At the water's edge: an archaeological investigation of playa occupation in the Central Plains

Playa research on the American Great Plains has considerable potential to shed light on ancient hunter-gatherer lifeways and subsistence. These lacustrine environments provide a predictable water source and are ecological hubs for many species of mammals, waterfowl, and vegetation. The availability and abundance of resources create an environmental pull within the Plains that is ideal for ancient hunter-gatherer site choice in a region where resources are relatively scarce. This thesis provides an ecological and human behavioral approach to analyze the ancient history of mobile peoples by examining 18 archaeological playa site assemblages totaling 5,052 artifacts from the Central Plains. The lithic assemblages are placed within a geographic and environmental context, taking into consideration elements of site choice such as distance to playa, topographical location, and playa size. The data reveal that site selection includes many complex factors not always determined by resource acquisition or the surrounding environment. The results also illustrate regional differences in playa occupation, specifically that occupations in the South Platte River Basin are more diverse and continuous when compared to playas elsewhere in the Great Plains. The findings from this research casts light on overall hunter-gatherer lifeways and reveals the importance of playas to indigenous groups in the Central Plains over a 12,000-year history.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Anthropology and Geography

Grantor dc:publisher

Colorado State University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Authors dc:creator

• Matsuda, Marie, author
• LaBelle, Jason M., advisor
• Henry, Edward, committee member
• Payne, Sarah, committee member

• Great Plains
• playa lake
• Central Plains
• Shannon-Weaver Index
• hunter-gatherer

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.25675/3.02590

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mountainscholar.org:10217/233674