The relationship between microblade morphology and production technology in Alaska from the perspective of the Swan Point site

Human Dispersal from Siberia to Beringia

“…At least to some degree we should also consider the hiatus between Yana and Swan Point to be an artifact of samplingdifficulties accessing today's far Northeast Asian, Alaskan, and submerged Bering Land Bridge landscapes (Hoffecker, Elias, and O'Rourke 2014)-or it could mean sustained human set-tlement of Beringia only occurred after the LUP adaptive strategy emerged in southeastern Siberia/East Asia during the LGM and spread to northwestern North America afterward (Abramova et al 1991;Buvit et al 2015Buvit et al , 2016Goebel 1999;Goebel and Slobodin 1999;Graf 2013Graf , 2015Vasil'ev 1992). Indeed, Swan Point contains distinctive Yubetsu microblade and burin technologies similar to Upper Paleolithic sites in eastern Siberia, Japan, and Korea (Andrefsky 1987;Gómez Coutouly 2011, 2012Hirasawa and Holmes 2017;Holmes 2001Holmes , 2011Mochanov 1977;Morlan 1978;Nakazawa et al 2005;Yoshizaki 1961). Apart from Swan Point is a series of other late-glacial Beringian sites without microblade and burin technologiesthe so-called early Ushki culture in Kamchatka, Berelekh, in northeastern Yakutia, and the Nenana complex in central Alaska, all dating to 14-13 ka (Dikov 1968;Goebel 2004b;Mochanov 1977;Pitulko 2011;Pitulko and Pavlova 2010;Powers and Hoffecker 1989).…”

THE MICROBLADE INDUSTRY FROM SWAN POINT CULTURAL ZONE 4b: TECHNOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS FROM THE EARLIEST HUMAN OCCUPATION IN ALASKA

“…Microblade cores with refitted tablets exhibit fairly similar initial blanks, around 7–10 cm long and 4–5 cm high, and this suggests conformity to a specific standard outcome for microblade cores resulting in uniformity of microblade size. Hirasawa and Holmes (2016) have found high consistency in CZ4b microblade width and thickness.…”

“…Most diagnostic artifacts at CZ4b are made from GGI, including one microblade core preform, nine out of the 10 microblade cores, and 10 burins examined during this study (the assemblage contains 33 burins that are currently undergoing a separate study). GGI is very specific to CZ4b, given that in later components of the site, where chert, basalt, chalcedony, rhyolite, and obsidian are common raw materials, GGI is not present (Hirasawa and Holmes 2016). If it is of local origin, this might mean that this raw material was no longer available (buried etc.)…”

“…The other main raw materials from CZ4b are rhyolite (~20%, including one microblade core) and chalcedony (>10%; Hirasawa and Holmes 2016). Obsidian is virtually absent from CZ4b; however, three microblades were recovered (Holmes 2011), all assigned to unknown obsidian source Group H (Cook 1995; Speakman et al 2007).…”

Small mammals and paleovironmental context of the terminal pleistocene and early holocene human occupation of central Alaska

“…Exceptions included small-mammal nests encountered whole during excavation, which were collected and screened in the laboratory in nested screens to a size of 63 μm. Reuther et al, 2016) Swan (Dilley, 1998;Hirasawa & Holmes, 2017;Holmes, 2014Holmes, , 2011 Upward Sun River (XBD-298) 260 240 Loess Sand dune Well-drained mixed forest of white spruce, aspen, poplar, and paper birch Dune field and floodplain Muskeg with black spruce and tussocks (Potter, Irish, Reuther, & McKinney, 2014;Potter, Irish, Reuther, Gelvin-Reymiller, & Holliday, 2011;Potter, Reuther, Bowers, & Gelvin-Reymiller, 2008;Reuther, 2013) Note: (Morlan, 1989).…”