Folsom Land Use Patterns in the Central Plains

Abstract

Folsom people lived in the Plains regions from 10,950 to 10,250 RCYBP. The calibrated radiocarbon ages for Folsom range between 12,900 to 12,000 years BP. In order to study Folsom land use in the Central Plains this study performs regional analyses of Paleoindian surface finds. Few stratified Folsom or early Paleoindian cultural deposits have been recorded in the Central Plains of Kansas and Nebraska (Blackmar and Hofman 2006; Hofman and Graham 1998), although many Paleoindian projectile points have been found in the region (Hofman 1996; Mandel 2008:342). Regional analyses are paramount to studying large scale land use patterns of Folsom culture in the Central Plains and Plains region (Amick 1994; Hill 2007; LeTourneau 2000; Meltzer 2006:16; Andrews et al. 2008). Accurate documentation and study of diagnostic Folsom artifacts (projectile points, preforms, and channel flakes) from both site and non-site contexts are required in order to perform regional analyses. The use of surface collections is key in addressing questions at a regional scale, especially in Nebraska which has no stratified or well-documented sites. As such, the study of surface artifacts offers the current best opportunity to study Folsom land use and organization in Nebraska and the Central Plains region. This study gives a description of the Central Plains Folsom dataset and what it represents and concludes by considering how this study's dataset supports, enhances, or varies from the expectations of previous models of Folsom land use and technological organization.