Renewed Investigation of Sites within the Black Mesa Region, Oklahoma Panhandle

Summary

Early archaeological investigations in the Black Mesa area of Oklahoma were geared toward the discovery of additional evidence of "Early Man" in North America. The 1926 discovery of the Folsom type site encouraged E.B. Renaud to explore caves along the Dry Cimarron just 50 kilometers downstream. Rather than discovering additional Paleoindian sites, the University of Denver’s surveys documented numerous post-Folsom occupations. Despite the early documentation of these sites, systematic investigation in the area has been sporadic. Renewed interest in this region resulted in several systematic surveys and test excavations at four archaeological sites. Results of these studies address gaps in our current understanding and build a foundation for future research. In addition to presenting new radiocarbon dates, this paper presents the results of a lithic analysis conducted to assess the usage of local outcrops of Dakota quartzite through time. Using newly acquired data, broader questions regarding subsistence and inter-regional spheres of interaction are also addressed.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage