Younger Dryas Fluted Technologies: A Comparison of Folsom, Cumberland, and Barnes Technologies

Summary

The transition from Clovis fluting techniques to the variety of later Paleoindian fluting methods and fluted-point morphologies represents one of the earliest major technological shifts currently known in North America. This transition generally coincides with the beginning of the Younger Dryas, and much speculation exists concerning potential correlations between changes in environmental factors and Paleoindian technologies. Some researchers argue that late Pleistocene ecological transitions and subsequent variation in fluted-point technologies demonstrate early stages of cultural regionalization as people began to adapt to local environments. In turn, this regionalization lead to the emergence of "full-fluted" technologies during the Younger Dryas such as Folsom in the Great Plains, Cumberland in the Midsouth, and Barnes in the Great Lakes regions. Here, we present an assessment of morphological and technological attributes observed on samples of Folsom, Cumberland, and Barnes points to identify degrees of homogeneity in technological traits. Discussion will address the potential for historical relatedness, regionalization, and independent invention, as well as correlations with Younger-Dryas era environmental proxies.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 16030