Tradition and Diversity among the Prehistoric Hunters and Gatherers of Southern Texas

Abstract

Archaeological and ethnohistorical research has been greatly accelerated in southern Texas in the past five years. A new body of data obtained through extensive surveys, major excavations and intensified archival studies make possible a more detailed view of the area’s 11 ,000-year record of hunting and gathering lifeways. We can begin to replace the model of a widespread, homogenous prehistoric cultural pattern (and the early historic “Coahuiltecan” stereotype) with’ a more realistic perspective which documents regional and temporal variations. While a hunting and gathering subsistence tradition dominated the development of prehistoric lifeways, there is now substantial evidence of intraregional cultural diversity. Such diversity was the result of both spatially-and temporally-localized resources within the area, arid perhaps of shifting spheres of extra-areal cultural influences. New geomorphological, climatic, and chronometric data also permit us to examine certain aspects of both tradition and diversity within a suitable chronological framework.     

Art and Territoriality in the Lower Pecos Archaic

Abstract

The approximate prehistoric territorial limits of an Archaic belief system in the lower Pecos area of Texas is hypothesized on the basis of the geographic distribution of a distinctive pictograph style. It is proposed that these rock art localities functioned as ritual sites for a group of Archaic bands who shared a common ideology.     

a Terrace Habitat and Late Prehistoric Settlement in North-Central Texas: Pollen And Geological Evidence

Abstract

Ecologically oriented studies in archaeology tend to suffer from over-generalized models. Pollen and geological data from the Cobb-Poole site in northcentral Texas illustrate how reconstruction of specific habitats can beof use in building testable ecological models. New evidence is presented that suggests failure to recover prehistoric pollen from alkaline soils in the Southern Plains is thli! result of inappropriate laboratory methods     

The ecology of marine exploitation in prehistoric Hawaii

Archaeological evidence for prehistoric strategies of marine exploitation in Oceania may be profitably analyzed from an ecological perspective, in which individual sites and assemblages are viewed in the context of adaptation to local environmental constraints. This perspective is illustrated through the contrastive analysis of environment, technology, and faunal remains at three prehistoric Hawaiian sites. Differing strategies of marine exploitation evidenced for each site are shown to reflect local marine environmental conditions. An ecological approach shows greater promise for an understanding of prehistoric adaptation to marine environment than the typological analyses current in much archaeological work on fishing.     

Radiocarbon Dating the Wylie Focus North Central Texas

Abstract

Many archeological complexes in the Southern Plains and Texas have not been adequately dated. Many complexes in northern Texas are still dated by their association with tree-ring dated Puebloan ceramics. This paper describes recent advances in radiocarbon dating the Wylie Focus on the East Fork of the Trinity River. Based upon radiocarbon dates and associated ceramics, it is evident that these sites were occupied before A.D. 1000.     

An Initial Study of Blade Technology on the Central and Southern Texas Coast

Abstract

Evidence of a late prehistoric and protohistoric blade technology has been found at a number of sites on the central and southern Texas coast. Blades and cores from two major sites, Kirchmeyer and Indian Island, are described in detail. Wear pattern analyses of the materials indicate that laterally-trimmed blades functioned as cutting tools or knives. Methods used in blade production are examined, and the possible causes for the development of the blade technology are explored.     

Predicting Prehistoric Taro (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum</Emphasis>) Lo’i Distribution in Hawaii

Predicting Prehistoric Taro ( Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum ) Lo’i Distribution in Hawaii. The artificial wetlands created through taro (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum) cultivation have played an important but controversial role in discourse on Hawaiian culture, history, and natural resource management. The extent of taro cultivation has risen and fallen dramatically with changes in population, trends, and culture since Hawaii was first settled by humans. However, since peak taro cultivation occurred before most historical records, it is unknown how much artificial wetland was created in prehistoric times. Past estimates of the extent of taro cultivation have been based on prehistoric population estimates, which are in themselves highly contested. Here we present a simple model based on geographic and climate limitations to predict the maximum amount and distribution of land that could have been dedicated to taro production on the main Hawaiian Islands. Using geographic information systems technology, and historical records of taro distribution, we created a map of potential prehistorical taro sites and total land cover. Our model predicts that prehistoric taro could have covered up to 12 times more land than suggested by past estimates. Limitations to this model include the use of current geographic characteristics to predict historical land use patterns and difficulties in creating parameters general enough to capture all sites without overestimating taro cultivation. Despite these limitations, this model does well encompassing known prehistoric and historical taro localities and should serve as a basis for revising estimated taro coverage.     

The Elcor Burial Cave: An Example Of Public Archaeology From West Texas

Abstract

The discovery of a small sinkhole cave in West Texas led to the recovery of seven human skulls that represent a secondary burial of undetermined age. Radiocarbon dating of two skulls and anthropometric study of the entire sample suggest that the skulls belong to prehistoric indians physically similar to those of the Trans-Pecos about A.D. 900-1100. The study stresses the importance of following up leads from the general public and involving concerned citizens in various forms of public or rescue archaeology     

SURVIVAL PATTERNS IN FOUR PRAIRIE GRASSES TRANSPLANTED TO CENTRAL TEXAS

Transplanted clones of four widespread prairie grasses, Andropogon scoparius, A. gerardii, Panicum virgatum, and Sorghastrum nutans, that had survived in cultivation 1958-1962 in central Texas were studied without cultivation 1963-67 to determine survival patterns. In all four species, clones from northern and eastern sites in the United States were eliminated. Survival of A. scoparius was restricted to plants originating in central and southern Texas and in northern Mexico. Surviving clones of A. gerardii, P. virgatum, and S. nutans were chiefly of Texas origin but included other clones mostly from the south central United States. Population samples of the four species from a central Texas grassland community showed greatest survival in a multi-ramet comparison of clones originating from North Dakota to Mexico City and in a multi-clone comparison from six sites in Texas and one in New Mexico. While the superior adaptation to the local habitat by the local populations might have been expected, this study documented the survival potential of organisms in the local ecosystem.     

Fort Union Porcellanite And Fused Glass: Distinctive Lithic Materials Of Coal Burn Origin On The Northern Plains

Abstract

Among the most common surface indicators of archaeological sites in south central Montana and northern Wyoming are the grey and red porcellanite flakes resulting from tool making activities. Although one of the major lithic materials used by prehistoric inhabitants of the northern plains region, porcellanite’s identity has remained relatively unknown. Amateur and professional archaeologist alike have loosely referred to this material as “metamorphosed siltstone”, “baked shale”, “Powder River chert”, “grey chert”, “fired brick”, “jasper”, etc. Similarly, fused glass is often misrepresented as obsidian. Because of its unique origin, definablearea of occurrence (the western coal region, the European coal fields, and perhaps other coalbearing areas), and its extensive utilization by the prehistoric populations of the region, porcellanite and fused glass deserve additional attention from archaeologists.     

Taxonomy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Koeberlinia</Emphasis> (Koeberliniaceae)

Koeberlinia has a natural amphitropical distribution that includes the deserts of central Bolivia, northern Mexico, and the southwestern United States. Despite the long recognition of only one species, K. spinosa, field, herbarium, and SEM studies support the recognition of two species. Koeberlinia spinosa of northern Mexico and adjacent United States is recognized to consist of three varieties: K. spinosa var. spinosa of northeastern Mexico and the adjacent United States, K. spinosa var. tenuispina of the Sonoran Desert of southwestern Arizona, adjacent California, and northwestern Mexico, and K. spinosa var. wivaggii from south central Texas and northern Mexico to Arizona, which is described as new. Koeberlina holacantha, endemic to the deserts of Bolivia, is proposed as new.     

The Middle Missouri Tradition: the Late Stage

Abstract

Two prehistoric complexes in the northern part of the Middle Missouri area, the Thomas Riggs and Huff Foci, comprise the late stage of the Middle Missouri Tradition. Although transitional sites are as yet lacking, this late stage is regarded as an outgrowth of the early stages of the same tradition, localized further south along the Missouri River in South Dakota. The Huff Focus postdates the Thomas Riggs Focus and is a direct outgrowth of Thomas Riggs, both foci being assigned to the Fire Heart Aspect. This aspect is the prehistoric antecedent for the Heart River Focus, the protohistoric express ion of Historic Mandan culture. Brief comments are offeredon the history, or1g1ns, distribution, characteristics, dating, and relationships of the Thomas Riggs and Huff Foci.     

The Adaptive Technology of the Prehistoric Inhabitants of Southwest Texas

Abstract

A model of the middle Archaic adaptations in the lower Pecos River area of southwest Texas is presented. Working within excellent temporal and spatial frameworks and using the results of ethnobotanical, ethnozoological and dietary studies, the adaptive efficiency of the ancient technology is examined. A basically unchanged adaptive continuum prevailed in the area for approximately 8000 years. The conservatism and longevity seen in the adaptation centered significantly on the early and conti11ued exploitation of perennial desert succulents such as sotol, lechuguilla and yucca both as food and raw material sources.     

PHOTOPERIOD IN XANTHIUM POPULATIONS FROM TEXAS AND MEXICO

Photoperiodic responses of Xanthium strumarium L. originating between 19° N in Mexico and 34° N in Texas varied among seedlings grown from seed under controlled conditions. The critical night lengths form a gradient from 9.5 hr in northern Texas to 10.75 hr in southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. Populations with critical night lengths of 9.5 and 9.75 hr showed a longer interval to flower bud formation under cooler temperatures (24 C day/15 C night) than under warmer temperatures (30 C day/24 C night). Three of four populations with a 10.75-hr critical night length showed a shorter interval under the cooler temperature regime. Although the Texas populations demonstrate a strong correlation of photoperiodic response with latitude, the Mexico populations show diverse photoperiodic timing from approximately the same latitude. The study emphasizes that a combination of critical night length and ripeness-to-flower (maturity) response forms the basis for reproductive adaptation in different climatic regimes in Texas and Mexico.     

Variation in the Form of Bipolar Cores

Abstract

Bipolar flint-knapping, a distinctive technological process once used by some prehistoric groups to produce flake blanks and/ or core tools, generates the same characteristic set of products and by-products when applied to small tabular raw materials. A core reduction model is hypothesized to account for the variation in the form (type) of bipolar cores. The hypothesized core reduction model states that small tabular pieces of raw material entered the bipolarknapping system by being selected at their source. Then when processed by the bipolar technique, they systematically moved through a series of successive reduction stages until they were lost or discarded as wasted nuclei. The model is tested statistically with the t test. It is not rejected.     

The Construction and Use Of A Scale Model

Abstract

Scale models, constructed from simple, readily available materials are an excellent means of presenting archeological data to the general public.

Scale models of historic and prehistoric sites are one of the most graphic ways of presenting to the public some of the information acquired through arc heological investigation. A miniature reconstruction can be made with a very limited amount of equipment and materials.     

Psoralea Esculent A as a Prairie Resource: An Ethnographic Appraisal

Abstract

The role of the prairie turnip, Psoralea esculenta Pursh, in the economy of Prairie and Plains cultures is examined through ethnographic and early eyewitness accounts. Results suggest that these economies were more reliant on vegetal resources than is often conceded, a conclusion in keeping with recent studies of hunter-gatherers. The concept of the upland prairies as an insignificant vegetal resource zone for prehistoric groups is questioned.     

Some Observations On Theputative Fremont ”Presence” In Southern Idaho

Abstract

Detailed attribute-oriented reanalysis of prehistoric coiled basketry from a series of rockshelters in southern Idaho affirms the probable presence of Fremont populations in that area as suggested by a variety of authorities. Additionally, a thorough comparison of the prehistoric Fremont basketry from the study area with ethnographic material indicates that there is absolutely no connection in the technology of basketry production between the Fremont and their Numic speaking successors. This in turn supports the notion that the Numic speakers were a relatively late arrival to southern Idaho and contiguous areas and further indicates that the alleged millennia-long ethnic/ linguistic continuity hypothesized for the study area is spurious.     

A Copper Spearhead from Western Oklahoma

Abstract

Metallurgical analysis of a copper spearhead from Custer County, Oklahoma, indicates prehistoric workmanship and distant trade contacts.     

Aboriginal Demographic Changes in Central Texas

Abstract

Over the past decade a wealth of information about the types, location and density of aboriginal campsites in Central Texas has been gathered. During the same period, chronological ordering has been refined and studies have begun to focus upon changes in man to land relations in time and space. Using the available paleoenvironmental data, an explanatory model is proposed which reconstructs the shifting settlement patterns and population densities which preceded the widely dispersed historic Anglo American settlement of Central Texas in the 1800s.