Sponsor
Portland State University. Department of Anthropology
First Advisor
Marc R. Feldesman
Term of Graduation
Fall 1979
Date of Publication
11-19-1979
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Anthropology
Department
Anthropology
Language
English
Subjects
Indians of North America -- Great Basin -- Antiquities, Projectile points, Great Basin -- Antiquities
DOI
10.15760/etd.2789
Physical Description
1 online resource (2, 52 pages)
Abstract
This paper presents a refined methodology for distinguishing the stone points of arrows from the stone points of spear thrower darts in archaeological assemblages from the Great Basin. The methodology was developed from a sample of 111 complete stone points collected during the archaeological reconnaissance and testing of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Harney County, Oregon, 1971-1974. The points were measured for five metric variables and frequency histograms of each variable were generated by computer. The effectiveness of each variable as an index of functional class (i.e., arrow point vs. dart point) was judged on the basis of the apparent bimodality of its curve and the t-test. The variables of weight and neck width showed significant bimodality, confirming the work of previous researchers. A new variable, stem thickness, also showed significant bimodality. All three can be considered useful indices of functional class. They also appear to be functionally independent. An attempt was made at developing a multivariable index of point function, using a multivariable clustering analysis, the K-means test. Results of the K-means test were inconclusive but showed promise for further development.
Rights
In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/17096
Recommended Citation
Wiggin, Roger, "Functional Analysis of Great Basin Projectile Points" (1979). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 2794.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.2789
Comments
If you are the rightful copyright holder of this dissertation or thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to pdxscholar@pdx.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.