A Paleo-Indian Butchering Kit

Abstract

A cache of flint artifacts has been discovered near Anadarko in southwestern Oklahoma. It is made up of 4 core chopping tools, 2 discoidal chopping tools, and 26 prismatic blades. Two of the core chopping tools were used to produce blades. One of the discoidal chopping tools and one of the core chopping tools are made of alibates flint, common to the Panhandle area of Texas; the remaining tools are made of grey-white flint. The cache provides interesting insights into prehistoric blade manufacturing. On the basis of similar blades found in dated deposits at Clovis, New Mexico, it is suggested that the cache is of the Paleo-Indian period. However, the manufacture of blades is by no means confined to the Paleo-Indian period. The association of prismatic blades with chopping tools of various sizes leads one to the suggestion that the whole assemblage was intended for use as a butchering kit for large animals.