{"title":"Chipped-Stone Crescents from the Terminal Pleistocene–Early Holocene of Far Western North America and the Transverse Projectile Point Hypothesis","authors":"Daniel S. Amick","doi":"10.1007/s10816-024-09665-6","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>Crescents are a distinctive component of several terminal Pleistocene–early Holocene (TP–EH) toolkits in the Far West, including the concave-based projectile point techno-complex, as demonstrated by archaeological associations, toolstone preferences, and manufacturing techniques. Archaeological and paleoenvironmental evidence suggests regular association with periods of wetland expansion across this region. Numerous speculative hypotheses have been proposed for the possible function(s) of these tools, but little direct investigation or testing has been conducted. This study uses the method of multiple working hypotheses to investigate these competing propositions. It draws on multiple lines of evidence from morphological and techno-functional patterns of tool damage and rejuvenation developed from a large artifact assemblage; analogs from ethnographic, historic, and archaeological cases; paleoenvironmental and ecological observations; an actualistic experimental program; and applications of foraging and design theories. Results show how morphological variation often reflects original blank form and individual tool life-history. Patterned recycling strategies include occasional manufacture from concave-base projectile points and conversion into gravers. The combined evidence best supports the hypothesized interpretation of lunate crescents as specialized transverse projectile points used primarily for open-water hunting of waterfowl by early foragers of the Great Basin and California, especially during episodic and localized increases in their abundance. These conclusions contribute to the growing picture of diversity and adaptive flexibility among early foragers in the Far West and further indicate waterfowl as a significant but temporally and spatially variable dietary component.</p>","PeriodicalId":47725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory","FirstCategoryId":"98","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-024-09665-6","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ANTHROPOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Crescents are a distinctive component of several terminal Pleistocene–early Holocene (TP–EH) toolkits in the Far West, including the concave-based projectile point techno-complex, as demonstrated by archaeological associations, toolstone preferences, and manufacturing techniques. Archaeological and paleoenvironmental evidence suggests regular association with periods of wetland expansion across this region. Numerous speculative hypotheses have been proposed for the possible function(s) of these tools, but little direct investigation or testing has been conducted. This study uses the method of multiple working hypotheses to investigate these competing propositions. It draws on multiple lines of evidence from morphological and techno-functional patterns of tool damage and rejuvenation developed from a large artifact assemblage; analogs from ethnographic, historic, and archaeological cases; paleoenvironmental and ecological observations; an actualistic experimental program; and applications of foraging and design theories. Results show how morphological variation often reflects original blank form and individual tool life-history. Patterned recycling strategies include occasional manufacture from concave-base projectile points and conversion into gravers. The combined evidence best supports the hypothesized interpretation of lunate crescents as specialized transverse projectile points used primarily for open-water hunting of waterfowl by early foragers of the Great Basin and California, especially during episodic and localized increases in their abundance. These conclusions contribute to the growing picture of diversity and adaptive flexibility among early foragers in the Far West and further indicate waterfowl as a significant but temporally and spatially variable dietary component.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, the leading journal in its field, presents original articles that address method- or theory-focused issues of current archaeological interest and represent significant explorations on the cutting edge of the discipline. The journal also welcomes topical syntheses that critically assess and integrate research on a specific subject in archaeological method or theory, as well as examinations of the history of archaeology. Written by experts, the articles benefit an international audience of archaeologists, students of archaeology, and practitioners of closely related disciplines. Specific topics covered in recent issues include: the use of nitche construction theory in archaeology, new developments in the use of soil chemistry in archaeological interpretation, and a model for the prehistoric development of clothing. The Journal''s distinguished Editorial Board includes archaeologists with worldwide archaeological knowledge (the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and Africa), and expertise in a wide range of methodological and theoretical issues. Rated ''A'' in the European Reference Index for the Humanities (ERIH) Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory is rated ''A'' in the ERIH, a new reference index that aims to help evenly access the scientific quality of Humanities research output. For more information visit: http://www.esf.org/research-areas/humanities/activities/research-infrastructures.html Rated ''A'' in the Australian Research Council Humanities and Creative Arts Journal List. For more information, visit: http://www.arc.gov.au/era/journal_list_dev.htm