Despite well-documented Clovis and Folsom occupations in parts of the Great Plains and Midwest the archaeological record of late Pleistocene foragers in northwest Missouri and southwest Iowa remains patchy and poorly understood. This study addresses that gap through the systematic documentation of 235 fluted projectile points, including 44 newly reported points from the David A. Easterla collection. By integrating data from museum holdings, private collections, and vetted literature, the study reveals a more substantial and spatially structured Paleoindian presence than previously recognized. The spatial distribution of raw material transport and point discard suggests high mobility during the Clovis period, with long-distance moves along the Missouri River and its tributaries, with some evidence for more restricted ranges and more localized land use during the Folsom period. These findings highlight the importance of underutilized collections and collaborative regional surveys in refining our understanding of early human behavior in the Midcontinent.

ABSTRACT The mid-fifteenth century proved to be a turning point for the Southern Plains with the emergence of groups specialized in bison-hunting, thus beginning a new chapter in the history of relations between the Southern Plains and the Southwest. The article discusses the trade and social relations that developed between the archaeological complexes of Garza and Tierra Blanca and the agricultural Pueblo people of the Rio Grande Valley. The situation in the discussed areas is outlined, along with the reasons that could have led to the emergence of such intensified trade. The article also examines trade commodities and their role in both communities, especially in the context of bison hides and pottery, while also attempting to discover why, despite such close commercial and most likely social relations, there were also conflicts between both sides, such as the devastating attack on the Galisteo Basin communities around A.D. 1525.