Preliminary results of raw material use in formal lithics
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Etzanoa (14CO3) represents a significant archaeological site that is associated with the Ancestral Wichita people (circa 1425-1700 CE). This research examines 139 formal lithics recovered from 2017-2019 and were categorized into expedient tools, end scrapers, projectile points, cores, awls and drills, and tool fragments. The analyses focused on tool identification, raw material type, heat treatment evidence, and detailed measurements such as length, width, thickness, weight. The study reveals that local Florence chert variants were dominant in lithic production and accounted for 85 percent of the assemblage. The less common materials suggest localized resource use with there being limited evidence of trade or specialized procurement strategies from this specific batch of artifacts. Heat treatment was associated with formal tools like projectile points and end scrapers. This indicates production techniques consistent with long-term use, whereas expedient tools showed the lowest percentage of heat treatment, reflecting their temporary and immediate utility.
The meticulous recording of artifact characteristics helps in facilitating possible future comparisons across other Great Bend Aspect sites. The presence of more specialized or distant materials hints at potential connections with neighboring communities. This research demonstrates Ancestral Wichita's reliance on readily available raw materials while emphasizing their adaptive production techniques and the cultural and economic significance of lithic technology within their settlement. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of the Great Bend Aspect and the Ancestral Wichita's interactions with their environment and surrounding groups.
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Research completed in the Department of Anthropology, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
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v. 21

