essay

Paleoindians near the edge: a Virginia perspective

paleoindian and early archaic southeast • Tuscaloosa • Published In 1996 • Pages: 187-212 p

By: Johnson, Michael F..

Abstract

Johnson believes that caribou were a primary food animal for humans during the late Pleistocene and that meant they had to be mobile. Johnson sees two distinctive cultural traditions for that time period, one in the northeast and another in the southeast. 'These cultural areas coincided with generally divergent ecological areas where flora and fauna differed sufficiently to induce different human adaptations, despite similar lithic technologies. A secondary hypothesis, involving risk minimization, is presented as one possible explanation for the apparent similarities between these two hypothetically divergent Paleoindian cultural areas.' (page 187). Johnson examines climate, uses analogy with modern caribou/reindeer hunters, discusses lithic technology, and compares archaeological sites of the period to understand the differences and similarities in the archaeological record for the two areas.

HRAF PubDate

2010

Region

North America

Sub Region

General North America

Document Type

essay

Evaluation

Creator Type

Archaeologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Sarah Berry; 2009

Field Date

no date

Coverage Date

11,200-10,000 BP (9200-8000 BC)

Coverage Place

northeastern and middle Atlantic United States

Notes

Michael F. Johnson

For bibliographical references see document 1: Anderson and Sassaman

LCCN

96019012

LCSH

Paleo-Indians--Southern States

Indians of North America--Southern States--Antiquities

Southern States--Antiquities