Micro Currencies Can Rapidly Appear Among Energy Maximizers: A Case Study from the Southern Sierra Nevada Foothills

Author(s): Micah Hale; Adam Giacinto; Nicholas Hanten

Year: 2018

Summary

A recent, large-scale archaeological investigation in the southern Sierra Nevada foothills revealed the development of a locally circumscribed steatite bead-making industry. Made from a local steatite source, these rough, thin, square beads are accompanied by the entire range of production debris and bead making tools, collectively dating to the post-Mission historic period. I argue these steatite beads represent a micro-currency developed as an energy maximizing response to decreased availability of California's shell bead money.

Cite this Record

Micro Currencies Can Rapidly Appear Among Energy Maximizers: A Case Study from the Southern Sierra Nevada Foothills. Micah Hale, Adam Giacinto, Nicholas Hanten. Presented at The 82nd Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Washington, DC. 2018 ( tDAR id: 442696)

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Spatial Coverage

min long: -124.365; min lat: 25.958 ; max long: -93.428; max lat: 41.902 ;

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 17677