Forager and Collector Strategies in the Yakima Uplands: An Analysis of Archaeological Assemblages from Testing Projects on the U.S. Army Yakima Training Center, WA.

Author

John M. Davis, Central Washington UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Winter 2017

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Cultural and Environmental Resource Management

Committee Chair

Steven Hackenberger

Second Committee Member

Lisa Ely

Third Committee Member

James Chatters

Fourth Committee Member

Nate Morse

Abstract

Despite nearly 40 years of testing projects on the Yakima Training Center, there remains little understanding of human adaptations and subsistence patterns through time in the Yakima Uplands. Additionally, there is a need for a managerial testing review. Assemblage data from fifty-one discrete components spanning the Holocene allowed an economic site type model to be built. Results indicate a shift towards intensive upland resource procurement systems beginning 2,200 cal B.P. Assemblage artifact dimensions do not correlate with Site Type but do reflect expected changes associated with a transition from forager to collector systems. Assemblage data only appear complete at 10m³ volume sampled. Radiocarbon records indicate cultural samples are heavily skewed towards post-2500 B.P. Geologic samples are more evenly distributed, with gaps likely attributable to depositional processes. Managerial recommendations for future testing and research were developed from the above analyses.

Recommended Citation

Davis, John M., "Forager and Collector Strategies in the Yakima Uplands: An Analysis of Archaeological Assemblages from Testing Projects on the U.S. Army Yakima Training Center, WA." (2017). All Master's Theses. 603.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/603

Language

English