Jeffers petroglyphs: examining socioeconomic and cultural differences between late archaic and late prehistoric periods introduction

THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT OF THE REGION

Archaic period

The Archaic Tradition includes a lengthy period of time during which, due to greater exploitation of local ecosystems, we find an increase in regional cultural variety compared to the Paleoindian period. The Archaic tradition in Minnesota dates between about 10,700–2500 calendar years ago (Buhta et al. 2017:36). Most of what we understand about the time of Archaic habitation in Minnesota comes from other regional sources of information (Buhta et al., 2017:88). Minnesota's Late Archaic lifeways are characterized by relatively big home ranges, extensive mobility, small groups, and a generally sparse population. Even though bison hunting was the core of economic activity in southwestern Minnesota, archaic peoples had more versatile economies that included growing usage of plant products (Anfinson 99:8). In the Late Archaic, new lifeways arise that entail resource intensification of small game fauna procurement and intense seed gathering, notably in east-central and southeastern Minnesota. New projectile point varieties arise, and with the noteworthy exception of the southwest, copper tool usage expands over the majority of the state. Stone weapon points of the Late Archaic era are typically side-notched and stemmed, with some crossover into the previous Middle Archaic or more modern Initial Woodland periods (Guy 2012:79). The material culture of the Late Archaic period is mainly characterized by Archaic Side-notched, Late Archaic Stemmed, Large Plains Notched projectile points and ground stone axes. Bannerstones at the end of the Archaic period indicate that these groups employed atlatl spear throwers (Sprengelmeyer 2006:177). Cemeteries are gradually replacing individual burial places. In Minnesota, there is no record of the usage of ceramics or burial mounds during the Archaic period.

In the Prairie Lake region of southwestern Minnesota, Late Archaic components may be present at a small number of sites, including Pedersen, Mountain Lake, and Fox Lake (Guy 2012:81). However, the climatic change caused a shift in the economy and settlement patterns of the Prairie Lake region's Archaic population by circa 3000 BC, as seen by the final Archaic Mountain Lake phase. The oldest stratum at Mountain Lake has projectile points with modest lanceolate shapes that resemble late Paleoindian types but are more roughly formed (Anfinson 1999:13). This suggests that the Archaic practice was more prevalent on the Plains, where more nomadic bison hunting economies continued (Buhta et al., 2017:88). The importance of bison hunting among the Archaic cultures that roamed Minnesota's grasslands has been proved by high-profile kill sites such as Granite Falls and Itasca. Other notable Minnesota Archaic sites, such as Canning, Mooney, and 21CR155, and regional examples like Rustad and Cherokee Sewer, also yielded abundant bison bones. However, the archaeological record for this era in Minnesota is so limited that it is impossible to fully comprehend precise settlement and subsistence techniques.

Late Archaic groups travelled throughout the landscape seasonally, improving efficiency to use the various plant and animal resources specialized to specific environments. Elk and bison, for example, were hunted in grassland regions, whereas deer and rabbits were hunted in woodland boundaries. Various aquatic creatures, reptiles, amphibians, and waterfowl, were captured around wetlands and backwater regions. Fish and freshwater mussels of multiple species were taken from lakes, streams, and rivers. Roots and tubers were harvested in the spring, while berries and other plant staples were gathered in the summer. (Bradley 2009:52).

Canid bones discovered in Cherokee Sewer may be the oldest known indication of domestic dog usage in the northern Plains. Dogs may be recruited not just for better hunting but also for delivering goods between often relocating base camps and food (Anfinson 1997:38-39).