Distinct Types? A Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Paleoindian Age Mojave Desert Lake Mohave and Silver Lake Projectile Points

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Prior univariate and multivariate morphometric analysis of Paleoindian age Lake Mohave and Silver Lake projectile points from the Mojave Desert, California, revealed these types are distinguishable 80% of the time. Building on the prior study, we use landmark-based Geometric Morphometric (LGM) analyses and complementary non-LGM variables to assess whether Lake Mohave and Silver Lake points are stylistically distinct or if repeated breakage and resharpening led to convergence (overlapping morphologies) between the types. Efforts to preserve stylistic separation are evident if the point types were resharpened in an isometric manner to maintain the original shape-size relationship through the reduction process and if the blade and stem modules strongly covary and are highly integrated. Conversely, an allometric point shape-size relationship coupled with a lack of covariation between the blade and stem modules (little integration between the modules) may indicate repeated resharpening resulted in the convergence of types rather than the maintenance of distinct styles. A continuum between these patterns is possible whereby the types are separate but, in many individual cases, converge due to extensive resharpening and reworking. We tested these propositions using a database of more than 200 Lake Mohave and Silver Lake points from sites across the Mojave Desert.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 39016.0