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Paleoindian Archaic Basketmaker II Basketmaker III Pueblo I Pueblo II Pueblo III
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The Archaic Period: 5500 to 1000 B.C.ArtifactsAt sites dating from the Archaic period, archaeologists find the first abundant evidence of stone tools designed specifically for the preparation of plant foods. Remarkably, these same tools—or variations of them—are still used today in cultures around the world. Archaeologists working in the American Southwest call these tools “manos” and “metates.” Mano is the Spanish word for “hand,” and it refers to a stone that is held in one or both hands and moved back and forth against a larger stone in order to grind seeds, nuts, and other hard materials. Metate is derived from metatl, a word used by native peoples in central Mexico to describe the larger stone against which the mano is ground. During the Archaic period, manos were round or oval stones small enough to be held in one hand. They are called “one-hand manos” or, sometimes, “biscuit manos,” because they look a little like oversize dinner biscuits. The metates were larger and had an oval or oblong depression, which held the foodstuffs as they were being ground. They are called “basin metates” because of their distinctive shape (Figure 1).
The spear continued to be used for hunting during the Archaic period, but it was used in conjunction with two new tools: atlatls and darts. The handheld atlatl (pronounced ÄT-lä-tul) allowed spears to be thrown with greater force and accuracy (Figure 2). It consisted of a narrow piece of wood with a small projection at one end. The projection fit into the butt end of the spear shaft and held the spear in place until it was released. The dart was a short, wooden shaft onto which the projectile point was hafted, and it was inserted into the forward end of the spear. After the weapon hit its target, the spear shaft was easily detached, leaving the dart and projectile point imbedded in the animal. During the Archaic period, many new styles of projectile points were developed, reflecting the emergence of local stoneworking traditions.
At some well-preserved Archaic sites in rock alcoves, perishable items such as yucca sandals, snares made from various plant fibers, and clothing made of deerskin have been found. And in a few locations, archaeologists have discovered small, split-twig figurines in the shape of deer or elk (Figure 3).
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