Abstract
The archaeology of the Archaic periods—Early, ca. 10,000–8000 years B.P., Middle, ca. 8000–5000 years B.P., and Late, ca. 5000–2500 years B.P.—in East Texas is not well understood in broad terms, although valuable information on the archaeological character of the Archaic peoples in the region has been gained over the years from the detailed investigation of a few specific sites. New knowledge concerning the archaeology of the Archaic periods in East Texas is slow in coming, due in part to the kinds of Archaic sites that have been identified by archaeologists during survey investigations and/or recommended by archeologists, state agencies, and federal agencies for further work; a general inability to identify contextually intact buried sites in the valleys of East Texas rivers and creeks; and the lack of development of a chronology based on well–controlled absolute dating of features or buried occupation zones in single component or multi–component stratified sites. This article summarizes what is currently known about Archaic peoples and groups over this lengthy period of time in the East Texas region, including the kinds of sites that have been investigated, their known or estimated chronological age, and their associated material culture remains; it does not attempt to rectify the limitations of the known Archaic archaeological record, but rather judiciously presents archaeological findings from selected sites in East Texas, as well as in northwestern Louisiana. Some broad themes of the Archaic in the Eastern Woodlands and Southeastern U.S. also come under consideration, particularly the lack of complexity and the notable apparent absence of evidence of Archaic ritual beliefs seen in the East Texas archaeological record compared to neighboring regions.
Highlights
New knowledge concerning the archaeology of the Archaic periods in East Texas is slow in coming
This article has summarized what is currently known about Archaic peoples and groups over this lengthy period of time in the region, including the kinds of sites that have been investigated, their chronological age, and their associated material culture remains
The most informative Archaic period archaeological sites in East Texas are likely to be those that have been buried in the Holocene alluvial deposits found along the major streams in the region
Summary
The archaeology of the Archaic periods—Early, ca. 10,000–8000 years B.P., Middle, ca. 8000–5000 years B.P., and Late, ca. 5000–2500 years B.P.—in East Texas is not well understood in broad terms, valuable information on the archaeological character of the Archaic peoples in the region has been gained over the years from the detailed investigation of a few speci¿c sites )igure 1 . 1ew Nnowledge concerning the archaeology of the Archaic periods in East Texas is slow in coming, due in part to the kinds of Archaic sites that have been identi¿ed by archaeologists during survey investigations andor recommended by archeologists, state agencies, and federal agencies for further work; a general inability to identify contextually intact buried sites in the valleys of East Texas rivers and creeks; and the lack of development of a chronology based on well–controlled absolute dating of features or buried occupation zones in single component or multi–component strati¿ed sites.This article summarizes what is currently known about Archaic peoples and groups over this lengthy period of time in the East Texas region, including the kinds of sites that have been investigated, their known or estimated chronological age, and their associated material culture remains; it does not attempt to rectify the limitations of the known Archaic archaeological record, but rather judiciously presents archaeological ¿ndings from selected sites in East Texas, as well as in northwestern Louisiana. 6ome broad themes of the Archaic in the Eastern Woodlands and Southeastern U.S (see Anderson et al 2007; Anderson and Sassaman 2012; Emerson et al 2009; Sassaman 2010) come under consideration, the lack of complexity and the notable apparent absence of evidence of Archaic ritual beliefs (see Claassen 2015) seen in the East Texas archaeological record compared to neighboring regions.Modern Setting and Holocene Environmental ChangeWithin the broad region of the state that encompasses East Texas, there are three main biotic communities or physiographic zones: the Oak Woods and Prairies or Post Oak Savanna, the Blackland Prairie, and the Pineywoods (Diggs et al 2006). 5000–4000 years B.P.), East Texas dart point assemblages may be expected to include Bulverde, Carrollton, Wells, Williams, and Trinity types, as well as Palmillas and Neches River (see Figure 4).
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