Towards a comprehensive understanding of the lithic production system of the Princess Point Complex, southwestern Ontario

grantor: University of TorontoThe Princess Point Complex represents a transitional culture from the Middle to Late Woodland in southwestern Ontario (c.a. A.D. 500-1,000). The AMS dates on corn remains (Zea mays) recovered from this culture indicate the emergence of horticulture based on corn-production in the Lower Grand River Valley as early as A.D. 550. This dissertation is a study of lithic assemblages of the Princess Point Complex, with a focus on an examination of lithic production systems. The study aims to reconstruct the pattern of Princess Point lithic production, and to explore the transformation of lithic production in relation to the emergence of food production in the study region. The lithic data comes from a three-year field investigation at the Grand Banks, Lone Pine, and Young 1 sites. The study first established a lithic typology that is distinguished from classification systems currently used for Ontario Woodland materials. Over 2000 lithic samples were selected for both the typo-technological analysis and the use-wear analysis. The results from these analyses have been used to interpret core reduction strategy and tool use-patterning at a Princess Point site (Grand Banks). A diachronic comparison was then undertaken to examine the transformation of lithic production during the Princess Point Period. The results of lithic analysis demonstrate that the Grand Banks lithic industry represents a generalized stone tool production. A trend toward an increased use of flake tools for generalized needs, corresponding to mixed economic activities, is evident in the Princess Point Complex. This study suggests that the shift from specialized to generalized stone tool production, as a long-term technological change, is likely associated with the introduction of horticulture. Since the subsistence shift may have brought about a series of changes in socio-economic structures, the transformation of lithic production might have been caused by, not one single factor, but an integrated relationship of external factors (sedentism, use of localized resources, population increase) and internal factors (time-stress, productive organization). The study aims to stimulate research on lithic production in the context of agriculture in the study region, and to suggest new lines for further study.Ph.D