Paleoindian Artifacts of West Virginia

ABSTRACT

Paleoindian era archaeological materials remain significantly understudied in West Virginia. This brief provides the first summary of West Virginian Paleoindian artifacts in 50 years and reports 13 newly identified specimens. Most artifacts derive from the Ohio and Kanawha river valleys but new finds including fluted, Quad, Beaver Lake, and Dalton point types from some of the most mountainous portions of the state suggest that early groups also utilized interior river valleys and uplands.

KEYWORDS:

• Paleoindian
• West Virginia
• Appalachian Highlands
• fluted technology

Acknowledgements

I am indebted to The Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex, especially Heather Cline, for granting me access to the collections, the use of the facilities, and her unrivaled cooperation. I would also like to thank David Rice, Kenny Holbrook, and Mark Lanham for allowing me to examine and record artifacts in their collections. The Stirrup Gallery of Davis and Elkins College allowed me to use photographic equipment. Thanks to Michael Stewart for sharing data with me. Bob Maslowski’s advice and correspondence throughout this project was instrumental to its completion. Michael Faught helped create Figure 1. Finally, thanks to Gabriel Sanchez, Katelyn McDonough, and Geoff Smith for comments on earlier versions of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

ORCID

Richard L. Rosencrance http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9961-0874