Pattern or bias? A critical evaluation of Midwestern fluted point distributions using raster based GIS

► Raster based approach examines continuous artifact distributions across landscape. ► Identifies distributional biases and effect of biases across the study region. ► Early Paleoindian settlement patterning can be identified and confidently interpreted. ► Modern population and prior research influence recorded fluted point distributions. ► Results suggest caution in using county level data in New World colonization models.