Questioning the visibility of the landscape learning process during the Paleoindian colonization of northeastern North America

Abstract

In this study Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) is used to confirm previous visual identifications of red Munsungun chert, in 23 fluted point sites, or loci, in New England and southern Quebec. These source designations are combined with previous visual raw material identifications to provide a proxy measure of landscape knowledge possessed by early inhabitants of the region. The results herein show these groups possessed significant landscape knowledge and patterned lithic raw material procurement strategies. These results fail to support the idea that some behavioral adaptations during the early fluted point period such as robust toolkit design, long distance lithic transport or other such behaviors are the result of landscape unfamiliarity. These patterns likely hold for other are colonized by mobile hunting and gathering groups.