The authors believe that the culture (Complex D) represented at
LoDaisKa from 55 inches below baseline to the top of the late Wisconsin
Alluvium (erosional surface), is a manifestation of the Desert Culture
as described by Jennings (Jennings and Norbeck, 1955; Jennings,
1957). This exists in its purest form below 72 inches but there is a
persistence of some forms during the beginning of Complex C. Certain
types characteristic of the complex continue above 55 inches; they
occur, however, in diminishing quantities. There are two possible
reasons for this: 1) that the shelter continued to be occupied by
people of this affiliation; 2) that the materials worked up by the
process of re-use or trampling and mixing of the floor. There is
ethnological evidence that different tribes recognized each other’s
projectile points and often collected them (Brew, 1946). To avoid
confusion we shall treat this culture as it is manifested in its purest
form below 72 inches. Where specific shift or other phenomenon does
occur between 72-55 inches, it will be noted.
Traits characteristic of this complex are the following: projectile
points of various forms, (to be discussed below), triangular knives,
especially the second type described above, a few flake knives, side,
discoidal, serrated, and a very few end scrapers, Uncompahgre scrapers,
drills, perforators, utilized flakes, chopper/hammerstones, paint
stones, splinter awls, awls with heads (especially some very large
forms), a notched rib, used bone splinters, antler flakers, gaming
pieces (undecorated), tubular beads, a tooth pendant, worked mica,
wood shafts (large), a limestone pendant, one quartz crystal and one
clay ball. Other artifacts found in the level include a few prismatic
flakes perhaps fortuitous or intrusive, and above 60 inches a few small
projectile points that are, by any criterion (e.g. Fenenga 1953),
arrowheads. Typologically these show the greatest resemblance to forms
found in Level 3 in Hells Midden (Lister, 1951). However, since there
appear to be no allied traits they are felt to be intrusive. At least
they provide no proof of the presence of this culture.
We will discuss cultural affinities in terms of projectile points
with an eye to establishing possible lines of cultural influence from
various geographical areas. We do not suggest that in most cases more
than an idea was transmitted.
The Desert Cultures represent, according to Jennings, a “life way”,
a specific economic approach to living in a certain environment.
Though the Morrison biome differs in some respects from that of the
classic “Desert Cultures”, the nature of the problems faced and the
kinds of cultural response invoked are remarkably similar. Typological
similarities to Danger Cave materials include a high degree of
correspondence between class D projectile points and Jennings’ category
W31. This form is also found at Medicine Rock Cave, Oregon (Cressman,
1956, Fig. 41) and Kawumkan Springs Midden (type 7a, _Ibid._). It
was also present at Deadman Cave, (Smith, 1952) and at Wormington
and Lister’s (1956) Uncompahgre sites (Fig. 42 ff). Hurst (1944,
1945) named points of this type Tabeguache points. Points of a rather
similar form occur in Ventana Cave in the Chiricahua-Amagosa II level
(Haury, 1950) as a minor type, and become more common in the San Pedro
materials.
Below we shall compare the LoDaisKa materials of this complex to three
archaeological manifestations, since cultural ties seem to be closest
with these. These are: Ventana Cave, Danger Cave, and sites of the
Uncompahgre Complex, especially the Taylor Site. Reference will be made
to other areas for specific items.
The similarities between type D projectile points and class W31 at
Danger Cave have already been noted. Other similar forms include Class
E forms and W25, 26. Class J may or may not be identified with W18
and W19; since large corner-notched forms are widespread they may not
have enough distinctive features to be of value in site correlation.
They are also present at Deadman Cave. There are five points (Class G)
very similar to W38 (distribution Levels DIII-V at Danger Cave). If W8
and W10 are connected with McKean lanceolate and Duncan forms this is
a good correlation point with the overlapping Complex C at LoDaisKa.
There is a similarity between W16 and Class C, and W22 resembles Class
I forms.
The only important projectile point category of Danger Cave Levels
DIII-IV which is lacking at LoDaisKa is the series W28, 29, 30,
corner-notched forms with deep basal notches.
In other tool types there is an amazing similarity between the
triangular knives of Type I rather characteristic of Complex D at
LoDaisKa and Jennings’ W48 and especially W52. Since one of those at
LoDaisKa is obsidian, it is conceivable that it was traded from Utah
or the surrounding area. At both Danger Cave and LoDaisKa the relative
scarcity of end scrapers is noticeable. Other shared traits include
flake knives, straight drills, a few gravers, the possible foreshaft
from LoDaisKa, splinter awls and “headed” awls (it is interesting to
note that DIV types were less well made than LoDaisKa or DIII types).
One-hand manos and slab milling stones are found at both localities.
However, the peculiar four-plane type does not occur at Danger Cave.
Abrading stones, present at Danger Cave, are not found in Complex D. It
is of interest to note that both sites contained worked mica, ochre and
paint pigments. Nothing is known concerning basketry at LoDaisKa.
There are numerous similarities between the projectile points of
Ventana Cave and those of LoDaisKa. Type H resembles Haury’s expanding
stemmed, round tanged, convex based form. These are distributed
vertically throughout the levels of both Ventana and LoDaisKa, but
are almost entirely absent at Danger Cave. Points of Class C very
closely resemble Haury’s expanding stemmed sharp tanged convex based
or straight based types. These are the second most numerous type as
low as level VI at Ventana. There are some points with oblique tangs
that may be related to Class I or J. However, the best marker is Class
C2. The first point figured in the group is identical with points of
the class loosely termed Pinto Basin. Both this and the second two
can be duplicated in Ventana Cave, or at the San Jose Site (Bryan and
Toulouse, 1943). Nearer to LoDaisKa, Renaud (1942, 1946) has found
similar points in the Upper Rio Grande.
In both LoDaisKa Complex D and Ventana Levels II-III there are
triangular, convex-edged blades, side and discoidal scrapers. End
scrapers, especially snub-nosed forms are comparatively rare at both
sites. There are drills and/or perforators, including what we have
termed gravers, choppers, and utilized flakes. Hematite appears
together with quartz crystals. Awls are found: both headed and splinter
forms are represented. At both sites the former are the most numerous
type during the interval under discussion. At LoDaisKa there was no
category of “sawed” awls as at Ventana. Rib scrapers or knives are
also an interesting feature. There are in addition, tubular beads of
bird and mammal bone, and antler flakers. One additional and notable
similarity is to be found in handstones. These are all of the one
hand variety. Due to a peculiarity of usage, a median line developed
creating four grinding planes. This was probably caused in rocking the
mano when pushing it forward and then back. Occasionally a specimen is
noted where the user had rotated it 90° when reversing it, creating
median lines on opposite faces perpendicular to each other. As Haury
(1950) pointed out, this phenomenon is a special feature of the Cochise
Culture. It occurs at Ventana Cave and in the LoDaisKa Site. Both flat
slab milling stones and those with slight basins are found.
A third comparison can be made with the nearby Uncompahgre Complex
(Wormington and Lister, 1956). Similarities to Danger Cave, sites
of the Middle Horizon of the Plains and to the Cochise Culture are
reflected in the Uncompahgre Complex, as summarized by the authors.
Certain forms of projectile points, especially the type called
Tabeguache by Hurst, are found in the Taylor Site in levels 4, 8, and
10. Another similar form is the round based, round barbed type (Class
II), also found in Ventana Cave. There are certain small points from
these levels, possibly arrowheads, which bear resemblance to projectile
points of levels 1-3 at the Taylor Site, and forms of Level 2 at Hells
Midden.
Generally asymmetrical large ovoid bifaces or knives are common in the
Uncompahgre Complex, as they are here. The stemmed drills, straight
drills, gravers, and perforators of the general class that we have
called awls, are common in both the Uncompahgre and Complex D. There
are other similarities in serrated scrapers, and the rarity of end
scrapers. A triangular notched pendant found at LoDaisKa is probably
analogous to certain flat pieces of soft stone that were used as
ornaments on the Plateau. The four-planed manos noted above are also
found here. An interesting artifact, the Uncompahgre scraper, was first
described by Wormington and Lister in their report. Such pieces also
occur at LoDaisKa. Whether they occur elsewhere is not known, since
it is possible they were present in other areas but have not been
recognized. At the Taylor Site there were storage pits as at LoDaisKa.
One notable discrepancy is the lack of awls with heads at sites of the
Uncompahgre Complex.
Before closing this discussion, we should take note of a possible
broader relationship of Complex D, that is within the continent-wide
framework of an Archaic horizon. While we have limited specific
correlation to Desert cultures, other similarities do exist in total
tool assemblage and specific point types with a number of Eastern
Archaic sites, such as Modoc Rock Shelter (Fowler, 1959). Jennings
(1957) has admirably summarized the relations of manifestations of the
Desert cultures with sites of the Eastern Archaic, and further inquiry
should be made in this direction. Perhaps when Archaic sites between
LoDaisKa and the Mississippi are discovered, a gradual blending of
Eastern Archaic-Desert Culture will be noted. A recent publication
for Oklahoma by R. Bell (1958) gives hope in this regard. Since corn
was present at Bat Cave (Dick, 1952), a site with certain Chiricahua
Cochise affinities, it is not unreasonable to assume corn diffused to
LoDaisKa from New Mexico or Arizona.