Materials Utilization

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[239] Among the geological materials used for manufacture of implements in the Vantage locale, various foms of cryptocrystalline silica, basalt, and obsidian are most common. Significant differences in both distribution and function of these materials are outlined below.

   Cyptocrystalline Silica. Cryptocrystalline silica may be found in abundance along the Columbia, particularly in the basalt flows which lie between Priest Rapids and Wenatchee (Mackin 1961). It constitutes the best flaking material available in the region and has been utilized in the manufacture of chipped stone artifacts nearly to the exclusion of such rocks as basalt and obsidian. However, a striking exception to this generalization occurs during the Cold Springs Phase, one characteristic of which is a heavy reliance on the use of basalt even in those areas in which cryptocrystalline silica existed.

   Basalt. Basalt, which comprises the bedrock throughout most of the Columbia Plateau, frequently was utilized in the manufacture of heavy stone artifacts. Fragments of talus were used to make spall scrapers and chopping and crushing tools. River cobbles, usually of basalt, were used to make choppers, scraping planes, crushing implements, pestles, hammerstones, hopper mortars, sinkers, anchors, and the like.

   But basalt was used also in the manufacture of chipped stone artifacts during two distinct periods of pre¬history. The first of these coincides with and is a characteristic of me Cold Springs Phase. At this time basalt is the material most frequently used in the flaking of projectile points, knives, and other chipped stone artifacts. The last vestige of this tradition may be seen in Cultural Component III at 45KT28 where a small percentage of the projectile points is still being manufactured out of basalt. The other period during which basalt was utilized in this fashion occurs in late prehistoric times during the Cayuse III Subphase. At this time it forms a very small percentage of the projectile point assemblage and probably reflects increased contacts and trade with that part of the Plateau which lies north of the Okanagon Highlands.

   Obsidian. Obsidian has formed an item of trade ever since the altithermal, and possibly during earlier periods as well. During the Cold Springs, Frenchman Springs, and Quilomene Bar Phases it was traded northward from the northern Great Basin with regularity and probably in fairly sizable quantities. The major source areas were in central Oregon, about 200 miles to the south. During the Cayuse 1 and II Subphases this trade was considerably diminished though probably never completely curtailed. During the Cayuse III Subphase trade in obsidian became more important again, with source areas being not only in the northern Great Basin but probably also the deposits in Yellowstone National Park. [239/240]

   The distribution of obsidian artifacts and flakes at 45KT28 is as follows.

   Steatite. That the use of this material was well established by late Altithennal or early Medithermal times is demonstrated clearly by the two pieces of ground and drilled steatite from Cultural Components IV and V (Figs. 13, h; 14, o). However, none of this material was recovered from Cultural Component VI, and there was a surprisingly small amount of it in Cultural Component VII: one specimen from Subcomponent VI1A (Fig. 74, t) and three specimens from Subcomponent VIIH (Fig. 74, o, s). Fortunately there is abundant comparative material representing this time period from many sites in the Plateau (see C. G. Nelson 1960).

   Quartz Crystal. A single quartz crystal was recovered from Subcomponent VII-I. It was not worked in any way and its function is unknown.

   Graphite. The use and occurrence of graphite is discussed under the section devoted to stone beads and pendants.

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LAST REVISED: 24 DEC 2014