Tweet
A lot of the archeologist talk and write about the small point tradition , here on the south plains. Yes , there are many found but not just from paleo times, but from day one until the demise of the natives.
Coronado wrote that when he came through this area, the native people were the healthiest of all , that he had seen, in all of his travels. He surmised that they could run , all day long.
Now, back to the small point tradition. If you happen to be Chief Needlithicmaterial , you might summon up some young punks ( 3-4) to run out about 120 miles or so to gather some Alibates , Edwards Plateau , or maybe other types of materials. Also, not just any material would do so the chief might want the punks to do a little or a lot to break up and find , oh , say 1/3 a punks body weight in good workable lithic materials. Then if there were enough wood shaft materials , the punks could find their way back to camp. Let say a good turnaround might be as long as 14 days or so. Of course , the punks might need a drink, or a few Scooby snacks. If everything went well for the young punks, all of the group might return and maybe not return at all. So, of course there are large points here but if Chief Needlithicmaterial is conservative ( Is that a bad word ?) he might would want as many points as possible from the delivery of said punks, to make as many projectiles as possible !!! Thus , the small point tradition .
Anyway , I don’t see the small point tradition , on the South Plains , as any big mystery. I find the small points , all the time.
Coronado wrote that when he came through this area, the native people were the healthiest of all , that he had seen, in all of his travels. He surmised that they could run , all day long.
Now, back to the small point tradition. If you happen to be Chief Needlithicmaterial , you might summon up some young punks ( 3-4) to run out about 120 miles or so to gather some Alibates , Edwards Plateau , or maybe other types of materials. Also, not just any material would do so the chief might want the punks to do a little or a lot to break up and find , oh , say 1/3 a punks body weight in good workable lithic materials. Then if there were enough wood shaft materials , the punks could find their way back to camp. Let say a good turnaround might be as long as 14 days or so. Of course , the punks might need a drink, or a few Scooby snacks. If everything went well for the young punks, all of the group might return and maybe not return at all. So, of course there are large points here but if Chief Needlithicmaterial is conservative ( Is that a bad word ?) he might would want as many points as possible from the delivery of said punks, to make as many projectiles as possible !!! Thus , the small point tradition .
Anyway , I don’t see the small point tradition , on the South Plains , as any big mystery. I find the small points , all the time.
Comment