South Bend and Ridge Pine 2: Fraternal Twins
Abstract
The Ridge Pine 2 and South Bend sites lie within four kilometres of each other, both date to the late Middle Archaic period (ca. 5500-4500 before present), and both contain significant amounts of nonlocal chert. This exploitation of nonlocal chert occurred despite the close proximity of the Kettle Point chert outcrop to both sites. Notwithstanding their similarities, the two sites differ dramatically. From the raw material breakdown to projectile point types the two assemblages are quite different. These differences raise questions surrounding the chert procurement strategy employed by the groups at Ridge Pine 2 and South Bend. In order to distinguish between strategies a detailed analysis of the projectile points, formal tools, bifaces, and chipping detritus was undertaken. The results indicate that the occupants of Ridge Pine 2 probably acquired nonlocal Onondaga chert through direct procurement, while the South Bend group used more locally available Kettle Point chert and likely acquired nonlocal chert through exchange.