Lithic Procurement in the Eastern Mojave Desert and the Use of the Juan Obsidian Clast Source

Abstract

This paper describes lithic research conducted on materials recovered from a small rockshelter in the Eastern Mojave Desert. This research utilizes a replicative systems approach to explore changes in the prehistoric use of a local obsidian clast source, the Juan obsidian source. These changes are important for understanding general lithic reduction technologies in the Mojave Desert, and they also have implications for lithic resource procurement strategy modifications through time. Procurement strategy modifications become most apparent as the need for high quality lithic raw materials increased because of changes in hunting technology.