Western Stemmed Occupations of the Northern Great Basin

Summary

Recent research into the chronology and character of Western Stemmed Tradition occupations at the Paisley and Connley Caves provides new insight into the settlement-subsistence patterns and social organization of the period >13,000 to 9000 cal. BP. Human populations may have been larger, more social, and territorially constrained than previously envisioned. Long distance movement of obsidian artifacts across the landscape probably reflect brief population agglomerations (festivals) scheduled to coincide seasonally with peak periods of biologic productivity (late summer-early fall). Pronghorn and rabbit drives, in particular, in and around grasslands surrounding lowland lakes and marshes offered the perfect opportunity to meet potential mates, trade, gamble, exchange gossip, and keep abreast of social developments.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Alternative Perspectives on the Peopling of the New World: A Symposium in Honor of Ruth Gruhn, the "First Lady" of First Americans Studies   •
• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 13252