Prehistoric Obsidian Conveyance in the Eastern Great Basin: Evidence from Hogup and Danger Caves, Utah

Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis of typologically distinctive obsidian projectile points from Danger Cave (42To13) showed that a change in source-use occurred after the time arrow points supplanted dart points at the site. To determine whether or not this change occurred elsewhere in the region, a sample of typable obsidian points was analyzed from nearby Hogup Cave (42Bo36). The results of the Hogup Cave analyses show that the source material used to make certain series of dart points (Northern Side-notched and Gatecliff series) was largely restricted to local source, but when arrow points began to be used, a significant proportion came from more distant obsidian sources. Taken together, the results of the Danger and Hogup Cave analyses suggest that, at least in this part of the eastern Great Basin, the introduction of the bow and arrow may have expanded social contacts, increased the foraging radius and material conveyance opportunities, and contributed to altering the social organization of peoples using the new technology.