The ARCHAIC STAGE (9500-3200 B.P.) represents
an extensive period of time involving numerous different cultural phases
of development, with shifts in every day life reflecting their adaptive
strategies and subsis-tence procurements as a result of environmental settings
and changes. They were semi-nomadic people engaged in a exploratory pattern
to locate different new occupation sites offering improved food resources
on a seasonal basis. It was once thought that semi-nomadic people were
so preoccupied in a constant struggle for survival that just finding enough
to eat left them little available time to pursue any other cultural endeavors.
Recent research studies of a few remaining hunting and gathering groups
produced some surprises. The Arunta culture, in Australia, were characterized
by Elman R. Service as "literally one of the most leisured peoples of the
world." The !Kung San, in southern Africa, work about two and a half days
a week in the quest for food. Marshall P. Sahlins describes the hunting-gathering
stage people as the "original affluent society." Despite the above findings,
the ecological situation of a given region involves a very flexible interaction
between sociocultural systems and the environment to insure continue adequate
food resources which will be discussed later.
The EARLY ARCHAIC STAGE (ca. 9500-7000 B.P.) demonstrates
the presence of new cultural horizons despite the extreme paucity of diagnostic
evidence assembled to date. It is generally agreed that a very low population
den-sity existed in the region following the late Pre-Boreal A and early
Boreal B pollen zone phases. It is suggested that the development of a
coniferous forest environment offered moderate floral and fauna resources
to attract and support semi-nomadic groups during the early period of this
stage. The number of persons active in a given seasonal vicinity is based
upon the food requirement and resources available to support them. Only
limited food storage techniques may have been developed during this period
of the season-al round. Hence they could have plenty of food in the summer,
but serious shortages during the winter months. This is probably a major
factor for the recognized low population density on Long Island. However,
it should also be noted that coastal occupation sites which would augment
limited research data are now submerged under water.
In any event the early semi-nomadic explorer/settlers could not afford
to permit any large concentrations of people to mass in one region with
inadequate food to feed everyone. The effective social groups probably
contained between 40 to 75 persons during the spring and summer when fishing,
shellfood and wild vegetal gathering activities augmented their hunting
economy. However, in the fall and winter months, when food resources grew
scarcer, they would divide into smaller groups - sometimes down to the
nuclear family.
Aside from the geological setting an inventory of archaeological data
assembled or lacking on an occupation site can help reconstruct major act-ivities
and the seasonal period. Sites producing side-notched netsinkers, plummets,
gouges and fishhooks reflect a spring/summer economy. Evidence of deep
pitted nut-cracking stones, pullers, mortars and pestles suggest wild vegetal
gathering activities in the fall. On other sites lacking such evidence,
but an increase in projectile points, bifacial knives, large hand-choppers,
end and side-scrapers (utilized for preparing animal skins for garments
or household purposes), suggest preoccupation with a hunting economy during
the winter months.
Some select sites became central based and were returned to by the same
cultural group. Over a period of time other subsequent groups could also
be attracted to the same site creating what archaeologists term a 'multi-component
site." The Archaic period has been subdivided into Early, Middle and Late
Stages, for reasons of environmental changes, expanding food resources
resulting in increasing populations, and the continuing development of
different sociocultural traditions resulting from contact with other groups
either entering the region or through trade.
KIRK projectile points recovered to date on Long Island
are extremely rare. Specimens vary from broad bladed to narrow isosceles
triangular blade, straight stemmed with slight basal concavity, pressure
retouch edge treatment. Local glacial outwash stones were utilized as raw
material in manufacturing points.
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BIFURCATED-BASE variant style points recovered at the inland
occupation site on western Long Island have been designated by NYIA in
New York State projectile point typology and nomenclature, as the "Queens
Bi-Furcated Base" point. The recovery of Kirk and Queens Bi-Furcated
Base points at a deep level, with occupation features, to NYIA's knowledge,
have established a research precedent for reconstructing the Early Archaic
Stage prehistory on western, if not all, Long Island. The illustrated Queens
Bi-Furcated Base projectile point was recovered in close association with
a percussion battered preform stone knife and nearby scattered fire shattered
rocks. Such horizontal distribution of cultural evidence reduces consideration
that the projectile point could be a spent specimen lost in hunting. Any
such speculation was completely put to rest by the recovery of a second
specimen at the same occupation depth 1.55 meters away. |
| This specimen (Fig. 2.) was more important by way of establishing an
occupation site. It is unfinished and demonstrates lithic industry manufacturing
on the site. The entire right side edge of the point blade (Fig. 2, Dia.
1.) has received retouch finishing to remove small edge flakes. Such work
was also carried out on the left side down to the area marked "1". The
area below that to the stem remains unfinished. A protuberate original
fracture on the face of the blade, marked "2", would also have been removed
in the process of retouching the lower left side. A suggested appearance
(Dia. 2) of how the point would have looked were it finished. |
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That they were successful hunters can be attested to by the points being
located in association with a large hearth roasting pit of concentrated
fire shattered rocks. The hearth is half circled, on the west side (against
winter winds?) with a group of large standing-on-end glacial cobblestones.
They are directly associated with a large flat top glacial bolder measuring
some 90cm. in diameter (see photograph in Revised Introduction). Did it
serve as a food processing or stone age table? In-depth studies of the
entire contents of the feature (excluding the glacial bolder) have been
removed for scientific laboratory analysis and subsequent report.
| One NEVILLE-like projectile point has also been recovered, to
date, from the Queens County inland occupation site. Such points are known
to be represented on multicomponent sites pro-ducing either, or both, Kirk
and Bifurcated-base points. This suggests that there could be some contemporaneous
relationship of the cultural phases within the Early Archaic Stage. For
the present time there remains a serious lack of evidence which would resolve
the degree of impact upon cultural phases of development on western Long
Island. |
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While the hiatus for an Early Archaic Stage occupation site on Long
Island is now resolved, the potential for locating additional components
exists.For this reason it is important to alert private collectors on Long
Island, and elsewhere, that the recovery of even broken points, with intact
base, remains significant evidence in assembling additional knowledge relative
to this period. It can not be overstressed that the base fragment of any
point is critical diagnostic evidence in archaeology. This is reinforced
by the known fact that different cultural phases produce distinct forms
of stone projectile points which can now be chronologically dated. No collector
should disregard important point fragments. To do so will continue to distort
the true pre-history of cultural development on different sites and potential
outside regional influences.
| The MIDDLE ARCHAIC STAGE (ca. 7000-5500 B.P.)
coincides with the replacement of the coniferous forest by a general deciduous
one teeming with wild game, fowl, and providing edible nuts, berries, tubers,
roots and numerous herbs. While the environment clearly met the everyday
needs of semi-nomadic people, occupation sites continue to elude regional
archaeologists. Again, perhaps due to coastal sites now being sub-merged
under water. Problems persist, not only are they relative to the limited
representation of the Vergennes phase in the form of OTTER CREEK-like
points, but the chronological placement of other subsequent cultural phases.
The Otter Creek points are a dominant trait occupying the upstate region
as a pre-Laurentian culture. |
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Some points have been noted which suggest a stage of development toward
VOSBURG and the BREWERTON types in the coastal New York Area.
Projectile points of the Laurentian culture (which is named after a major
center in the St. Lawrence Valley) begin to emerge during the closing period.
The VOSBURGH and BREWERTON phases are suspected to be a modified continuation
of the Vergennes with the introduction of additional traits. While the
evidence of this Laurentian culture are not abundant, a scattered Brewerton
points sample have been recovered through-out Lonq Island. One site at
Little Neck Bay, in northeastern Queens County, has been located which
is producing clear evidence ot occupation by people producing Brewerton
points. Stratigraphic evidence places Brewerton points at a deep occupation
level, below small narrow stemmed Points datinq from the Late Archaic Stage. |
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Traits associated with such cultural phases in-clude the atlatl javelin
weight, grooved shaft abra-ders, ovate and triangular knives, ulus (woman's
knives), sinewstones, drills, scrapers, choppers and rough stone tools.
Gouges, celts and adzes related to woodworking tools suggest probable use
for the construction of shelters, dugout boats, household utensils, and
other personal ornaments or ceremonial objects.
As we enter the LATE ARCHAIC STAGE (ca. 5500-3200 B.P.),
substantial population increases are noted throughout the region demonstrated
by the numerous different cultural groups producing various stylistic projectile
points and related traits.
It is appropriate to take this occasion to stress the
fact that the term "arrowheads" as such are not the correct term when applied
to weapon points which were utilized prior to the introduction of the bow
and arrow, now generally accepted to have appeared in use within this region
to about 1200 B.P.
| The javelin was in prior use with an atlatl spear-throwing device
which had a fashioned stone weight (called a "bannerstone" before their
true function was recognized). The weight was placed on an narrow board
which a works like a lever, and the device projected out behind the throwing
hand a foot or more, permitting the javelin resting into its end to be
hurled with greater force and precision. |
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It is also of some interest to note that the generally high standards
characteristic of manufacturing the fluted projectile points during the
Paleo-Amerindian Stage are not maintained, for the most part, throughout
the Archaic Stage.
The significant increase in the Late Archaic Stage occupation sites
coincides with the general stabilizing of the sea level making available
study of their coastal sites. Ongoing studies have afforded regional investigators
an increasing expanding assemblage of research evidence to help reconstruct
aspects of every day life involving different phases of socio-cultural
groups active in the region.
The food remains found in site midden deposits demonstrate their ability
to exploit a very wide variety of resources. Bear and deer bone are the
most characteristic in surviving refuse deposits indicating those animals
were most commonly hunted not only for food, but the skins and furs manu-factured
into garments and other household needs. Their bones were broke to extract
the nutritious marrow. Small animal, bird bone and turtle fragments are
also well represented. The numerous large coastal shell heap mounds attest
to a heavy reliance upon fishing and shell food gathering during the summer
months. Fish bones are rarely noted due to the high acidity in the local
soils. However, the nonperishable fishing implements including notched
netsinkers and gouges demonstrate gathering food in the tidal bays. Charred
nut shells, pits and other seeds reflect extensive wild vegetal gathering
activities and dietary traits generally associated with the fall season.
The known sites on western Long Island demonstrate use during different
seasonal periods, being coastal during the spring/summer and inland during
the fall/winter. These hunting/gathering people had to know not only where
to go, but when, in order to exploit the maximum return on the different
seasonal food resources. Extensive masses of fire shattered rocks used
in pit roasting are characteristic features at inland winter sites. Lumps
of iron pyrite, altered into mineral limonite, show that one ancient method
of kindling a fire by striking stone strike-a-light tools on pyrite was
practiced. Stone boiling with heated pebbles being dropped into containers
of animal skin or bark to heat food was another method of cooking.
Very little is known concerning the house structure and settlement patterns
during the entire Archaic Stage. This is due to the lack of any house post-mold
evidence being located to date in the region under study. They were probably
seasonal structures and circular in outline, framed out of sapling trees
and covered with bark, mats or cat-o'-nine tail (bullrush) leaves or reeds
firmly sewn together. It is suspected that they were similar to seasonal
structures describ-ed in the early 17th century reports of European explorers.
The tepee, or conical tent of animal skins, common on the western plains
were not used in this region.
Animal hides were used for clothing and evidence of their manufacture
include hide scrapers, blades and knives for cutting the skins, bone awls
for perforating, sinewstones for preparing sinew and eyed bone needles
for sewing. The few nonperishable personal decorated objects found are
rare, indicating that the social, ceremonial and religious aspects of this
period were relatively unsophisticated.
There is some evidence of shamanism for healing the sick and successful
hunting. There was no cult of the dead as later developed, no regular cemetery,
the deceased were simply buried in a flexed position with few, if any burial
offerings.
Prolonged hostile situations within the sociocultural groups would not
be tolerated for very long. Being small groups they could not risk the
loss of members critical to their food gathering economy or they would
cease to exist. Further, they were probably not war-like in any meaningful
sense, having neither the population resources nor the organizational skills
and techniques as later developed in the Woodland Stage. There would have
been little reason for intertribal raiding parties because seasonal camps
had nothing to raid, indeed nothing they would want. There were no fields
to harvest, no food storage pits to draw additional resources from, and
no domesticated cattle. In addition to which, territorial expansion is
not a sensible goal when a group is already controlling as large an area
as it can handle.
| The Brewerton phase continued to dominate the region into the early
part of the LATE ARCHAIC STAGE (ca. 4500-3200 B.P.).
By about 4200 B.P. the SYLVAN side-notched points (named after Sylvan
Lake Rockshelter,Dutchess County) make their appearance on western Long
Island, suggesting continue cultural influence from northern New York and
Connecticut. This point is being recovered on sites above Brewerton side-notched
and below Lamoka and other narrow stemmed points. Sylvan specimens all
demonstrate rough percussion chipped manufacture, with generally a unfinished
base. |
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Studies on western Long Island indicate that many of the multi-component
seasonal sites producing small narrow stemmed points dating from about
4100 B.P. could be chronologically contemporaneous. Such a situation could
strongly suggest a state of acculturation - a process of cultural change
which occurs when two cultural phases come into a prolonged and intimate
contact with each other. Such a condition appears to be demonstrated within
the narrow point traditions involving the LAMOKA and WADING RIVER
phase. The specimens of both types of points are continuing to be recovered
at the same occupation level in very close association at both coastal
and inland sites on western Long Island. |
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| A small percentage of SQUIBNOCKET triangular and stemmed points
have also been noted on sites producing the Wading River specimens. It
remains an unresolved problem that the Squibnocket stemmed point on western
Long Island could in fact be a varient of the Lamoka. The Squibnocket stemmed
points have a close affinity with the Lamoka in manufacturing techniques.
Both types are percussion chipped and have unfinished, somewhat pointed
bases. Whereas the Wading River stemmed points have a square base and frequently
some grinding finish. |
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Following, so to speak, in the footsteps of the Lamoka people are a
group who produced somewhat similar stylistic point traditions. The NORMANSKILL
points, which are linked to the River Phase, date in the coastal area at
about 3900 B.P. The points have a slender blade, thick in cross sections,
and have prominent side-notches. The point, named after the Normanskill
Creek just south of Albany would appear to have had cultural concentrations
of activity located in the lower Mohawk and upper Hudson valley region.
On a percentage basis there is a considerable reduction in the Normanskill
quantitative representation here on Long Island. Presently there remains
a serious lack of sites and diagnostic data to confirm durations of activity
on Long Island. It would appear their preference toward occupation centers
remained much closer to the Mokawk and Hudson River tributaries, with occasional
brief summer visits into the coastal area. |
| The SNOOK KILL broad-bladed stemmed point tradition dating about
3600 B.P., are moderately represented in the region. They would appear
to have some cultural affiliations with the Lehigh Broad spearpoints of
eastern Pennsylvania. Their occupation sites on western Long Island are
generally small and on well-drained terraces or rises. There would appear
to be a preference to stay close to the coastal waters in bays and inlets.
This may have accommodated a desire for greater mobility to travel by dugout
boats to distant locations. It would also appear that, on the basis of
evidence, their presence on western Long Island was primary during the
spring/summer season to take advantage of shell food gathering and fishing
activities. Some moderate data from one inland site suggests limited occupation
during the winter season. |
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Only a handful of GENESEE points have been recovered in the
region. There is a lack of evidence to establish any major com-ponent of
occupation due to the few known specimens represented and recovered at
different coastal sites. The Genesee point would appear to relate to a
cultural phase present toward the close of the Late Archaic Stage. Some
comparative studies in other regions indicate a vague suggested association
with the Snook Kill traits, and perhaps they both played a part in the
evolutionary sequence toward subsequent groups producing the Perkiomen
broad-bladed points. |
| A number of other groups made their presence known on western Long
Island in the closing period of the Late Archaic Stage. People producing
BARE ISLAND points would appear to have generally selected seasonal
occupation sites on river and bay islands during the summer. They are also
known to have used inland hunting sites during the winter months. Collected
evidence demonstrates a cultural preference in the western Long Island
area to manufacture finely finished quartz points. |
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POPLAR ISLAND type points were made from a variety of materials,
and have sporadic distribution. They would appear to be contemporaneous
with the Bare Island phase. Both of the cultural phases are known to have
incorporated the use of steatite bowls in the area close to the eastern
Pennsylvania quarries. However, the use of stone bowls by them in this
area has not yet been demonstrated. |
| The ROSSVILLE points (named after a site in Staten Island) are
well represented on coastal sites. Specimens have been found in the lower
levels of some shell heaps without any associated pottery. However, it
is also important to note that specimens appear to continue into the North
Beach and Clearview pottery phases which developed in the Woodland Stage. |
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There is some very moderate and sporadic distribution of the PERKIOMEN
broad-bladed spearpoints in the region.They would appear to represent one
of the terminal culturalphases of the Late Archaic Stage, and probably
overlap into the Transitional Stage. General characteristics of the point
suggest that they are a trait derived from the Snook Kill and the eastern
Pennsylvania Lehigh Broad spearpoint traditions. Studies conducted west
of the Hudson River indicate that the Perkiomen point could be an ancestor,
if not also a contemporary form, of the Susquehanna Broad point culture
which dominates the coastal New York area during the early part of the
Transitional Stage. |
NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF ANTHROPOLOGY
