Mike Neeley | Montana State University - Bozeman (original) (raw)

Papers by Mike Neeley

Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology, Apr 1, 2024

The 81st Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 2017

Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology, 2024

Since the 1980s, surveys in Jordan's Wadi al-Hasa document dozens of Late Pleistocene hunter-gath... more Since the 1980s, surveys in Jordan's Wadi al-Hasa document dozens of Late Pleistocene hunter-gatherer sites, some of them tested or partly excavated. To track landscape-scale forager mobility and settlement patterns over time, we examine 26 levels from 13 sites dated to the Middle, Upper, and Epipaleolithic using aspects of Barton's whole assemblage behavioral indicators research protocol, a collection of methods designed to extract patterns from archeological palimpsests. Because forager ethnographies document adaptive strategies that do not map onto the discrete site types employed by archeologists, we evaluate the utility of the latter so far as behavioral inferences are concerned. We show that discrete bimodal contrasts like "curated" and "expedient" and their archeological correlates fail to capture the much more complex reality. Only by using these methods in conjunction with these analytical contrasts can a realistic picture of forager mobility and land use approximating that known from ethnography be attained.

Within the larger Natufian world (12,500- 10,200 b.p. uncalibrated), the region of west-cen- tral... more Within the larger Natufian world (12,500- 10,200 b.p. uncalibrated), the region of west-cen- tral Jordan is generally poorly represented. Until recently, our knowledge of the Natufian in this region consisted entirely of limited excavations of several sites in the Wadi Hasa (Byrd and Colledge 1991; Olszewski et al. 1994; Olszewski and Hill 1997). In trying to understand why this area is underrepresented within the arena of Natufian archaeology, two points are of relevance. First, the history of archaeological research in west-central Jordan is relatively recent compared to the longer research tradition in the Mediterranean core region (e.g. Bar-Yosef 1970; Garrod 1932; Perrot 1966). However, regional survey and excavation programs over the past 25 years have vastly expanded our understanding of the prehistory of west-central Jordan. Second, the modern environmental setting of west-central Jordan is largely steppe-desert, making it peripheral to the more heavily researched Mediterranean environment of the core area. Recent research into the Pleistocene environments of west-central Jordan indicates that they were very different in the past and were characterized by localized marsh and wetland environments. These have been documented by the extensive marl deposits in the Wadi Hasa (Schuldenrein and Clark 2001) and smaller, scattered marls to the south near Jurf ed-Darawish (Moumani 1997; Moumani et al. 2003). This paper presents the preliminary results of test excavations carried out in 2006 at two Natufian sites located on the Wadi al-Qusayr, a minor wadi just north of the Wadi Juhayra. Archeological survey along the wadi, where marl deposits have been identified, have yielded numerous Paleolithic sites including several Natufian sites of varying surface densities, indicating the long-lived nature of these landscapes. Based on typological comparisons and radiometric dating, the two sites examined represent the first Late Natufian sites in west-central Jordan. In addition to the description of the archaeological remains, the sites are placed within the context of broader Natufian settlement in west-central Jordan

Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 2006

Regional surveys in the Levant have led to the formulation of settlement models intended to repre... more Regional surveys in the Levant have led to the formulation of settlement models intended to represent how Palaeolithic foragers adapted to their local landscapes. A common critique of these models is their lack of fit with data from other regions. This is particularly the case for the inland regions of the Levant where lacustrine environments dotted the landscape during the Upper Pleistocene. The Tafila-Busayra Archaeological Survey investigated such a setting in west-central Jordan. This survey report characterizes local Palaeolithic settlement patterns and compares them with a settlement model derived from the nearby Wadi al-Hasa, another area with extensive lacustrine deposits. Despite the similar environmental settings, the results indicate that patterns of settlement vary considerably over short distances within the Levant, and future modeling should attempt to integrate information from neighboring regions.

Quaternary of the Levant

Beginning in the late 1970s, Burton MacDonald’s Wadi Hasa Sur- vey (1979–1983) identified dozens ... more Beginning in the late 1970s, Burton MacDonald’s Wadi Hasa Sur- vey (1979–1983) identified dozens of sites in the highlands of west- central Jordan ranging from the Lower Palaeolithic to the Aceramic Neolithic. Although most were deflated surface scatters, Middle, Upper and Epipalaeolithic open and rockshelter sites in the eastern end of the drainage associated with palaeo-Lake Hasa preserved stratigraphy and faunas rare for the region. In 1984–1993, G.A. Clark initiated a series of surveys and excavations at these and other, newly discovered sites that led to research on the early Upper Palaeolithic by Nancy Coinman and Deborah Olszewski (1998– 2000). Work by Zeljko Rezek continues at ‘Ain Difla, a Mous- terian rockshelter in the Wadi Ali (2010–). Here we summarize what we have learned from more than 30 years of research on Late Pleistocene forager adaptations to the highlands of west-central Jordan.

Lithic Technology, 2020

ABSTRACT Lithic analysts have long used cortical coverage as a variable for assessing reduction i... more ABSTRACT Lithic analysts have long used cortical coverage as a variable for assessing reduction intensity; however, differing interpretative frameworks can yield inconsistent conclusions. Dibble et al.'s ([2005]. The measurement and interpretation of cortex in lithic assemblages. American Antiquity, 70(3), 545–560. doi:10.2307/40035313) cortex model established a baseline for interpreting cortex within the organization of technology. In this paper, we employ their model and variations of interval scale assessments to address both methodological and interpretative issues associated with its application using lithic materials from the multicomponent Beaucoup site in northern Montana. For example, knowledge of raw material shape has important implications for archaeological interpretation at the Beaucoup site where the use of a scalene ellipsoid model provided a better estimate for initial raw material shape than a spherical model. We further identify that a 4-Interval scale provides the most expeditious and interpretively robust approach for quantifying cortex as a variable.

Geological Society of America Special Papers, 2017

Plains Anthropologist, 2016

Archeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association, 1993

Antiquity, 1994

Archaeologists have long assumed that morphological variability in microliths primarily reflects ... more Archaeologists have long assumed that morphological variability in microliths primarily reflects cultural differences among the makers. This forms the basis for differentiating major cultural/temporal traditions in the late Epipalaeolithic of southwest Asia. An alternative explanation for morphological variability is proposed which emphasizes the dynamic aspects of lithic technology in hunter-gatherer societies and questions current explanations of culture change.

Antiquity, 1996

We thank those whose interest in the Levantine Epipalaeolithic has led them to comment on our res... more We thank those whose interest in the Levantine Epipalaeolithic has led them to comment on our research. Such public discussion of differing interpretations is vital to understanding the past. In this article, we briefly respond to some of the points raised by those writing in this issue (G.A. Clark, N. Goring-Morris, D.O. Henry and J.L. Phillips) and in a previous issue (Fellner 1995; Kaufman 1995) of ANTIQUITY.

Journal of Field Archaeology, 1998

Archeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association, 2008

The shift to microlithic technologies is a widespread phenomenon over much of the globe during th... more The shift to microlithic technologies is a widespread phenomenon over much of the globe during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. The occurrence of microliths in diverse geographical and temporal settings is a testament to their versatility and importance as a solution to the problems of survival. Using a perspective based on evolutionary theory, the adoption of microliths in the Levant is viewed from both a long-term, regional perspective involving resource procurement and a short-term, site-centered perspective focusing on mobility strategies. The results suggest that microliths are correlated with changes in forager behavior associated with resource procurement and mobility and that an evolutionary framework is useful for addressing this process.

American Antiquity, 2004

Pueblo Grande. Her examination of multiple lines of evidence suggests that high rates of nutritio... more Pueblo Grande. Her examination of multiple lines of evidence suggests that high rates of nutritional and environmental stress placed these individuals at increased risk for early death. Martin and Akins's chapter, entitled "Unequal Treatment in Life as in Death: Trauma and Mortuary Behavior at La Plata (A.D. 1000-1300)," will not be commented on here as I am engaged in research directly related to this work. This book presents a broad overview of the types of research being conducted in the wake of NAGPRA, and it reminds us that anthropological research into the ancestral world of Native North Americans has not ended. This research offers a first step toward a larger dialogue in which collaborative and multidimensional studies into the past recognize the historical and contemporary frameworks that shape analyses and direct the research. In addition, the inclusion of ethnographic analogies in studies of the past allows for a new way of interpreting the epistemological dialogue surrounding eschatology and offers new lines of evidence for understanding social complexity in the past.

Lithic Technology, 2020

Lithic analysts have long used cortical coverage as a variable for assessing reduction intensity;... more Lithic analysts have long used cortical coverage as a variable for assessing reduction intensity; however, differing interpretative frameworks can yield inconsistent conclusions. Dibble et al.’s ([2005]. The measurement and interpretation of cortex in lithic assemblages. American Antiquity, 70(3), 545–560. doi:10.2307/40035313) cortex model established a baseline for interpreting cortex within the organization of technology. In this paper, we employ their model and variations of interval scale assessments to address both methodological and interpretative issues associated with its application using lithic materials from the multicomponent Beaucoup site in northern Montana. For example, knowledge of raw material shape has important implications for archaeological interpretation at the Beaucoup site where the use of a scalene ellipsoid model provided a better estimate for initial raw material shape than a spherical model. We further identify that a 4-Interval scale provides the most e...

PaleoAmerica

ABSTRACT Goshen projectile points are commonly associated with the regions of eastern Wyoming, we... more ABSTRACT Goshen projectile points are commonly associated with the regions of eastern Wyoming, western South Dakota, and southeastern Montana; however, they have also been identified as isolates and in a few sites in northern Colorado and the Canadian Prairie Provinces. This paper shares an occurrence of an atypical Goshen point made on a flake from southwestern Montana.

Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology, Apr 1, 2024

The 81st Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 2017

Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology, 2024

Since the 1980s, surveys in Jordan's Wadi al-Hasa document dozens of Late Pleistocene hunter-gath... more Since the 1980s, surveys in Jordan's Wadi al-Hasa document dozens of Late Pleistocene hunter-gatherer sites, some of them tested or partly excavated. To track landscape-scale forager mobility and settlement patterns over time, we examine 26 levels from 13 sites dated to the Middle, Upper, and Epipaleolithic using aspects of Barton's whole assemblage behavioral indicators research protocol, a collection of methods designed to extract patterns from archeological palimpsests. Because forager ethnographies document adaptive strategies that do not map onto the discrete site types employed by archeologists, we evaluate the utility of the latter so far as behavioral inferences are concerned. We show that discrete bimodal contrasts like "curated" and "expedient" and their archeological correlates fail to capture the much more complex reality. Only by using these methods in conjunction with these analytical contrasts can a realistic picture of forager mobility and land use approximating that known from ethnography be attained.

Within the larger Natufian world (12,500- 10,200 b.p. uncalibrated), the region of west-cen- tral... more Within the larger Natufian world (12,500- 10,200 b.p. uncalibrated), the region of west-cen- tral Jordan is generally poorly represented. Until recently, our knowledge of the Natufian in this region consisted entirely of limited excavations of several sites in the Wadi Hasa (Byrd and Colledge 1991; Olszewski et al. 1994; Olszewski and Hill 1997). In trying to understand why this area is underrepresented within the arena of Natufian archaeology, two points are of relevance. First, the history of archaeological research in west-central Jordan is relatively recent compared to the longer research tradition in the Mediterranean core region (e.g. Bar-Yosef 1970; Garrod 1932; Perrot 1966). However, regional survey and excavation programs over the past 25 years have vastly expanded our understanding of the prehistory of west-central Jordan. Second, the modern environmental setting of west-central Jordan is largely steppe-desert, making it peripheral to the more heavily researched Mediterranean environment of the core area. Recent research into the Pleistocene environments of west-central Jordan indicates that they were very different in the past and were characterized by localized marsh and wetland environments. These have been documented by the extensive marl deposits in the Wadi Hasa (Schuldenrein and Clark 2001) and smaller, scattered marls to the south near Jurf ed-Darawish (Moumani 1997; Moumani et al. 2003). This paper presents the preliminary results of test excavations carried out in 2006 at two Natufian sites located on the Wadi al-Qusayr, a minor wadi just north of the Wadi Juhayra. Archeological survey along the wadi, where marl deposits have been identified, have yielded numerous Paleolithic sites including several Natufian sites of varying surface densities, indicating the long-lived nature of these landscapes. Based on typological comparisons and radiometric dating, the two sites examined represent the first Late Natufian sites in west-central Jordan. In addition to the description of the archaeological remains, the sites are placed within the context of broader Natufian settlement in west-central Jordan

Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 2006

Regional surveys in the Levant have led to the formulation of settlement models intended to repre... more Regional surveys in the Levant have led to the formulation of settlement models intended to represent how Palaeolithic foragers adapted to their local landscapes. A common critique of these models is their lack of fit with data from other regions. This is particularly the case for the inland regions of the Levant where lacustrine environments dotted the landscape during the Upper Pleistocene. The Tafila-Busayra Archaeological Survey investigated such a setting in west-central Jordan. This survey report characterizes local Palaeolithic settlement patterns and compares them with a settlement model derived from the nearby Wadi al-Hasa, another area with extensive lacustrine deposits. Despite the similar environmental settings, the results indicate that patterns of settlement vary considerably over short distances within the Levant, and future modeling should attempt to integrate information from neighboring regions.

Quaternary of the Levant

Beginning in the late 1970s, Burton MacDonald’s Wadi Hasa Sur- vey (1979–1983) identified dozens ... more Beginning in the late 1970s, Burton MacDonald’s Wadi Hasa Sur- vey (1979–1983) identified dozens of sites in the highlands of west- central Jordan ranging from the Lower Palaeolithic to the Aceramic Neolithic. Although most were deflated surface scatters, Middle, Upper and Epipalaeolithic open and rockshelter sites in the eastern end of the drainage associated with palaeo-Lake Hasa preserved stratigraphy and faunas rare for the region. In 1984–1993, G.A. Clark initiated a series of surveys and excavations at these and other, newly discovered sites that led to research on the early Upper Palaeolithic by Nancy Coinman and Deborah Olszewski (1998– 2000). Work by Zeljko Rezek continues at ‘Ain Difla, a Mous- terian rockshelter in the Wadi Ali (2010–). Here we summarize what we have learned from more than 30 years of research on Late Pleistocene forager adaptations to the highlands of west-central Jordan.

Lithic Technology, 2020

ABSTRACT Lithic analysts have long used cortical coverage as a variable for assessing reduction i... more ABSTRACT Lithic analysts have long used cortical coverage as a variable for assessing reduction intensity; however, differing interpretative frameworks can yield inconsistent conclusions. Dibble et al.'s ([2005]. The measurement and interpretation of cortex in lithic assemblages. American Antiquity, 70(3), 545–560. doi:10.2307/40035313) cortex model established a baseline for interpreting cortex within the organization of technology. In this paper, we employ their model and variations of interval scale assessments to address both methodological and interpretative issues associated with its application using lithic materials from the multicomponent Beaucoup site in northern Montana. For example, knowledge of raw material shape has important implications for archaeological interpretation at the Beaucoup site where the use of a scalene ellipsoid model provided a better estimate for initial raw material shape than a spherical model. We further identify that a 4-Interval scale provides the most expeditious and interpretively robust approach for quantifying cortex as a variable.

Geological Society of America Special Papers, 2017

Plains Anthropologist, 2016

Archeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association, 1993

Antiquity, 1994

Archaeologists have long assumed that morphological variability in microliths primarily reflects ... more Archaeologists have long assumed that morphological variability in microliths primarily reflects cultural differences among the makers. This forms the basis for differentiating major cultural/temporal traditions in the late Epipalaeolithic of southwest Asia. An alternative explanation for morphological variability is proposed which emphasizes the dynamic aspects of lithic technology in hunter-gatherer societies and questions current explanations of culture change.

Antiquity, 1996

We thank those whose interest in the Levantine Epipalaeolithic has led them to comment on our res... more We thank those whose interest in the Levantine Epipalaeolithic has led them to comment on our research. Such public discussion of differing interpretations is vital to understanding the past. In this article, we briefly respond to some of the points raised by those writing in this issue (G.A. Clark, N. Goring-Morris, D.O. Henry and J.L. Phillips) and in a previous issue (Fellner 1995; Kaufman 1995) of ANTIQUITY.

Journal of Field Archaeology, 1998

Archeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association, 2008

The shift to microlithic technologies is a widespread phenomenon over much of the globe during th... more The shift to microlithic technologies is a widespread phenomenon over much of the globe during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. The occurrence of microliths in diverse geographical and temporal settings is a testament to their versatility and importance as a solution to the problems of survival. Using a perspective based on evolutionary theory, the adoption of microliths in the Levant is viewed from both a long-term, regional perspective involving resource procurement and a short-term, site-centered perspective focusing on mobility strategies. The results suggest that microliths are correlated with changes in forager behavior associated with resource procurement and mobility and that an evolutionary framework is useful for addressing this process.

American Antiquity, 2004

Pueblo Grande. Her examination of multiple lines of evidence suggests that high rates of nutritio... more Pueblo Grande. Her examination of multiple lines of evidence suggests that high rates of nutritional and environmental stress placed these individuals at increased risk for early death. Martin and Akins's chapter, entitled "Unequal Treatment in Life as in Death: Trauma and Mortuary Behavior at La Plata (A.D. 1000-1300)," will not be commented on here as I am engaged in research directly related to this work. This book presents a broad overview of the types of research being conducted in the wake of NAGPRA, and it reminds us that anthropological research into the ancestral world of Native North Americans has not ended. This research offers a first step toward a larger dialogue in which collaborative and multidimensional studies into the past recognize the historical and contemporary frameworks that shape analyses and direct the research. In addition, the inclusion of ethnographic analogies in studies of the past allows for a new way of interpreting the epistemological dialogue surrounding eschatology and offers new lines of evidence for understanding social complexity in the past.

Lithic Technology, 2020

Lithic analysts have long used cortical coverage as a variable for assessing reduction intensity;... more Lithic analysts have long used cortical coverage as a variable for assessing reduction intensity; however, differing interpretative frameworks can yield inconsistent conclusions. Dibble et al.’s ([2005]. The measurement and interpretation of cortex in lithic assemblages. American Antiquity, 70(3), 545–560. doi:10.2307/40035313) cortex model established a baseline for interpreting cortex within the organization of technology. In this paper, we employ their model and variations of interval scale assessments to address both methodological and interpretative issues associated with its application using lithic materials from the multicomponent Beaucoup site in northern Montana. For example, knowledge of raw material shape has important implications for archaeological interpretation at the Beaucoup site where the use of a scalene ellipsoid model provided a better estimate for initial raw material shape than a spherical model. We further identify that a 4-Interval scale provides the most e...

PaleoAmerica

ABSTRACT Goshen projectile points are commonly associated with the regions of eastern Wyoming, we... more ABSTRACT Goshen projectile points are commonly associated with the regions of eastern Wyoming, western South Dakota, and southeastern Montana; however, they have also been identified as isolates and in a few sites in northern Colorado and the Canadian Prairie Provinces. This paper shares an occurrence of an atypical Goshen point made on a flake from southwestern Montana.

BLM Cultural Resources Series No. 6, 2014

A Montana State University field crew conducted archaeological investigations at the Camp Baker Q... more A Montana State University field crew conducted archaeological investigations at the Camp Baker Quarry in central Montana. Work accomplished by a six-person crew over a ten-day period consisted of detailed planimetric mapping of the quarry area and test excavations on the edges of two quarry pits. The excavations yielded a limited number of formed artifacts and approximately 14,000 pieces of debitage. Analysis of the debitage resulted in the conclusion that work in that portion of the quarry examined consisted primarily of raw material extraction, testing of raw material for quality, removal of undesirable portions from the extracted blocks, and the production of blocky cores and flake blanks for subsequent tool manufacture at other locations. The project found virtually no evidence for biface core production, tool manufacture, or tool maintenance.