Master's Thesis Defense: Significance Evaluation of the Forgotten Creek Site (45PI429)

JOY D. FERRYCENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITYDECEMBER 8TH, 2014

1

OUTLINE1. INTRODUCTION

2. PROBLEM, PURPOSE &

SIGNIFICANCE

3. STUDY AREA

4. ASSEMBLAGES

5. METHODS & TECHNIQUES

6. RESULTS & DISCUSSION

7. CONCLUSIONS

8. RECOMMENDATIONS

9. NEXT STEPS2

RELEVANCE OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Understanding of the past

Future policy

Land use practices

Protection of cultural

resources

Protection of natural

resources

Cultural narrative

People

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INTRODUCTION

Locations of the sites being compared in this research

45PI406: Tipsoo Lake

45PI408: Sunrise Ridge Borrow Pit

45PI429: Forgotten Creek

45PI438: Buck Lake

Documented pre-contact Sites and environmental zones in Mount Rainier National Park. From Burtchard 2007:6.

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As of 2008, nearly 100 archaeological sites documented within Mount Rainier National Park (Burtchard 2007:3-4)

45PI429

45PI406

45PI408

45PI438

PROBLEM

• Low amount of data available in comparison to the large amount of recorded pre-contact archaeological sites in the southern Washington Cascades (Vaughn 2010; Lewarch and Benson 1991)

• Little information on how people used upland landscapes: Whether they relied on a single “mountain lithic tool kit,” OR if their material culture was more strongly patterned by micro-environmental variation

• Data gap: Need more chronological, functional, and technological data, to form a better understanding of how people made and used stone tools on the slopes of Mount Rainier.

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RESEARCH QUESTION

What were the selective conditions under which stone tools were made and used on Mount Rainier?

To answer the research question, I apply the following hypotheses:

• H0 = Random association between assemblages for compared dimensions.

• No selective conditions identified

• H1 = Non-random association between assemblages for compared dimensions.

• Selective conditions potentially identified

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Adaptations to the Grain of

the Environment

Cost & Performance

Variables

Diversity & Variation in

Technological & Functional

Traits

Extended Phenotype

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Purpose

1. Apply an evolutionary archaeology model

2. Generate data for the Forgotten Creek lithic assemblage

3. Identify sorting in the archaeological record

4. Identify the selective conditions that may have caused the sorting

Significance• Comparable methods and

techniques – reproducible.

• Effectively identify the sorting of technological and functional attributes in the 45PI429, 45PI438, 45PI408, and 45PI406 assemblages

• Using a method and technique that can identify subtle differences in stone tool manufacture and use

Chert biface fragment with lustrous only and lustrous/non-lustrous flake scars, from the Forgotten Creek assemblage

Snowfields & Glaciers

Alpine Tundra

Subalpine

Northwestern Maritime Forest

River Systems & Associated Floodplains

STUDY AREAMount Rainier is an active stratovolcano

Climate variability and fire events

throughout the Holocene

Tatoosh pluton formation

Geologic cross-section through Mount Rainier. From the National Park Service 2007

THE FORGOTTEN CREEK SITE (45PI429)

• 4300 ft. elevation

• Southwestern slope of Mount Rainier

• Upper Northwestern maritime forest

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Photo from Dr. Greg Burtchard

THE SUNRISE RIDGE BORROW PIT SITE (45PI408)• 4884 ft. elevation

• Eastern slope of Mount Rainier

• Upper Northwestern maritime forest

10

Photo from Dr. Patrick McCutcheon

THE BUCK LAKE SITE (45PI438)


• Northeastern side of Mount Rainier

• Upper Northwestern maritime forest/subalpine

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THE TIPSOOLAKE SITE (45PI406)


• Eastern slope of Mount Rainier

• Subalpine zone

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ASSEMBLAGESAll four were screened with 1/8” mesh, and three had low post-depositional alteration (except Tipsoo Lake)

• Tipsoo Lake: n = 867

• Sunrise Ridge: n = 4,452

• Forgotten Creek: n = 1,104

• Buck Lake: n = 2,354

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Columbia Corner Notched A, from the Forgotten Creek assemblage (Carter 2010)

Chert scraper with unifacial wear, from the Forgotten Creek assemblage

STRATIGRAPHY

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Buck Lake (45PI438)

Forgotten Creek (45PI429)

Cultural

Component

Radiocarbon

Years Before

1950

Site

45PI429 45PI438 45PI408

Post-MSH Y

(layers X

through P)

290 ± 200

to 2460 ± 250

X X X

MSH Y

tephra set

(lower bed,

layer MSH

Yn, and

upper beds)

2960 ± 250

to 3510 ± 250

X - X

Pre-MSH Y

(layers B

through R)

3900 ± 250

to 8750 ± 280

X X -

Radiocarbon dates are from Mullineaux 1974:24.

METHODS• Evolutionary

archaeology model

• Cost-performance model (McCutcheon 1997)

• Defined functional and technological variables

• Technological organization (Sullivan and Rozen 1985)

• Stabilizing, directional, and disruptive selection (Endler 1986)

• Compared selection with environmental data and land use models.

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What were the selective conditions under which stone

tools were made and used on Mount Rainier?

Cost-performance variables, adapted from Vaughn 2010

METHODS CONTINUED:MODES OF SELECTION

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Distribution of phenotypes. From Kimball:1994.

TECHNIQUESStatistical Analysis:

All statistical analyses were done at a 95% CI (α = 0.05)

• Bootstrapping using the Resamplerprogram, to identify sufficiently representative sample sizes

• χ2 analysis, to identify statistically significant non-random associations

• Log-likelihood, for samples unsuitable for chi-squared testing

• Analysis of residuals

Data Generation:

• Compared preservation, turbation, & field methods for each site

• Obsidian XRF

• Paradigmatic classification

• Graphed frequency distributions

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Chert biface fragment from the Forgotten Creek assemblage

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

1. DIVERSITY OF FILLED CLASSES

2. VARIATION BETWEEN

ASSEMBLAGES

3. DIRECTIONAL SELECTION

4. STABILIZING SELECTION

5. DISRUPTIVE SELECTION

6. TECHNOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION

7. RAW MATERIAL DISTRIBUTION

8. VARIATION THROUGH TIME18

DIVERSITY OF FILLED FLAKE CLASSES

Assemblage Component Reduction Class Technological Codes

Functional

Codes

Tipsoo Lake

(45PI406)

Whole site Terminal 141113222 1222

Bifacial 1411111222 -

141114222 -

141116222 -

Sunrise

Ridge

Borrow Pit

(45PI408)

MSH Y Terminal 141112222 1212

141113200 1222

141113202 1232

141113212 -

141113220 -

141113222 -

1411111222 -

1411111232 -

1411111200 -

1411111202 -

Bifacial 141114222 -

141116220 -

141116222 -

141117222 -

Post-MSH Y Terminal 141113222 1212

142113222 1222

1411111222 -


Forgotten

Creek

(45PI429)

MSH Y Intermediate 141112211 -

141112221 -

141212121 -

141212211 -

141212221 -

141213211 -

141213221 -


Post-MSH Y Terminal 141212222 -

Total number of filled technological & functional classes:

• 45PI406

• Technological: 24

• Functional:7

• 45PI438


• 45PI429


• Functional:11

• 45PI408


• Functional:30

ANALYSIS OF RESIDUALS

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Assemblage

45PI406 45PI408 45PI429 45PI438Dimension Residuals >

1.96Residuals < -1.96

Residuals > 1.96

Residuals < -1.96

Residuals > 1.96

Residuals < -1.96

Residuals > 1.96

Residuals < -1.96

Thermal Alteration

Lustrous only Lustrous/ Non-lustrous High temperature alteration

Lustrous only High temperature alteration

Lustrous/ Non-lustrous

Lustrous/ Non-lustrous

Lustrous only High temperature alteration

_ _

Use Wear Present Absent Present Absent Absent Present_ _

Completeness Flake fragment Whole flake Broken Flake Debris

Broken flake Flake fragment

Whole flake Debris

Whole flake Broken Flake

Flake fragment Debris

Whole flake Debris

Flake fragment

Reduction Class Intermediate

Bifacial ResharpeningBifacial Thinning/Reduction

Terminal Terminal Bifacial ResharpeningBifacial Thinning/Reduction

Initial Intermediate

Intermediate Initial Terminal Bifacial Resharpening

Initial Intermediate

Terminal Bifacial Resharpening

Complexity of dorsal surface

Complex Simple_ _ _ _

Simple Complex

Whole-assemblage comparisons

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VARIATION BETWEEN ASSEMBLAGES

• Dimensions that had non-random associations:

1. Completeness

2. Platform Type

3. Reduction Class

4. Thermal Alteration

5. Use Wear

6. Raw Material Type

• The frequency with which each attribute is expressed is different in all of the assemblages, except for raw material type in the MSH Y and Post-MSH Y components.

Assemblage

Component 45PI406 45PI408 45PI429 45PI438

Whole Site Flake fragments; faceted platforms; Lustrous only flake scars; Use wear

Lustrous only flake scars

Broken flakes; Simple platforms; Intermediate reduction; Lustrous/non-lustrous flake scars

Whole flakes; Debris

Post-MSH Y Flake fragments; Bifacial reduction; Lustrous only flake scars; Use wear

Broken flakes; Intermediate reduction; Lustrous/non-lustrous flake scars

Debris

MSH Y Flake fragments; Pressure flakes; Bifacial reduction; Lustrous only flake scars; Use wear

Whole flakes, broken flakes, and debris; Simple platforms; Intermediate reduction; Lustrous/non-lustrous flake scars

_

Pre-MSH Y_

Faceted platforms; Obsidian

Debris; Igneous

Attributes that are present in the highest proportions

MODES OF SELECTIONAssemblages

45PI408 45PI429 45PI438

Mode of Selection For Against For Against For AgainstDirectional Igneous rock

Use wearCortical platformsLustrous only flake scars

Simple platforms Intermediate reduction Thermal alterationLustrous only flake scarsLustrous/non-lustrous flake scars

Obsidian Flake fragments

Simple platforms Igneous rock

Stabilizing Presence of thermal alteration

Terminal reduction _ _ _ _

Disruptive

_ _

Initial and bifacial reduction

_ _ _

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MODE OF SELECTION: DIRECTIONAL

23

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Pre-MSH Y MSH Y Post-MSH Y

Heat Treatment in 45PI429

None

HeatTreated

Change around 3900 radiocarbon years cal B.P. increased the importance of heat treatment in tool manufacture at the 45PI429 site

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

MSH Y Post-MSH Y

Raw Material Type in 45PI408

Chert

Obsidian

Igneous

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Pre-MSH Y MSH Y Post-MSH Y

Thermal Alteration in 45PI429

Lustrous/Non

Lustrous Only

HighTemperature

MODE OF SELECTION: STABILIZING

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0%

20%

40%

45PI429 45PI408

Post-MSH Y

0%

20%

40%

45PI429 45PI408

MSH YInitial

Intermediate

Terminal

BifacialResharpening

BifacialThinning/Reduction

Reduction class through time.

• 45PI408: Stabilizing selection favoring terminal flakes • Stabilizing selection against initial and bifacial

reduction flakes in both assemblages• Either

• Initial reduction was occurring elsewhere• There is a raw material characteristic that accounts

for the lack of cortex • A combination of both

MODE OF SELECTION: DISRUPTIVE

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0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

45PI429 MSH Y

Thermal alteration across reduction classes.

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%45PI429 Post-MSH Y

Lustrous/Non

Lustrous Only

HighTemperature

The only disruptive selection identified was for thermal alteration across reduction classes in the Forgotten Creek assemblage. This is selection for both extremes of the reduction sequence, initial and bifacial.

TECHNOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION

Assemblage

ComponentForgotten Creek

(45PI429)Buck Lake (45PI438)

Sunrise Ridge Borrow Pit (45PI408)

Tipsoo Lake (45PI406)

Whole site II IB2 II II

Post-MSH Y II IB2 II _

MSH Y II _ II _

Pre-MSH Y IB1 IB2 _ _

26Based on Sullivan and Rozen 1985

RAW MATERIAL

Stabilizing selection favoring the use of chert in all assemblages

• No difference between assemblages in the post-MSH Y, MSH Y, and pre-MSH Y components at a 95% CI

• Indicates that chert has the lowest procurement cost; chert toolstonesources are possibly closest in proximity

• Tatoosh pluton chert is known to occur throughout the park

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0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

45PI408 45PI438 45PI406 45PI429

All Assemblages

Chert

Obsidian

Igneous

Geologic cross-section through Mount Rainier.

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RAW MATERIAL• Obsidian in the 45PI429

assemblage sourced to Obsidian Cliffs in Oregon.

• Directional selection against the use of obsidian in the 45PI429 assemblage

• Highest proportion of obsidian present in the 45PI406 assemblage

• Variations in the distribution of obsidian between assemblages and through time suggests variation in travel routes and/or a relationship with heat treatment

Assemblage

Source Tipsoo lake

(45PI406)

Sunrise Ridge

(45PI408)

Brown's Bench/

Bickleton Ridge

2 1

Elk Pass 3 _

Indian Creek _ 1

Glass Buttes I _ 1

Newberry Volcano 14 6

Obsidian Cliffs 8 17

Quartz Mountain _ 14

Unknown _ 3

Whitewater Ridge 6 _

Total 33 43

Obsidian distribution from Vaughn 2010

The obsidian flake that was sent for XRF, from the Forgotten Creek assemblage

SYNCHRONIC CONCLUSIONS

To answer the research question:

• H1 = Non-random association between assemblages for compared dimensions

• Significant variation between assemblages: local microenvironments, created by variations in moisture, elevation, and dominant vegetation, could have had a far greater impact on the pre-contact activities taking place at the sites than anticipated

In the context of regional land use models:

• Mixed activity sites: Both tool manufacture and use

• Largely supports Burtchard’s prehistoric regional land use model- of mixed and limited activity sites, resulting from patterns of semi-sedentary settlement and subsistence

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Summarizing variation between assemblages and through time.

Assemblages

Environmental Zone

Subalpine meadow

Upper Northwestern maritime forest

Upper Northwestern maritime forest

Subalpine meadow

Vegetation Zone

Subalpine Fir Pacific Silver Fir Mountain Hemlock

Mountain Hemlock

Climate Component

Buck Lake (45PI438)

Forgotten Creek (45PI429)

Sunrise Ridge Borrow Pit (45PI408)

Tipsoo Lake (45PI406)

Neoglacial Cooling Period (150-3600 B.P.)

Warming Period (150-2000 B.P.)

125-3000 radiocarbon years cal B.P.

Intensive core reduction; Dominated by flake fragments; Decrease in intermediate reduction; No obsidian

Increase in tool use; Increase in tool manufacture; Disruptive selection for heat treatment in early and late reduction stages

Substantial tool use; Slight increase in tool manufacture; Directional selection for heat treatment late in late reduction stages

Tool manufacture; Most use wear; Lowest diversity in types of wear; Highest proportion of obsidian

Glacial Advance (2500-3000 B.P.)

Fire Events (3400-3600 B.P.)

3000-3900 radiocarbon years cal B.P.

_

Change to tool manufacture only; Dramatic increase in heat treatment

Greatest technological and functional diversity

Hypsithermal(Xerothermic) Interval

4500-8750<radiocarbon years cal B.P.

Intensive core reduction; Highest proportion of igneous; No obsidian

Core reduction and tool manufacture; 15% obsidian

_

CONCLUSIONS

MSH Yn tephra layer (3510 B.P.)

DIACHRONIC CONCLUSIONS• The variation observed was due to sorting in the archaeological record

caused by the grain of the environment

• Increased diversity and variation of the functional and technological organization of the 45PI408 and 45PI429 assemblages followed the deposition of the MSH Yn tephra layer around 3510 radiocarbon years calB.P.

• Fire events, and the shift to a mesic climate, were also selective conditions influencing the variation in the functional and technological organization of the assemblages

Chert biface fragment Andesite biface fragment Chert debitage

LIMITATIONS

• Insufficient sample sizes from both the Forgotten Creek assemblage and the Buck Lake assemblage to make statistical comparisons between components

• Small sample size for the pre-MSH Y component of the Forgotten Creek site (47 pieces)

• Lack of data on the portion of the Buck Lake site assemblage that was excavated from the MSH Y tephra set

• Need to know more about local toolstone sources

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RECOMMENDATIONSFour pronged approach:

1. Protect: List the Forgotten Creek site on NRHP

2. Excavate: Increase sample size of the Forgotten Creek assemblage through further excavation

3. Analyze: Increase sample size of the Buck Lake assemblage by analyzing artifacts from the MSH Y component

4. Survey: Pedestrian survey near residential or task specific sites, to locate toolstone sources.

Protect

Survey

Analyze

Excavate

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NEXT STEPS• Submit article to Archaeology in Washington

• Determination of Eligibility for the Forgotten Creek site

• Present research (conferences)

• Analysis of Buck Lake artifacts (Dr. Patrick McCutcheon and Dave Davis, Master’s candidate)

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

• Dr. Patrick McCutcheon

• Dr. Greg Burtchard

• Dr. Steve Hackenberger

• Dr. John Bowen

• Anne Parfitt

• Penny Anderson

• Steve Dampf

• Kevin Vaughn

• Friends & Family

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QUESTIONS?

Science

Master's Thesis Defense: Significance Evaluation of the Forgotten Creek Site (45PI429)