Dating Folsom Occupations on the Southern Plains: The Lipscomb and Waugh Sites

Abstract

Dating the Folsom-age Lipscomb and Waugh sites in the southern Plains of the United States has been approached through use of bone, sediments, and charcoal. Available radiocarbon dates provide infor1nation on the specific ages of the Folsom activities at these sites and on the post-occupation geological events and processes as well. The former apparently took place between 10,200 and 10,900 years ago. Bison bone from the sites has not proven suitable for reliable radiocarbon dating, a problem that is recurrent at southern Plains sites of this age. At both sites there seemingly was a period of relatively rapid valley and gully-infilling soon after the Folsom occupations occurred. At the Lipscomb site, the present surface apparently stablized and soil formation began about 7000 years ago. At the Waugh site, a deeply buried hearth some 100 m from the primary bone bed provided the only radiometric dates. The spatial relationship of Folsom kill-butchery and camp activities at Waugh holds important implications for the investigation and interpretation of other Folsom sites.