Spein Mountain: A Mesa Complex Site in Southwestern Alaska

The Spein Mountain site in southwestern Alaska served as a lookout station for prehistoric hunters who utilized a toolkit dominated by lanceolate projectile points similar to those found in Mesa complex sites in the Brooks Range. A radiocarbon date of 10,050 ± 90 B. P. from a hearth feature indicate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arctic anthropology 2001-01, Vol.38 (2), p.81-97
Main Author: Ackerman, Robert E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
America and Arctic regions
Arctic regions
Bones
Gravers
Hunting
Mesas
Paleoanthropology
Paleoecology
Prehistory
Prehistory and protohistory
Projectiles
Scrapers
Valleys
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Summary:The Spein Mountain site in southwestern Alaska served as a lookout station for prehistoric hunters who utilized a toolkit dominated by lanceolate projectile points similar to those found in Mesa complex sites in the Brooks Range. A radiocarbon date of 10,050 ± 90 B. P. from a hearth feature indicates that the Michael R. Bever Spein Mountain occupation was contemporary with both the Brooks Range Mesa and central Alaskan Denali complexes. Distribution of artifacts at the Spein Mountain site provided insights into on-site activities where an emphasis on the production of bifacial tools, principally spear points, indicated that a major site task was the preparation of tools used for securing prey. The absence of microblades further distinguished the Spein Mountain complex from nearby Denali complex assemblages where organic tools indicate the use of the bow and arrow.
ISSN:0066-6939
1933-8139