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The Northeastern Trans-Pecos region of Texas is an unforgiving environment for anyone living off the land, yet nomadic hunters and gatherers roamed its deserts and mountains and sheltered in caves and sinkholes from around AD 200 to 1450. This book provides detailed insights into the lifeways of these little-known prehistoric peoples. It places their occupation of the region in a wider temporal and cultural framework through a comprehensive description and analysis of the archaeological remains excavated by Donny L. Hamilton at Granado Cave in 1978.
Hamilton begins with a brief overview of the geology and environment of the Granado Cave area and reviews previous archaeological investigations. Then he and other researchers present detailed analyses of the burials and other material remains found in the cave, as well as the results of radiocarbon dating. From these findings, he reconstructs the subsistence patterns and burial practices of these Native Americans, whom he identifies as a distinct group that was pushed into the environment by surrounding peoples. He proposes that they should be represented by a new archaeological phase, thus helping to clarify the poorly understood late prehistory of the Trans-Pecos.
List of contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Chapter 1. Introduction
- Chapter 2. Geological and Environmental Setting
- Chapter 3. Previous Archaeological Research
- Chapter 4. Site Excavation
- Chapter 5. Prehistoric Burials
- Chapter 6. Cordage and Cotton
- Chapter 7. Basketry
- Chapter 8. Matting, Bags, and Sandals
- Chapter 9. Wood Artifacts
- Chapter 10. Pottery
- Chapter 11. Lithic Artifacts (John E. Dockall and Harry J. Shafer)
- Chapter 12. Miscellaneous Artifacts
- Chapter 13. Vertebrate Faunal Remains (Cristi Assad Hunter)
- Chapter 14. The Rustler Hills Economic Pollen Spectrum (Donny L. Hamilton and John R. Bratten)
- Chapter 15. Radiocarbon Dating
- Chapter 16. Concluding Remarks
- Appendix. Osteological Identification of the Eastern and Desert Cottontail (Cristi Assad Hunter and David L. Carlson)
- References Cited
- Index
About the author
By Donny L. Hamilton
Summary
Suitable for anyone living off the land, yet nomadic hunters and gatherers roamed its deserts and mountains and sheltered in caves and sinkholes from around AD 200 to 1450, this book provides detailed insights into the lifeways of these little-known prehistoric peoples.
