Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T20:56:34.519Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Cave Sites, Faunal Analysis, and Big-Game Hunters of the Great Basin: A Caution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Abstract

Deposits of inferred natural origin excavated at Mineral Hill Cave, north-central Nevada, exhibit a similarity to the reported evidence for “Big-Game Hunters” from cave sites in the Great Basin. Split bone and charcoal were observed throughout the deposits. In addition, the remains of a number of animal taxa including several Pleistocene genera, which are considered to have been of economic importance, were recovered from the deposits. These findings suggest that the role of natural processes in cave deposition is of crucial importance in understanding cave-site archaeology.

Type
Articles
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aikens, C.M. Hogup Cave. University of Utah Anthropological Papers 93 1970 Google Scholar
Bard, J.C. Busby, C. Kobori, L. Ezra's Retreat: A rockshelter/cave occupation site in the north-central Great Basin. Center for Archaeological Research at Davis, Publication 6 1979 Google Scholar
Baumhoff, M.A. Heizer, R.F. Big-Game Hunters of the Great Basin: A critical review of the evidence. University of California Archaeological Research Facility, Contributions 7 1970 1 12 Google Scholar
Brain, C.K. Bone weathering and the problem of pseudo-tools. South African Journal of Science 63 1967 97 99 Google Scholar
Clark, J. et al. Oligocene sedimentation, stratigraphy, paleoecology, and paleoclimatology in the Badlands of South Dakota. Fieldiana Geology Memoirs 5 1967 114 120 Google Scholar
Cook, S.F. The nature of charcoal excavated at archaeological sites. American Antiquity 29 1964 514 517 Google Scholar
Cressman, L.S. Studies of early man in south-central Oregon. Carnegie Institute of Washington Yearbook 39 1946 300 306 Google Scholar
Cressman, L.S. Man in association with extinct fauna in the Great Basin. American Antiquity 31 1966 866 867 Google Scholar
Gruhn, R. The archaeology of Wilson Butte Cave, south-central Idaho. Occasional Papers of Idaho State Museum 6 1961 Google Scholar
Harrington, M.R. American horses and ancient men in Nevada. Southwest Museum Masterkey 8 1934 165 169 Google Scholar
Hester, T.R. Chronological Ordering of Great Basin prehistory. University of California Archaeological Research Facility, Contributions 17 1973 Google Scholar
Orr, P.C. Pleistocene Man in Fishbone Cave, Pershing County, Nevada. Nevada State Museum, Bulletin 2 1956 Google Scholar
Sadek-Kooros, H. Primitive bone fracturing: A method research. American Antiquity 37 1972 369 382 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shipman, P. Phillips-Conroy, J. Hominid tool-making versus carnivore scavenging. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 46 1977 77 86 Google Scholar
Shutler, R. Correlation of beach terraces with climatic cycles of Pluvial Lake Lahontan, Nevada. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 95 1961 513 520 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomas, D.H. On distinguishing natural from cultural bone in archaeological sites. American Antiquity 36 1971 366 371 Google Scholar