Lithic resource procurement and utilization strategies among Middle and Late Archaic inhabitants of the Hayes site : a stratified shell midden in Middle Tennessee

Daniel S. Amick (1984) proposed two hypotheses concerning Middle and Late Archaic settlement/subsistence. organizations based on raw material variability. The purpose of this present research was directed toward testing Amick's model using the lithic data from the Hayes site in Middle Tennessee.

The Hayes site is a stratified shell midden ranging in age from 6,000 to 4,000 years B.P. It contains three major stratigraphic sequences. The deepest stratum is assigned to the Middle Archaic cultural phase and is represented by very little shell and Sykes/White Springs and Benton projectile points/knives. The next stratum is assigned to the Late Middle Archaic cultural phase and is represented by a dense concentration of shell and Benton and Ledbetter projectile points/knives. The uppermost stratum is assigned to the Late Archaic cultural phase and is represented by the absence of shell and only Ledbetter projectile points/knives.

Amick (1984) contends that Middle Archaic groups were non-logistically organized with an expedient technology; and Late Archaic groups were logistically organized with a technology exhibiting evidence of 'gearing-up' activities. He states the reason Middle Archaic groups were non- logistically organized and relied on aquatic resources, was due to environmental stress caused by the hypsithermal climatic interval. Amick feels this climatic episode restricted the movement of people across the landscape, forcing them to rely on a broader range of subsistence resources. Then as the climate became more temperate, there was freedom of more logistically organized. movement and groups became more Analysis of the lithic assemblage composition of the Middle and Late Archaic components at the Hayes site, revealed the same patterning as in Amick's assemblages. However, the Late Middle Archaic Benton phase revealed a complex patterning, with evidence of movement out of the Inner Basin during part of the year.

Analysis of the faunal and botanical remains revealed the same basic subsistence practices throughout the entire deposit. Research on shell midden sites indicates a seasonal use of aquatic resources, as a supplemental resource, due to an increase in the population base. Increase in the population base is a result of aggregation.

Therefore, the changes observed in the lithic assemblage composition, at the Hayes site, reflects a change in site function. The change in the use of the Hayes site was a result of changing environmental availability of subsistence resources. conditions and the