Peoples of the Mesa Verde Region

Reconstructing Ancient Territories

How do archaeologists know that Archaic peoples had smaller territories than Paleoindian peoples?

Working with geologists, chemists, and physicists, archaeologists have been able to identify the exact quarries where ancient peoples obtained the materials they used to make their stone tools. Archaic sites are found much closer to quarries than are Paleoindian sites, leading archaeologists to conclude that Archaic peoples used smaller territories than did Paleoindian peoples.