First Peoples (of the Americas) Cultural Artifacts

Links: Archaeology of the Americas, Palaeoarchaeology, Historical archaeology, Ethnoarchaeology, Zooarchaeology

Early Beringian Traditions: Functioning and Economy of the Stone Toolkit from Swan Point CZ4b, Alaska

The Yubetsu method persisted for over 10,000 years across an immense territory involving various ecosystems and landscapes throughout subarctic and arctic regions. This method of microblade production plays a structuring role in the understanding of the technological dynamics of Northeast Asia and northwestern North America at the end of the Pleistocene..

The Pleistocene sites of Alaska are mostly located in the Tanana and Nenana Valleys in central Alaska . The site of Swan Point in the Tanana Valley yields the earliest known occupation of Alaska, being dated to circa 14,000 cal BP

What Does a Bone Needle Say?

From an archaeological perspective, evidence that modern humans were technologically and physiologically adapted to high-latitude environments and were present in western Beringia well before the LGM most certainly exists (Hoffecker et al., 2019; Pitulko et al., 2017). Technological adaptations include bone and ivory sewing needles (the oldest eyed needles, dated ca. 45,000 BP, come from Denisova Cave).

The excavated site termed Yana RHS is dated to about 28 000 BP

contained a stunning assemblage of ornamented and symbolic objects—the earliest art to be excavated in the Arctic zone. Decorated beads, pendants and needles connect the site to the Eurasian Upper Palaeolithic; but other forms and ornaments are unparalleled..

Early North Americans made needles from bones of fur-bearing animals, archaeologists find

Archaeologists find new evidence in Southern Oregon that suggests human habitation 18,000 years ago

A 2023 radiocarbon dating analysis was made based on findings at the Rimrock Draw Rockshelter near Burns, Oregon.

Exploring new discoveries from ancient humans who once roamed Oregon’s Great Basin

Oregon’s Great Basin holds some of the oldest archeological finds in North America, including the world’s oldest known footwear.

Late glacial through Early Holocene environments inferred using pollen from coprolites and sediments recovered from Paisley Caves, Oregon

Abstract excerpt:
The Paisley Cave archeological site in the Northern Great Basin has provided a rich archaeological record from 13,000 to 6000 cal yr BP, including abundant mammalian coprolites preserved in a well-dated stratigraphy.

Fiber Artifacts from the Paisley Caves: 14,000 Years of Plant Selection in the Northern Great Basin

Abstract excerpt:
Paleoethnobotanical remains from basketry and cordage from the Paisley Caves offer an opportunity to explore how people engaged with plant communities over time. Fiber identification of textiles, together with radiocarbon dating, contributes new information about landscape use within the Summer Lake Basin.

The earliest shell fish hooks from the Americas reveal fishing technology of Pleistocene Maritime Foragers

See also: On the trail of Ancient Mariners

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