Current Research at the Connley Caves (35LK50): Late Pleistocene/early Holocene Western Stemmed Tradition Occupations in the Fort Rock Basin, Oregon

ABSTRACT

The Connley Caves in the Fort Rock Basin of Oregon contain stratified deposits dating to the late Pleistocene/early Holocene transition and a stone tool assemblage characteristic of the Western Stemmed Tradition. This research brief details preliminary results including stratigraphic, geochronological, and cultural information yielded from Cave 4. Ongoing research at the site stands to shed light on WST technological activities, intra- and inter-assemblage variability and geochronology, and Paleoarchaic subsistence strategies of the northern Great Basin.

KEYWORDS:

• Western Stemmed Tradition
• late Pleistocene/early Holocene transition
• Paleoarchaic
• Paleoindian
• northwest prehistory
• northern Great Basin

ORCID

Katelyn N. McDonough http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2882-897X