| dc.description.abstract | After 70 years of research devoted to Paleoindian studies, several alternative models concerning Paleoindian economies, social organization, and mobility patterns have been developed. Answers to such questions remain elusive due in part to the emphasis on specific site studies. Regional studies provide information on prehistoric behavior and land use which complement site studies. This thesis provides a regional investigation of Clovis, Folsom, and Cody projectile point distributions in the area of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas in order to address Paleoindian land use. This region of North America covers a total of 1,067,067 km2 and encompasses a diversity of physiographic zones from the High Plains to the Woodlands. Marked climatic and ecological changes occurred during the Plains Paleoindian period (11,500 BP to 8,000 BP) that resulted in extinctions and the reorganization of flora and fauna by 10,000 BP. By altering subsistence strategies, technology, and mobility patterns, prehistoric people responded to these climatic and biotic changes. Kelly and Todd (1988) have argued that early Plains Paleoindians (Clovis and Folsom) were highly mobile and exhibited limited technological variability between environmental areas due to a species-specific rather than geographical-focused adaptation. Through time, Paleoindians may have become more regionally focused. Selected pressures including changing environment and population may have resulted in technological variation correlated regionally with environmental and economic patterns. This study suggests significant variability existed among Clovis, Folsom, and Cody land use patterns. Each of these cultural complexes exhibit distinctive regional patterning which enables a reassessment of existing models. The revealed projectile point distributions supports the argument that Clovis adaptation may have been independent of geographical region; whereas Folsom was more regionally focused. The distinctive Cody distribution includes a strong link to the Woodland environment | |
