Appendix H - Historical Archaeological and ... - CBP.gov

Figure H-1. Prehistoric/Precontact Cultural Chronology for North Dakota
Source: (Gregg et al., 2008).
Plains Archaic Tradition
The Plains Archaic (ca. 7,500 B.P.–2,400 B.P.) is divided into Early (ca. 7,500 B.P.-4,800 B.P.),
Middle (ca. 4,800 B.P.-3,000 B.P.), and Late (ca. 3,000 B.P –2,400 B.P.) periods (e.g. Dyck and
Morlan 2001; Wedel 1983). Plains Archaic complexes are primarily represented in the North
Dakota archaeological record by distinct types of projectile points, including: Logan Creek,
Hawken, Oxbow, McKean Lanceolate, Duncan, Hanna, Pelican Lake, and Yonkee. Throughout
the Plains Archaic, people were inhabiting and continually adapting to environments that were
changing from a periglacial habitat to those with essentially modern characteristics. Much of
this climatic and environmental change occurred during the first few millennia of the time
period, ca. 7,500 B.P. to 4,000 B.P., a time represented archaeologically by the ‘Mummy Cave’
series of sites. In general, the evidence from these sites indicates people were surviving as
Northern Border Activities H-50 July 2012