Hinds Cave Point Sequence

One of the most useful and expedient dating methods takes advantage of the fact that projectile point styles changed through prehistoric time. Over time, hunters and flintknappers (most men were probably both) tried new manufacturing techniques and changed design of their hunting points in response to functional considerations, raw material availability, and human preference. During any period in time, only a few (sometimes maybe only one) point styles were in use, although there were often many minor variations on a theme. This pattern enables archeologists to use projectile points as “time markers.” For most recognized point styles, we know approximately–give or take 200-1000 years or so—when the style was in use. We know this after many decades of defining stratigraphic sequences of point styles and working out relative dating (type x consistently found below type y, hence x older than y) and from obtaining radiocarbon dates for deposits containing one or several related point styles. From this work, chronological projectile point sequences have been developed for most archeological regions in Texas, some more precise than others.

Deep cultural deposits that formed beneath overhangs in rockshelters such as Hinds Cave do not provide ideal opportunities to create an accurate projectile point sequence. The cultural deposits within the cave reached a maximum depth of well over two meters (6+ feet). Since the deposits were almost entirely artificial and were not laid down in uniform layers like some geological deposits, they do not represent an uninterrupted temporal sequence. Lenses of debris would form in one area of the cave and not another during cave use events. Entire occupation episodes may have been confined only to one segment of the site, resulting in an occupational hiatus in one area and a continuum in another. The cave’s inhabitations frequently dug pits into underlying lenses and layers, bringing up and mixing materials from previous occupations with current ones. The loose dusty cave deposits also were amenable to mixing as occupants carried out other ordinary daily activities within the cave, wearing rutted paths, cleaning off areas, piling up debris piles, and so on

Even with these circumstances, however, extended periods of occupation during certain time intervals did occur, and these broad deposits did have stratigraphic integrity, meaning that entire layers formed that essentially date to a limited period of site use. The time intervals for these long episodes include: 8,900-5,500 (radiocarbon years) B.P. with Baker and Early Barbed point style association, 5,500-4,100 B.P. with Pandale and Pandale preform types association, 4,100-3,200 B.P. with Langtry, Val Verde, and Pedernales associations, and 2,300-1,300 B.P. with Ensor and Frio types association

Deep alluvial deposits provide a more ideal circumstance for constructing a lithic sequence. Indeed, the Lower Pecos projectile point sequence is based on half a century of off and on research and typological studies. Sites such as Devil’s Mouth, Devils Rockshelter, and Arenosa Shelter have provided more ideal circumstances for constructing a point sequence for the region since these sites were subjected to geological conditions, namely alluvial flooding which deposited sterile deposits between cultural deposits. (See Before Amistad to learn more.) Sequences of sealed cultural deposits provided a more opportune situation to construct a well dated projectile point type sequence.

The Hinds Cave point sequence reflected by the raw counts of projectile points from all excavation proveniences assigned to each Analysis Unit suggests that a considerable amount of mixing took place. This mixing is at least partially more apparent than real. That is, the initial Analysis Unit (AU) assignments have not been critically reevaluated using the full radiocarbon dating results and the information gleaned from many different Hinds Cave laboratory research projects. Thus, some of the apparent mixing is simply the result of faulty AU assignments, not actual mixing. There were numerous deposits in Hinds Cave that did contain materials of mixed age owing to the factors discussed in the Stratigraphy and Analysis Unit sections.

Nonethless, the overall trends in the Hinds Cave point sequence match the chronology established for the region. Radiocarbon dates taken from stratigraphic profiles do show a very consistent chronological record of accumulations through time. Furthermore, the solid stratigraphic sequence of components containing Ensor, Langtry and Val Verde, Pandale, Bandy and Early Barbed is consistent with the regional projectile point sequence.

The point sequence at Hinds Cave reveals major occupation gaps within the Hinds Cave sequence. For instance, Late Prehistoric occupation at the site was represented by a mere trace (three arrow points) and could not be stratigraphically defined. Also notable is the poor representation for the interval between 3150 and 2300 B.P. characterized by broad blade point styles Montell, Castroville, Marshall, and Shumla. Single examples of Montell and Marshall are present suggesting the site was only briefly occupied during this period of time compared to extensive periods of occupation for the intervals mentioned above.