essay

Prehistoric relationships between the Plains, Boreal Forest and Cordillian regions

problems in the prehistory of the north american subarctic : the athapaskan questionCalgary • Published In 1977 • Pages: 83-89

By: Donahue, Paul F..

Abstract
Donahue presents the argument that artifacts that are commonly refered to as 'ethnoliguistic markers' (i.e. archaeological assemblages or diagnostic artifacts that are thought of as Athapaskan, Salishan, or Algonkian) can better be assigned to different physiographic or environmental zones. To support this argument, Donahue discusses characteristic artifacts of the northern Plains, the Boreal forest, and the Cordilleran. He points out some fallicies of lexicostatistics and some assumptions that archaeologists commonly make in assigning archaeological assemblages to the ancestors of a modern group, and other simplistic assumptions. He stresses more stringent criteria be used which will support arguments proposing cultural continuity.
Subjects
Reviews and critiques
Location
External migration
Lithic industries
Weapons
Chronologies and culture sequences
tradition
Proto-Athapaskans
Region
North America
Sub Region
Arctic and Subarctic
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Archaeologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
Notes
Paul F. Donahue
For bibliographical references see 39: References cited
LCCN
80494866
LCSH
Athapaskan Indians--Antiquities