Marvin Kay

Kimmswick: A Clovis-Mastodon Association in Eastern Missouri

Stone tools characteristic of the Clovis culture have been found in direct association with bones of the American mastodon at Kimmswick, Missouri. The vertebrate fauna from Clovis components suggests a deciduous woodland and meadow habitat. Such an environmental reconstruction provides a new perspective for Clovis adaptations and the ecological tolerances of Mammut americanum.

Microwear Analysis of Some Clovis and Experimental Chipped Stone Tools

Stone, bone or ivory implements used to kill and butcher a menagerie of now largely extinct animals are found at late Pleistocene terrestrial big game kills. Tool function of big game kill artifacts is often assumed but not confirmed by reference to artifact form and archaeological context. Experimentally produced microwear traces, however, do provide an empirical basis to judge the likely use of the archaeologically derived artifacts. Microwear on experimental tools and Clovis points from Colby unequivocally show consistent patterns of tool use as projectile points and butchering tools; evidence of site-specific haft binding technique, of tool maintenance, and use-life histories. A further evaluation of the “Keeley method” of identifying micropolishes, how they form and rates of formation, indicates that conventional incident light microscopy is severely limited in its application for microwear studies.

Dental Annuli Age Determination on White-Tailed Deer From Archaeological Sites

Systematic, inexpensive, nonlaborious aging techniques have been perfected by wildlife biologists which are applicable for archaeologically obtained white-tailed deer remains. The techniques not only provide age structure information, but also indicate time of death of the deer. A modification of Ransoms (1966) thin sectioning technique for first molars and incisors is described and illustrated with a pilot study of deer teeth from the Mellor site, a central Missouri, Middle Woodland settlement.

High-Resolution Casts for Lithic Use-Wear Analysis

ABSTRACT This paper describes a method for creating positive epoxy casts of lithic artifacts that can be subjected to use-wear examination. This method overcomes problems associated with examining patinated artifactsfor microscopie traces of use and limitations documented for other casting methodologies. These limitations include having to work with negative casts or surface peels, air bubbles on cast surfaces, and long-term east integrity. To demonstrate the utility andaccuracy of the described casting methodology, use-wear features were documented on a sample of patinated Middle Paleolithic stone tools from the site of Solutré-Village (Saône-et-Loire), France. Epoxy casts were made of these tools, and the same use-wear features observed on the tools were located and documents on the casts. The results demonstrate that this methodology allows for the systematic functional analysis of stone tool assemblages independent of artifact color or chemical weathering.

New Evidence for a Possible Paleolithic Occupation of the Eastern North American Continental Shelf at the Last Glacial Maximum

Mastodon remains dated to 22,760 RCYBP were recovered with a bifacial laurel leaf knife from 250 ft below sea level on the outer continental shelf of Virginia. This chapter reports the results of our research concerning this find and an on-going survey of the extensive archaeological collections of the Smithsonian and other repositories including large private collections that are representative of the Chesapeake Bay drainage system. We located additional laurel leaf specimens recovered by watermen working on the continental shelf. The study indicates that these bifaces are not part of the post last glacial maximum (LGM) technologies and, therefore, support an LGM occupation of the continental shelf of North America.

Reports: Geochemical and Microwear Analysis of an Obsidian Artifact from the Brown Bluff Site (3WA1 0), Arkansas

A bipolar flake of obsidian was recovered from the Brown Bluff Site, Arkansas. This specimen, made from volcanic glass (obsidian) of the Malad chemical type of southern Idaho, is the first recovered from any professional excavation in Arkansas, and currently is the most distant geochemically documented occurrence of Malad obsidian. Microwear analysis revealed no convincing evidence for use of the artifact as a tool.Abstract A bipolar flake of obsidian was recovered from the Brown Bluff Site, Arkansas. This specimen, made from volcanic glass (obsidian) of the Malad chemical type of southern Idaho, is the first recovered from any professional excavation in Arkansas, and currently is the most distant geochemically documented occurrence of Malad obsidian. Microwear analysis revealed no convincing evidence for use of the artifact as a tool.

Pilot Study of Burin Use-Wear from Shanidar Cave, Iraq

ABSTRACT Microscopic use-wear is present on all four burins studied. The four heavily patinated chert artifacts from the Upper Paleolithic Baradostian horizon, radiocarbon date between 28,000 and 33,000 B.P. Burin usage originates and extends from the trihedral bit to adjacent facets; probable haft wear traces are present on three of the four tools.

Helb site pots : Is it huff or memorex ?

Abstract Mineralogical and chemical characterizations of Helb site (39CA208) pottery indicate distinct compositions of clay deposits and crushed stone temper. Neutron activation analysis shows differences among sediment samples from five depositional environments in the Missouri River trench. Only Huff vicinity sediments compare with Helb pottery. Further research should include a systematic, intensive sourcing of clays, coupled with an evaluation of known wares and functional groupings of vessels for which the cost of production and intrinsic worth can be calculated.