Synthesis and Assessment of the Folsom Record in Illinois and Wisconsin

Abstract

Census of avocational and public collections for Folsom and Midland artifacts from Illinois and Wisconsin signals a substantial Folsom occupation in the Upper Midwest. Over 200 points and preforms demonstrate a southwest–northeast pattern of point manufacture, use, discard, and loss across much of Illinois and the southern third of Wisconsin. The distribution of these artifacts overlaps to a large extent; however, most Midland points occur in Wisconsin. This non-fluted weaponry is interpreted as a techno-situational response to the intrinsic properties and distribution of regional toolstones, combined with the relatively high cost of fluting failure experienced during periods of focused hunting. Folsom mobility and land use are structured along major rivers, with southern Wisconsin most often functioning as a main destination of group movement. Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus) are the inferred focal prey and organizational driver of Folsom adaptations in the Upper Midwest.

Keywords:

• technological organization
• forager mobility
• landscape archaeology

Acknowledgements

The data in this paper were accumulated over many years, and required the generous assistance of numerous collection managers, curators, and avocational and professional archaeologists in multiple states, for which we are most grateful. Dan Amick, Ernie Boszhardt, Marlin Hawley, and Brad Koldehoff have been especially helpful and supportive of our efforts. Likewise, we are also indebted to the staff at the Illinois State Archaeological Survey, in particular Tom Emerson, Duane Esarey, and Dave Nolan. Special thanks go to Mike Farkas and Coreen Buffington in the GIS section who performed yeoman's work helping to compile the UTM data. Finally, this paper has benefited from constructive criticism supplied by Marlin Hawley, Dave Rapson, and several anonymous reviewers.

ORCID

Thomas J. Loebel http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4999-0423

John M. Lambert http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7159-2195

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Thomas J. Loebel

Author biographies

Thomas J. Loebel is an archaeologist and the Cultural Resource Coordinator at the Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois.

John M. Lambert

John M. Lambert is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Anthropology, University of California, Davis.

Matthew G. Hill

Matthew G. Hill is an archaeologist and Associate Professor at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.