Fundamental Formation Processes Associated with Open-Air Lithic Scatters

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

A comprehensive mapping of surface lithic debris and stone tools in a remote and archaeologically rich region of western Colorado yields insights into their formation processes and spatial structure. This mapping includes over 25,000 items including formal tools, flaking debris, cores, and ground stone within 6-18 clusters (depending on cluster definition). In all, consistent patterns of debitage dispersal are apparent with smaller flakes generally located centrally and larger flakes distributed more peripherally. Related observations reveal that cortex-bearing and coarser-grained flakes tend to be spread more widely. These patterns are replicated through experimental knapping where larger, cortex-bearing, and coarse-grained flakes exhibit wider and highly regular dispersal patterns. Spent cores tend to be located peripheral to dense scatter centers, perhaps reflecting the "toss zones" observed among the Nunamiut by Binford (1978). Grinding slabs, used for processing seeds, nuts, and other materials, generally occur on mild slopes, offering grinding advantages seen in metate use among Puebloan peoples in the Southwest. Finally, certain activity classes appear spatially segregated, with flaking (dense debitage), grinding (ground stone), and hide preparation (unifacial scrapers) in spatially distinct localities.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 50373