A behavioral landscape perspective on silcrete use in hunter-gatherer lithic technologies along the Southern High Plains Eastern Escarpment of Northwestern Texas (USA)

Abstract

Ogallala Formation layers and clasts of silcrete, locally known as Macy silcrete, are documented throughout an 83,000-acre research area located along the Southern High Plains eastern escarpment in northwestern Texas (USA). A behavioral landscape perspective has been used to determine how silcrete was incorporated into hunter-gatherer lithic technologies. Results demonstrate that 80% of the silcrete was flaked for making unifacial tools for on-site use. The remaining 20% of the silcrete, however, is transported for continued manufacture and use at other places on the landscape. The behavioral landscape perspective and lithic catena methodology used in this study are important for delineating multiple patterns of lithic use strategies.