Experimental Investigations of Eastern Beringian Hunting Technologies

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper presents the results of experimental research investigating variability in projectile-point technologies of late Pleistocene/early Holocene eastern Beringia. An assemblage of projectile points (lanceolate bifaces; composite slotted caribou antler points inset with chert microblades; and unslotted caribou bone points) reflective of the morphological variability observed in the Beringian archaeological record were created and tested as components of three weapon systems (hand-thrusted spear; atlatl and dart; bow and arrow) using an actualistic target. Experimental testing results indicate that robust lanceolate bifaces were most effective when launched from a spear thrower while composite inset points were most effectively deployed as elements of hand thrust spears. Understanding the functions of these artifacts informs on the significance of assemblage variability in Siberia and Alaska, adaptive response to resource fluctuations, and landscape use across the region and through time.