never wavered in her support. TABLE OF CONTENTS .. DEDICATION .......................................................................................................................... 11 ... ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................................... 111 LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES ............................. i ...................................................................................xi Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 Cultural Context .............................................................................................................2 History of Research ........................................................................................................................... 3 Chronology.................................................................................................................... -5 Subsistence and Settlement ............................................................................................ 8 Artifact Assemblages .................................................................................................. 11 Technology................................................................................................................... 12 2 . ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT AND SITE DESCRIPTION .............................16 Deglaciation ................................................................................................................ 16 Vegetation ....................................................................................................................19 Regional Site Setting.................................................................................................... 21 Janet Cormier Site .................................................................................................. 22 Previous Research ........................................................................................... -22 Stratigraphy and Soils ......................................................................................26 Nicolas Site ............................................................................................................ 28 Previous Research .......................................................................................... 3 1 Stratigraphy and Soils ...................................................................................... 33 3 . METHODS ......................................................................................................................... 35 Lithic Material Groups ................................................................................................. 37 Aphanitic Felsites (Afi)......................................................................................... 39 Porphyritic Felsites (Pfi)....................................................................................... 40 Chert ......................................................................................................................-40