Archeology of North America Exam 1

Microblades

Description, large mammals, Siberia continuity, arctic and pnw, no clovis microblades

What is a microblade?

Small, narrow blades less than half an inch tall made of chert, quartz, or obsidian

What were microblades used for?

Hunting large mammals

Describe the continuity of microblades

Siberia (16,000BP), arctic Denali complex (10,000BP), southeast Alaska (10,000-6,000BP); no clovis

What is the Ozette site?

Makah whale-hunting society; high preservation (1750 mud slide); collaborative archeology; oral histories; archeology techniques (water); continuity of traditions

What kind of artifacts were found at Ozette?

Houses, whale effigy, woven baskets

What is clovis-first?

Theory that Native Americans first came via the Bering Strait, then south through the ice-free corridor (13,000 BP); disputed by Monte Verde site in Chile (faster south sooner than expected 

What is Desert Culture theory?

In Great Basin, most archeological evidence in caves; suggests homogenous culture of hunter-gatherers; artifacts such as duck decoys suggest greater variety not preserved

What are the three primary routes into America?

Beringia ice-free corridor route, pacific coastal route, northern Atlantic route

Beringia ice-free corridor route

Most evidence (siberian cultures and dna); chile site questions timeline

Pacific coastal route

Settling along the coast (generalized adaptation); no archeological evidence of boats (rising coastline)

Northern Atlantic route

Least evidence; some artifacts share evidence with European lithics (Solutrean); no other shared characteristics near site