University of Nevada, Reno A Changing Valley, a Changing People: The Prehistoric Occupation of Northern Warner Valley, Oregon A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology by Donald D. Pattee Dr. Geoffrey M. Smith/Thesis Advisor May, 2014 ©Donald D. Pattee All rights reserved THE GRADUATE SCHOOL We recommend that the thesis prepared under our supervision by DONALD D. PATTEE entitled A Changing Valley, a Changing People: The Prehistoric Occupation of Northern Warner Valley, Oregon be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Dr. Geoffrey M. Smith, Advisor Dr. Christopher T. Morgan, Committee Member Dr. Dick R. Tracy, Graduate School Representative Marsha H. Read, Ph. D., Dean, Graduate School May, 2014 i ABSTRACT Warner Valley, Oregon was occupied as early as the terminal Pleistocene (~11,000 radiocarbon years ago [14C B.P.). Random and non-random pedestrian survey conducted over three field seasons by the Great Basin Paleoindian Research Unit (GBPRU) in the northern portion of the valley, which has been designated the Northern Warner Valley Study Area (NWVSA), has identified over 100 previously unrecorded sites dating to the Paleoindian and Archaic periods. This study considers all site data (e.g., site size and location, types of tools present, lithic debitage attributes) as well as x- ray fluorescence data for 185 obsidian projectile points and debitage from the NWVSA. Using these data, I test the hypothesis that a pronounced shift occurred in prehistoric lifeways of Paleoindian and Archaic groups there following the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. Results suggest that changes in subsistence strategies, occupation intensity, and lithic technological organization occurred, which are reflected in site and stone tool attributes. ii DEDICATION To my Mom and Dad, for encouraging me to do what I love. Without your countless sacrifice and guidance I would not be where I am today. To my wife Melissa, for always being there for me through the many ups and downs of writing this thesis. Your love and support over the past two years have made all the difference. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The completion of this thesis would not have been possible without the hard work and support of many people and organizations. First, I would like to thank the Great Basin Paleoindian Research Unit (GBPRU) for employing me as well as offering me the opportunity to work in Warner Valley, Oregon, a place that I will remember fondly. Second, I would like to thank the many students who participated in the 2011-2013 field seasons in northern Warner Valley. The prehistoric artifacts and sites they recorded over the three field seasons made my reconstruction of prehistoric lifeways there possible. Finally, I would like to thank the Desert Research Institute (DRI), Am-Arcs of Nevada, and the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Graduate Student Association for providing valuable funding for my thesis research. I would like to offer my most sincere thanks to the members of my committee. Dick Tracy’s attention to detail challenged me to question the validity of my methods, which led to more robust interpretations of my data. His warm presence and thoughtful comments made each committee meeting a pleasure. Chris Morgan exercised remarkable patience and provided insight into all of my GIS and statistics related problems. The constructive criticism and helpful advice he consistently offered pushed me think more deeply about my data and to not give up when nothing seemed to work in ArcMap. Geoff Smith went above and beyond in helping me throughout my coursework and thesis writing. He was always there to answer questions and provide feedback on my writing and/or interpretations. I am very grateful for his unwavering patience and the amount of time he devoted to ensuring that I was successful. Thank you, Geoff. iv I am truly grateful for the many people that made my time at UNR a pleasure. First, the energy that the faculty members here in the Department of Anthropology devoted to their students as well as their love for all things Anthropological made the department a warm and inviting place to learn. Second, Craig Skinner’s geochemical characterization of the numerous artifacts used in this thesis aided in my reconstruction of many important aspects of prehistoric lifeways in northern Warner Valley and ensured that my analysis went smoothly. Third, my friends here in Reno provided tremendous support over the past two years. I will not forget our weekly trips to the Little Waldorf or Archie’s where we commiserated about the many challenges of graduate school. Finally, my family provided constant love and moral support. My Mom and Dad helped me to realize my dream and never doubted the decisions I made. My wife, Melissa, inspired me to work hard and helped me see problems from a different perspective. Her patience and optimism brightened each day no matter what challenges I faced. Thank you all. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... i DEDICATION .................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. ix LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 The Prehistory of the Northern Great Basin .................................................................... 3 The Terminal Pleistocene/Early Holocene Transition: 12,500-7,000 14C B.P. ........... 3 Climate ..................................................................................................................... 3 Flora ......................................................................................................................... 4 Fauna ........................................................................................................................ 4 People ....................................................................................................................... 6 Warner Valley .......................................................................................................... 8 The Early Archaic Period: 7,000-5,000 14C B.P.......................................................... 9 Climate ..................................................................................................................... 9 Flora ....................................................................................................................... 10 Fauna ...................................................................................................................... 10 People ..................................................................................................................... 10 Warner Valley ........................................................................................................ 11 The Middle Archaic Period: 5,000-2,000 14C B.P. .................................................... 12 Climate ................................................................................................................... 12 Flora ....................................................................................................................... 12 Fauna ...................................................................................................................... 12 People ..................................................................................................................... 13 Warner Valley ........................................................................................................ 14 The Late Archaic Period: 2,000 14C B.P.-Contact and the Ethnographic Record of the Northern Great Basin ................................................................................................. 14 Climate ................................................................................................................... 14 vi Flora ....................................................................................................................... 15 Fauna ...................................................................................................................... 15 People ..................................................................................................................... 15 Warner Valley ........................................................................................................ 17 Reconstructing Prehistoric Behavior in the Great Basin ............................................... 18 Mobility ..................................................................................................................... 18 Occupation Span ........................................................................................................ 22 Land-use .................................................................................................................... 24 Summary ......................................................................................................................