Dissertation Research: A Dynamic View of Paleoindian Assemblages at the Hell Gap Site, Wyoming: Reconstructing Lithic Technological Systems

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9317353 Meltzer Under the direction of Dr. David Meltzer, Mr. Frederick Sellet will collect data for his doctoral dissertation. He will analyze lithic material collected from the site of Hell Gap Wyoming. Discovered over 30 years ago this site is crucial for understanding the early prehistory of the Western United States because it contains well preserved faunal and lithic remains which span approximately half the recorded length of known human occupation in the New World. The site has provided an important input into the definition of cultures and lithic types. Because Hell Gap is located in close proximity to stone source areas, the assemblage is particularly rich in stone tools and manufacturing byproducts. Unfortunately because of the untimely deaths of the two main excavators the materials have not been properly analyzed and published. Mr. Sellet will help to remedy this problem through his work on one important class of data: the lithic materials. He will study both the raw materials themselves in an attempt to determine stone utilization and examine how tools were manufactured. Taken together, these data will provide insight into Paleoindian mobility and subsistence strategies and how these changed over time. Stone tools serve as cultural markers and can often differentiate one group or time period from another. Traditionally archaeologists have examined lithic materials with such goals in mind. In recent years however it has been recognized that additional information such as how people move over the landscape, how they schedule their activities and whether they curate materials or practice an expedient technology could also be addressed. Taken together such information provides insight into cultural adaptation. While techniques to address such goals are now well developed in Europe, they have been little applied in the United States. Mr. Sellet's research will both provide information about the Hell Gap site and potentially serve as a methodological g uide for New World archaeologists. The project is also important because it will provide valuable data of interest to many archaeologists and increase understanding of U.S. prehistory. It will assist in the training of a promising young scientist. ***