The Slotted Antler Points from Trail Creek Caves, Alaska: New Information on Their Age and Technology

Abstract

Despite their occurrences in Siberian and Alaskan late Pleistocene and early Holocene archaeological sites, we know little about the temporal and geographic variability of slotted osseous projectile points. Here we present the results of an analysis of seven slotted antler points from Trail Creek Cave 2 on the Seward Peninsula in western Alaska. The points are morphologically uniform in that they are small and symmetrical. Three concordant AMS ¹⁴C radiocarbon ages obtained on gelatin with calibrated median probabilities ranging from 11,350 to 11,257 calendar years ago suggest their manufacture and use during the earliest Holocene. A fourth point yielded a calibrated median probability of 10,335 calendar years ago, suggesting the cave saw reuse, which is consistent with Helge Larsen’s original contention. The analysis provides a benchmark for understanding the temporal context of the small form of slotted points found in Alaska’s early record, which are often referred to as ‘arrowheads'.

Keywords:

• osseous projectile points
• slotted projectile points
• microblade technology
• Bering land bridge

Acknowledgements

The new direct AMS ¹⁴C dates on the Trail Creek points would have interested Helge Larsen, and we are pleased to build on his legacy though this effort. The Endowed Professorship in First Americans Studies at the Center for the Study of the First Americans (Texas A&M University) provided funding for the dates. We acknowledge the support of colleagues Bjarne Grønnow and Hans Christian Gulloev at the National Museum of Denmark, as well as colleagues Christine Prior, Jocelyn Turnbull, Dawn Chambers, and Mike Sim at GNS Rafter Radiocarbon. Special thanks to Kelly Graf, who helped us collect some of the data on the antler points. Finally, to three anonymous reviewers whose comments improved the article, we say thank you.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Craig Lee

Craig Lee is a research scientist at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder. His dissertation (completed in 2007) focused on microblade technology and osseous projectiles in Alaska. For the past decade he has been engaged in the archaeological survey of ice patches in Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado, analyzing wood and osseous artifacts dating as early as 10,000 cal yr BP.

Ted Goebel

Ted Goebel is the endowed professor of first Americans studies and associate director of the Center for the Study of the First Americans at Texas A&M University. He has published extensively on the Paleolithic archaeology of Siberia and Alaska, focusing on the transition to the Upper Paleolithic as well as the dispersal of humans from Asia to America during the late Pleistocene.