University of Montana, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
Abstract
Through the lens of Central Place Foraging Theory, an analysis of lithic remains from 48YE238, a medium to high-density archaeological site in the Hayden Valley of Yellowstone National Park, has provided insight into both material value and decision-making among Late Archaic and Late Prehistoric hunter-gatherers of the Hayden Valley. First, an examination of lithic materials and the stages of bifacial reduction, in relation to sourced lithic materials, offers insight into changing ideas of material value between these two periods. This is especially evident when considering the cultural and societal changes that influenced regional residence during the Late Prehistoric period, compared to the Late Archaic, as reflected in the intensification of communal hunting practices, advancements in technology, and increased sedentism. Furthermore, analysis of the “Least Cost Path” between material source sites and 48YE238 provides understanding of how terrain and distance influenced hunter-gatherer choices regarding where to obtain lithic materials. Overall, this study contributes to the academic knowledge of mobility and lifeways of regional inhabitants of the Hayden Valley and Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem over the last 3,000 years and serves as a starting point for future research on these topics
