Late Prehistoric Life Along Laprele Creek: Evidence for Broad Spectrum Hunting and Gathering at 48CO2672

Summary

In the summer of 2001, Metcalf Archaeological Consultants, Inc. (MAC) excavated a deeply buried campsite (48C02672) along LaPrele Creek in Converse County, Wyoming. Charcoal from two hearths produced conventional radiocarbon ages of 1200 ± 60 BP and 1100 ± 60 BP. The cultural level dates to the Late Prehistoric period (Frison 1991), and results suggest at least two and as many as four use episodes may be represented. During these use episodes, there appears to have been an emphasis on plant resources and small artiodactyls such as deer and pronghorn. No evidence was found for the dependence on bison, often considered the hallmark of High Plains subsistence (Frison 1991; McNees 1999). No projectile points were found. Instead, toolkits consisted largely of expedient flake tools with a few bifaces, cores, and pieces of ground stone. Overall, evidence is present at 48C02672 for a broad spectrum hunting and gathering system during the Late Prehistoric period. The results of MAC's excavations at this site are reported here to provide an example of the range of variation in settlement and subsistence systems of Northwestern Plains prehistoric peoples. This site may be an example of what McNees (1999:3-45) calls the "more mundane, less spectacular components" of a typical big game hunting adaptation, perhaps representing a short-term or seasonal disruption of this adaptation. On the other hand, it is possible the broad spectrum hunting and gathering system evident at this time and place may represent an actual year-round adaptation, as others (e.g., Kornfeld 1997) have suggested.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Wyoming Archaeologist 2003

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Contact(s): Marcia Peterson

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