Assessing the Validity of Mojave Desert Lake Mohave and Silver Lake Projectile-Point Types

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study uses univariate and multivariate statistical analyses to assess whether Lake Mohave and Silver Lake projectile points from the Mojave Desert of western North America are statistically discrete, recognizable, and valid types. Univariate analyses run on 400 Lake Mohave and Silver Lake points reveal significant differences in six linear and three angle measures, though overlapping measurements pose difficulties for differentiating the types. To address the problem of overlapping measurements, multivariate principal components and discriminant function analyses were employed to statistically define groups of related attributes. Size- and shape-based attributes of the stem distinguish approximately 80% of the sample to type and reveal region-wide consistency among archaeologists who have classified these points to type. Though this study did not entirely overcome the challenge of using metrics to differentiate Lake Mohave from Silver Lake points, key discriminating variables are now better defined and the types deemed valid.