Recent Lithic Technological Studies on the Southern Plains and Adjacent Regions Part I: Identifying and Sourcing Raw Materials

Abstract

In this, the first of a two-part series, lithic technological research sime 1990 is reviewed for the Southern Plains and their eastern and western borders. The study region is basically that covered in the 1990 monograph, From Mountain Peaks to Alligator Stomachs, compiled and written by Larry Banks. My review looks at the identification and sourcing of knappable stone in archaeological studies of how that material got reduced, transported, and used over this study area. This first part focuses on the identification of knappable materials discovered since the publication of Banks' monograph and on efforts to refine the identification and sources of varieties of materials discussed by Banks. While some progress has been made in furthering our knowledge of the character and sources of diverse tool stones in the region, archaeologists have not been availing themselves of geologists' expertise or technologies that could enhance our understanding of what these materials are and where they occur. With this basic knowledge we could better model the reduction strategies and curation-transport practices that will be discussed in the second part of this review.