Alberta Prehistory

Trends in Alberta Prehistory

• Lithic Technology : Large spear points → small notched projectile points.

• Technology: Spears → atlatls → bows & arrows; appearance of tipis and pottery.

• Subsistence: From megafauna hunting → bison hunting → communal hunts.

• Environment: General warming with cooler periods.

Early Precontact Period

• Alberta’s human history dates back ~12,000 years (after glacial retreat).

• Ice-Free Corridor (11,500–11,000 years ago) opened migration routes.

• Early lithic technologies evolved as glaciers retreated and climates changed.

Clovis Points

• 11,500-11,000 years ago.

• Found in southern Alberta.

• Fluted points, hafted onto spear shafts or knives.

• Used to hunt megafauna: mammoth, mastodon, giant bison.

Basally Thinned Triangular Points

• 11,500-10,000 years ago.

• Created by removing flakes from the base for easier hafting.

• Used for spear and knife tips.

• Associated with megafauna hunting during glacial retreat.

Folsom and Plainview Points

• 11,000-10,000 years ago.

• Period of warm climate and boreal forest cover.

• Folsom points: leaf-shaped, concave base, fluted grooves.

• Plainview points: concave base, basally thinned (not fluted).

Agate basin points

• 10,500-9,500 years ago.

• Period of cooler, wetter weather.

• Human populations spread across Alberta.

• Points: Elongated, lanceolate, thick cross-section, straight/rounded base.

• Used for hunting large game.

Cody and Alberta Points

• 9,500-8,500 years ago.

• Climate became warmer and drier.

• Evidence of specialized bison hunters.

• Cody & Alberta points: stemmed, used for efficient hunting.

Bison Hunting Dominance

• 9,500–7,500 years ago.

• Bison hunting = main subsistence strategy.

• Diverse regional lithic traditions: Frederick, Lusk, Jimmy Alan, Eden, Scottsbluff points.

• Represents regional cultural variation.

Middle Precontact Period

• 7,500–5,000 years ago.

• Known as the “Mummy Cave Period.”

• Hotter, drier climate with droughts.

• Bison jumps (e.g., Head-Smashed-In) appear.

• Introduction of the atlatl (spear-thrower) → increased accuracy and speed.

Side-Notched Points

• Mummy Cave Period.

• Variety of side-notched points suggest cultural variation.

• Made from local and exotic materials.

Oxbow Points

• 5,000–2,500 years ago.

• Period of colder climate and glacial advance (~4000 BP).

• Technology and subsistence remain constant (bison hunting).

• Oxbow points: base has distinctive “ears.”

Hanna, Duncan, McKean Points

• 5,000–3,500 years ago

• Subssistence: Bison, plus antelope, deer, dog.

• McKean: deeply notched base, no side notches.

• Duncan: distinct stem, sloping shoulder.

• Hanna: stem with pronounced shoulder.

Pelican Lake Points

• 3,250–1,500 years ago

• Period of cooler, wetter winters.

• Evidence of tipi structures (stone rings).

• Pelican Lake points: corner-notched, “Christmas tree-like” form.

Besant Phase

• 2,500–1,000 years ago

• Drier, warmer climate.

• Known for highly efficient bison hunters.

• Pottery appears → indicates more sedentary life.

• Dog travois and sled technology emerge.

• Stone tools made from Knife River Flint.

• Besant side-notched points are diagnostic.

Late Precontact Period

• 1,500–500 years ago

• Dry, warm climate persists early on.

• Pottery shows regional variation.

• Bow and arrow technology appears (~1,500–1,000 BP).

• Avonlea points: small, side or corner-notched arrow points.

• Later period (1,000–500 BP): Plains/Prairie side-notched points dominate.

• Increasing ceramic regionalism.