New insights into early paleoindian (Gainey) associations with proboscideans and canids in the niagara peninsula, southern ontario, canada

• Published in: Journal of archaeological science, reports Vol. 47; p. 103785
• Main Authors: Williamson, Ronald F., Storck, Peter L., Macdonald, Danielle A., Walker, Cam, Fagan, John L., Carnevale, Andrea, Stewart, Andrew, von Bitter, Peter H., MacDonald, Robert I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2023
• Subjects: Clovis-era; Great Lakes; Ontario Archaeology; Paleoindian archaeology; Protein Residue analysis; Stone tool use-wear; Paleoindian archaeology; Ontario Archaeology; Protein Residue analysis; Clovis-era; Stone tool use-wear; Great Lakes
• ISSN: 2352-409X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2022.103785

•Early Paleoindians in the Great Lakes region interacted with proboscideans (hunting and/or butchering) and canids.•Organic residue and use-wear analyses point to apparent incongruities between tool morphology and function.•A three-spurred flake graver appears to have been multi-functional and used as a butchering tool on a proboscidean.•This site has the first indication of the use of Goat Island Formation chert by Early Paleoindians in the Great Lakes region.
This paper presents the results of protein residue and use-wear analyses on stone tools recovered during complete salvage excavations of the Mt. Albion West archaeological site, located in the Niagara Peninsula of Southern Ontario, Canada. Mt. Albion West is an Early Paleoindian (Gainey) locality that yielded evidence of four activity foci and dozens of Early Paleoindian stone tools including one complete and several partial fluted bifaces. Organic residue analyses and use-wear data obtained from several tools indicate Early Paleo-Indian associations with proboscideans and canids.