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Jesse Tune

University of Mississippi, Sociology & Anthropology, Faculty Member

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Papers by Jesse Tune

Current Understanding of the Earliest Human Occupations in the Americas: Evaluation of Becerra-Valdivia and Higham (2020

by Juliet E Morrow, Gary Haynes, Kurt Rademaker, Jesse Tune, David Kilby, Jacob Holland-Lulewicz, Brandon T Ritchison, and Isabelle Holland-Lulewicz

PaleoAmerica, 2021

Various chronologies of the earliest Native American occupations have been proposed with varying ... more Various chronologies of the earliest Native American occupations have been proposed with varying levels of empirical support and conceptual rigor, yet none is widely accepted. A recent survey of pre-Clovis dated sites (Becerra-Valdivia and Higham 2020) concludes a pre-Last Glacial Maximum (>26,500-19,000 cal yr BP) entry of humans in the Americas, in part based on recent work at Chiquihuite Cave, Mexico. We evaluate the evidence used to develop this inference. To provide clarity, we present three explicit dispersal models for the earliest human dispersals to the Americas: Strict Clovis-First (13,050 cal yr BP), Paleoindian (<16,000 cal yr BP), and Pre-Paleoindian (>16,000 cal yr BP, encompassing pre-LGM, preferred by Becerra-Valdivia and Higham (2020)), and we summarize the current genetic and archaeological evidence bearing on each. We regard all purported Pre-Paleoindian sites as equivocal and the Strict Clovis-First model to be equally unsupported at present. We conclude that current data strongly support the Paleoindian Dispersal model, with Native American ancestors expanding into the Americas sometime after 16,000 cal yr BP (and perhaps after 14,800 cal yr BP), consistent with well-dated archaeological sites and with genetic data throughout the western hemisphere. Models of the Americas' peopling that incorporate Chiquihuite or other claimed Pre-Paleoindian sites remain unsubstantiated.

Current Understanding of the Earliest Human Occupations in the Americas: Evaluation of Becerra-Valdivia and Higham (2020)

by David Kilby, Gary Haynes, Jacob Holland-Lulewicz, Kurt Rademaker, Guadalupe Sanchez, and Jesse Tune

PaleoAmerica, 2021

Various chronologies of the earliest Native American occupations have been proposed with varying ... more Various chronologies of the earliest Native American occupations have been proposed with varying levels of empirical support and conceptual rigor, yet none is widely accepted. A recent survey of pre-Clovis dated sites (Becerra-Valdivia and Higham 2020) concludes a pre-Last Glacial Maximum (>26,500-19,000 cal yr BP) entry of humans in the Americas, in part based on recent work at Chiquihuite Cave, Mexico. We evaluate the evidence used to develop this inference. To provide clarity, we present three explicit dispersal models for the earliest human dispersals to the Americas: Strict Clovis-First (13,050 cal yr BP), Paleoindian (<16,000 cal yr BP), and Pre-Paleoindian (>16,000 cal yr BP, encompassing pre-LGM, preferred by Becerra-Valdivia and Higham (2020)), and we summarize the current genetic and archaeological evidence bearing on each. We regard all purported Pre-Paleoindian sites as equivocal and the Strict Clovis-First model to be equally unsupported at present. We conclude that current data strongly support the Paleoindian Dispersal model, with Native American ancestors expanding into the Americas sometime after 16,000 cal yr BP (and perhaps after 14,800 cal yr BP), consistent with well-dated archaeological sites and with genetic data throughout the western hemisphere. Models of the Americas' peopling that incorporate Chiquihuite or other claimed Pre-Paleoindian sites remain unsubstantiated.

Evaluating Claims of Early Human Occupation at Chiquihuite Cave, Mexico

by Juliet E Morrow, James Chatters, Gary Haynes, Guadalupe Sanchez, Jesse Tune, Jacob Holland-Lulewicz, David Kilby, and Kurt Rademaker

PaleoAmerica, 2021

Archaeologists working in Mexico recently claimed evidence for pre-Last Glacial Maximum human occ... more Archaeologists working in Mexico recently claimed evidence for pre-Last Glacial Maximum human occupation in the Americas, based on lithic items excavated from Chiquihuite Cave, Zacatecas. Although they provide extensive array of ancillary studies of the cave's chronostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental record, the data they present do not support their central argument, that these lithic items are anthropogenic and represent a unique lithic industry produced by early human occupants. They give limited consideration to the most plausible alternative explanation: that the assemblage is a product of natural processes of disintegration, roof fall, and mass movement of the cave fill, and thus the lithic materials are best explained as geofacts. We assess the evidence by considering the alternative hypotheses (1) that the observed phenomena are artifacts or (2) that they result from natural processes. We conclude that hypothesis 2 is more strongly supported and that Chiquihuite Cave does not represent evidence for the earliest Americans.

Current Understanding of the Earliest Human Occupations in the Americas: Evaluation of Becerra-Valdivia and Higham (2020

by Kurt Rademaker, Stuart Fiedel, Gary Haynes, Jacob Holland-Lulewicz, Guadalupe Sanchez, Jesse Tune, David Kilby, and Shane Miller

Various chronologies of the earliest Native American occupations have been proposed with varying ... more Various chronologies of the earliest Native American occupations have been proposed with varying levels of empirical support and conceptual rigor, yet none is widely accepted. A recent survey of pre-Clovis dated sites (Becerra-Valdivia and Higham 2020) concludes a pre-Last Glacial Maximum (>26,500-19,000 cal yr BP) entry of humans in the Americas, in part based on recent work at Chiquihuite Cave, Mexico. We evaluate the evidence used to develop this inference. To provide clarity, we present three explicit dispersal models for the earliest human dispersals to the Americas: Strict Clovis-First (13,050 cal yr BP), Paleoindian (<16,000 cal yr BP), and Pre-Paleoindian (>16,000 cal yr BP, encompassing pre-LGM, preferred by Becerra-Valdivia and Higham (2020)), and we summarize the current genetic and archaeological evidence bearing on each. We regard all purported Pre-Paleoindian sites as equivocal and the Strict Clovis-First model to be equally unsupported at present. We conclude that current data strongly support the Paleoindian Dispersal model, with Native American ancestors expanding into the Americas sometime after 16,000 cal yr BP (and perhaps after 14,800 cal yr BP), consistent with well-dated archaeological sites and with genetic data throughout the western hemisphere. Models of the Americas' peopling that incorporate Chiquihuite or other claimed Pre-Paleoindian sites remain unsubstantiated.

Evaluating Claims of Early Human Occupation at Chiquihuite Cave, Mexico

by David Kilby, Gary Haynes, Jacob Holland-Lulewicz, Kurt Rademaker, Guadalupe Sanchez, Jesse Tune, and Shane Miller

PaleoAmerica, 2021

Archaeologists working in Mexico recently claimed evidence for pre-Last Glacial Maximum human occ... more Archaeologists working in Mexico recently claimed evidence for pre-Last Glacial Maximum human occupation in the Americas, based on lithic items excavated from Chiquihuite Cave, Zacatecas. Although they provide extensive array of ancillary studies of the cave's chronostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental record, the data they present do not support their central argument, that these lithic items are anthropogenic and represent a unique lithic industry produced by early human occupants. They give limited consideration to the most plausible alternative explanation: that the assemblage is a product of natural processes of disintegration, roof fall, and mass movement of the cave fill, and thus the lithic materials are best explained as geofacts. We assess the evidence by considering the alternative hypotheses (1) that the observed phenomena are artifacts or (2) that they result from natural processes. We conclude that hypothesis 2 is more strongly supported and that Chiquihuite Cave does not represent evidence for the earliest Americans.

Variation in Fluted-point Technology: Investigations across Space and Time

by Heather Smith and Jesse Tune

Paleoamerica, 2019

The transmission of Clovis fluted-point technology, the earliest well-dated fluted point industry... more The transmission of Clovis fluted-point technology, the earliest well-dated fluted point industry, is considered to have led to regional variants of point forms as a result of cultural drift and founder effects as Paleoindian groups dispersed throughout the Western Hemisphere and adapted to local ecological settings. The papers collected in this volume present recent research and perspectives of a group of archaeologists focusing on regional variation in fluted-point morphology and technology and their relationships to neighboring forms, both spatially and chronologically, as well as the methodology used to examine evidence of their historical development and origin.

The colonization of Ireland: A human ecology perspective

Quaternary Science Reviews, 2020

Human migration throughout northern Europe following the Last Glacial Maximum is an ideal situati... more Human migration throughout northern Europe following the Last Glacial Maximum is an ideal situation to investigate human colonization and adaptation in new landscapes. This is particularly so in Ireland, which possesses a distinctly compressed archaeological record compared to the rest of Europe. While various periods of Paleolithic occupations are well-documented throughout Europe, including Britain, the initial colonization of Ireland appears to be delayed until the Early Holocene. An assessment of archaeological and paleoenvironmental data suggests that inhospitable environmental conditions, specifically the absence of mature woodland ecosystems, substantially delayed the human colonization of Ireland. Once Mesolithic peoples reached Ireland, the absence of familiar fauna led them to quickly modify existing technologies. These local adaptions are reflected in the discontinuation of composite microlith technologies that characterize the rest of the European Mesolithic record. Within 1000 years of colonization, Mesolithic hunter-gatherers developed a uniquely Irish macrolith-based technology.

Hunter-Gatherer Occupation of the Central Colorado Plateau during the Pleistocene-Holocene Transition

American Antiquity, 2020

The central Colorado Plateau contains an exceptional density of cultural resources. Historically,... more The central Colorado Plateau contains an exceptional density of cultural resources. Historically, however, archaeological investigations have overlooked the late Pleistocene and early Holocene record of this region. As such, there is currently a biased understanding of the earliest human occupations and adaptations. The regional Paleoindian record is reviewed here to assess the nature of initial human occupation of the area. Projectile point typologies, toolstone selection, and site distributions are used to characterize the land use patterns used by the region's earliest inhabitants. Results suggest that as early as circa 13,000 cal BP Clovis groups were familiar with the lithic landscape and habitually made use of local materials. Subsequent Paleoindian populations maintained relatively consistent levels of occupation throughout the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. Finally, the presence of classic Southwest, High Plains, and Great Basin-related lithic technologies suggests that the central Colorado Plateau was part of early interregional land use strategies. La meseta central de Colorado es conocida por su excepcional densidad en recursos culturales. Sin embargo, históricamente las investigaciones arqueológicas han pasado por alto el registro del Pleistoceno tardío y el Holoceno temprano en esta región. De esta manera, la comprensión actual sobre las primeras ocupaciones y adaptaciones humanas es parcial. En este estudio se realiza una revisión del registro paleoindio regional para evaluar la naturaleza de las primeras ocupaciones en el área. Con la finalidad de caracterizar los patrones de uso de la tierra implementados por los primeros habitantes de la región se estudiaron los tipos de puntas de proyectiles, las herramientas de piedras que utilizaban y la distribución de sitios. Los resultados sugieren que ya circa 13.000 cal BP, los grupos de Clovis estaban familiarizados con el paisaje lítico y habi-tualmente utilizaban materiales locales. Las poblaciones paleoindias posteriores mantuvieron niveles relativamente con-stantes de ocupación durante la transición del Pleistoceno-Holoceno. Finalmente, la presencia de tecnologías líticas clásicas relacionadas con el Altiplano y las Grandes Cuencas, sugiere que la meseta central de Colorado fue parte de las pri-meras estrategias interregionales de uso de la tierra. Palabras clave: Paleoindio, Meseta de Colorado, transición del Pleistoceno-Holoceno, uso del suelo, organización tecnológica lítica

A multi-sensor, multi-scale approach to mapping tree mortality in woodland ecosystems

Remote Sensing of Environment, 2020

Woodland ecosystems, dominant on nearly 4% of all terrestrial land globally, are faced with a var... more Woodland ecosystems, dominant on nearly 4% of all terrestrial land globally, are faced with a variety of threats, including increasingly prolonged and severe droughts, invasive insect outbreaks, and the rapid spread of pathogens. While many remote sensing methods have been developed for the detection and quantification of mortality in forested environments, woodland ecosystems present unique challenges to accurately mapping tree die-off due to relatively lower canopy covers, smaller and irregularly-shaped tree crowns, and greater influence of understory vegetation and soil cover on reflectance. To address these challenges, we developed a multi-sensor, multi-scale approach combining the analytical strengths of centimeter-resolution unmanned aerial system imagery for interpreting individual tree-level mortality, airborne lidar for crown mapping and quantifying percent canopy mortality, and Landsat imagery for upscaling mortality estimates to a regional scale. This approach utilizes a new algorithm for delineating the shapes of small, irregular woodland tree crowns using lidar. To demonstrate the application of this method, we map the extent and severity of a recent tree mortality event in piñon-juniper (PJ) woodlands of southeastern Utah. Our results suggest that 39% of PJ in this region has experienced some level of mortality, with patches exceeding 50% mortality. An analysis of potential mortality drivers revealed that canopy cover, terrain, and recent winter precipitation conditions are most directly linked with mortality, although the explanatory power of the mortality driver model was low. Our approach demonstrates a methodology that could be used for tree mortality mapping and scaling in a variety woodland ecosystems , and can provide a strong basis for further ecophysiological, ecological, and carbon cycle studies involving woodland tree mortality.

Identification of the natural origin of waterproofing pine pitch in historical Southwest Native American basketry through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Archaeological and ethnographic records document a long and rich history of plant-based resource ... more Archaeological and ethnographic records document a long and rich history of plant-based resource use by Indigenous peoples of the American Southwest. The history of this resource use tells a complex story of human-environment relationships in this arid landscape. Indigenous peoples of the American Southwest have historically made use of pine pitch to waterproof their basketry. Here, we have identified the pine species origin of the pitch used to construct historical baskets utilizing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Resin samples were collected from the three main resinous plants in the Four Corners area: Pinus edilus, Pinus ponderosa, and Juniperus scoplulorum, and their GC chromatograms were analyzed for characteristic molecular components. Furthermore, some of these resin samples were heated to simulate the pitch-application process to ensure the characteristic molecular components were still present after baking. We have found that the ratio of γ-muurolene to longifolene provides a reliable indication of the pines species origin of the pitch, even after being exposed to elevated temperatures, and that all 14 of the historical baskets analyzed were waterproofed primarily with resinous material collected from the Pinus edilus species.

A Crescent Biface from Southeastern Utah

Crescent bifaces are one of the most enigmatic stone tool types in North America. While these art... more Crescent bifaces are one of the most enigmatic stone tool types in North America. While these artifacts are poorly understood, they are widely known from sites throughout a core area consisting of the Great Basin and California. Here, we report on one of the eastern-most crescents from southeastern Utah, which is also the only crescent currently documented from the northern Colorado Plateau.

Variation in Fluted-point Technology: Investigations across Space and Time

The transmission of Clovis fluted-point technology, the earliest well-dated fluted point industry... more The transmission of Clovis fluted-point technology, the earliest well-dated fluted point industry, is considered to have led to regional variants of point forms as a result of cultural drift and founder effects as Paleoindian groups dispersed throughout the Western Hemisphere and adapted to local ecological settings. The papers collected in this volume present recent research and perspectives of a group of archaeologists focusing on regional variation in fluted-point morphology and technology and their relationships to neighboring forms, both spatially and chronologically, as well as the methodology used to examine evidence of their historical development and origin.

Miller and Tune 2018 - Small Decisions and Big Floods.pdf

by Shane Miller and Jesse Tune

When the Levee Breaks: Small Decisions and Big Floods at the End of the Last Ice Age, 2018

Assessing the proposed pre-last glacial maximum human occupation of North America at Coats-Hines-Litchy, Tennessee, and other sites

Genomic studies indicate that the first Pleistocene foragers who entered North America diverged f... more Genomic studies indicate that the first Pleistocene foragers who entered North America diverged from ancestral populations in Beringia sometime after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM); however, several archaeological sites in North America have been proposed to predate the LGM. We present the results of our excavation and analysis of one such site, Coats-Hines-Litchy, Tennessee, which show that this site is a paleontological locality containing a geofact assemblage that pre-dates the LGM. Other sites in North America that purportedly predate the LGM occur in geomorphic contexts that are also conducive to the formation of geofact assemblages. As such, we propose that the reported artifacts from these sites were created by natural processes. No sites in North America currently provide credible evidence of a pre-LGM occupation.

The Clovis-Cumberland-Dalton Succession: Settling into the Midsouth United States during the Pleistocene-to-Holocene Transition.pdf

Considerable debate has recently focused on understanding the effects of the Younger Dryas (YD) o... more Considerable debate has recently focused on understanding the effects of the Younger Dryas (YD) on human behavioral adaptations throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It has been proposed that adverse paleoecological conditions in southeastern North America triggered a decline or substantial reorganization in human populations. The Tennessee Paleoindian biface data in the Paleoindian Database of the Americas is used here to assess transitions in behavioral adaptations during the Pleistocene to Holocene transition. Patterns in technological organization, land use, and toolstone selection do not support the hypothesis that paleoecological changes during the YD adversely affected human populations in the Midsouth. An alternative hypothesis is proposed and contends that changes in behavioral adaptations were a result of settling in processes associated with initial regional colonization and increased regionalization throughout the Pleistocene to Holocene transition.

The Old Man And The Pleistocene: John Broster And Paleoindian Archaeology In The Mid-South

by Shane Miller and Jesse Tune

The Paleoindian and Early Archaic Record in Tennessee: A Review of the Tennessee Fluted Point Survey

Tennessee possesses some of the densest concentrations of Paleoindian and Early Archaic artifacts... more Tennessee possesses some of the densest concentrations of Paleoindian and Early Archaic artifacts in North America. As a result, it is an ideal location for research related to the early human colonization of the continent. Under John Broster's guidance, as of 2013, there are nearly 5,500 points documented in the Tennessee Fluted Point Survey. Early Paleoindian points are the most prevalent point type recorded in Tennessee. Clovis/Gainey and Cumberland/Barnes make up over 40 percent of all Paleoindian and Early Archaic points documented in the state. The highest density of Paleoindian and Early Archaic points is recorded from the Highland Rim, and accounts for approximately two-thirds of all points in the state.

Characterizing Cumberland Fluted Biface Morphology and Technological Organization

Cumberland bifaces are frequently referenced in discussions of fluted point technology, Paleoindi... more Cumberland bifaces are frequently referenced in discussions of fluted point technology, Paleoindian chronologies , and Younger Dryas adaptations. However, due largely to the absence of stratified, datable components, limited information exists about Cumberland lithic technology. Only brief descriptions of morphology, reduction sequence, and potential chronologies based on exceptionally small datasets are available in the existing literature. To address these deficiencies, a study of biface morphology and technological organization was conducted based on over 900 fluted Cumberland bifaces. Morphological and technological similarities to other fluted biface types, as well as bracketing radiocarbon ages, suggest that Cumberland bifaces likely date to the early Younger Dryas. Cumberland appears to represent a maintainable technology used by people adapted to an environment with predictable resources. Reconstructing artifact life histories suggests Cumberland technology was related to a logistically mobile settlement strategy.

Tennessee's Paleoindian Record: The Cumberland and Lower Tennessee River Watersheds

The Wells Creek Site: A Reinterpratation of Site Occupation

Current Understanding of the Earliest Human Occupations in the Americas: Evaluation of Becerra-Valdivia and Higham (2020

by Juliet E Morrow, Gary Haynes, Kurt Rademaker, Jesse Tune, David Kilby, Jacob Holland-Lulewicz, Brandon T Ritchison, and Isabelle Holland-Lulewicz

PaleoAmerica, 2021

Various chronologies of the earliest Native American occupations have been proposed with varying ... more Various chronologies of the earliest Native American occupations have been proposed with varying levels of empirical support and conceptual rigor, yet none is widely accepted. A recent survey of pre-Clovis dated sites (Becerra-Valdivia and Higham 2020) concludes a pre-Last Glacial Maximum (>26,500-19,000 cal yr BP) entry of humans in the Americas, in part based on recent work at Chiquihuite Cave, Mexico. We evaluate the evidence used to develop this inference. To provide clarity, we present three explicit dispersal models for the earliest human dispersals to the Americas: Strict Clovis-First (13,050 cal yr BP), Paleoindian (<16,000 cal yr BP), and Pre-Paleoindian (>16,000 cal yr BP, encompassing pre-LGM, preferred by Becerra-Valdivia and Higham (2020)), and we summarize the current genetic and archaeological evidence bearing on each. We regard all purported Pre-Paleoindian sites as equivocal and the Strict Clovis-First model to be equally unsupported at present. We conclude that current data strongly support the Paleoindian Dispersal model, with Native American ancestors expanding into the Americas sometime after 16,000 cal yr BP (and perhaps after 14,800 cal yr BP), consistent with well-dated archaeological sites and with genetic data throughout the western hemisphere. Models of the Americas' peopling that incorporate Chiquihuite or other claimed Pre-Paleoindian sites remain unsubstantiated.

Current Understanding of the Earliest Human Occupations in the Americas: Evaluation of Becerra-Valdivia and Higham (2020)

by David Kilby, Gary Haynes, Jacob Holland-Lulewicz, Kurt Rademaker, Guadalupe Sanchez, and Jesse Tune

PaleoAmerica, 2021

Various chronologies of the earliest Native American occupations have been proposed with varying ... more Various chronologies of the earliest Native American occupations have been proposed with varying levels of empirical support and conceptual rigor, yet none is widely accepted. A recent survey of pre-Clovis dated sites (Becerra-Valdivia and Higham 2020) concludes a pre-Last Glacial Maximum (>26,500-19,000 cal yr BP) entry of humans in the Americas, in part based on recent work at Chiquihuite Cave, Mexico. We evaluate the evidence used to develop this inference. To provide clarity, we present three explicit dispersal models for the earliest human dispersals to the Americas: Strict Clovis-First (13,050 cal yr BP), Paleoindian (<16,000 cal yr BP), and Pre-Paleoindian (>16,000 cal yr BP, encompassing pre-LGM, preferred by Becerra-Valdivia and Higham (2020)), and we summarize the current genetic and archaeological evidence bearing on each. We regard all purported Pre-Paleoindian sites as equivocal and the Strict Clovis-First model to be equally unsupported at present. We conclude that current data strongly support the Paleoindian Dispersal model, with Native American ancestors expanding into the Americas sometime after 16,000 cal yr BP (and perhaps after 14,800 cal yr BP), consistent with well-dated archaeological sites and with genetic data throughout the western hemisphere. Models of the Americas' peopling that incorporate Chiquihuite or other claimed Pre-Paleoindian sites remain unsubstantiated.

Evaluating Claims of Early Human Occupation at Chiquihuite Cave, Mexico

by Juliet E Morrow, James Chatters, Gary Haynes, Guadalupe Sanchez, Jesse Tune, Jacob Holland-Lulewicz, David Kilby, and Kurt Rademaker

PaleoAmerica, 2021

Archaeologists working in Mexico recently claimed evidence for pre-Last Glacial Maximum human occ... more Archaeologists working in Mexico recently claimed evidence for pre-Last Glacial Maximum human occupation in the Americas, based on lithic items excavated from Chiquihuite Cave, Zacatecas. Although they provide extensive array of ancillary studies of the cave's chronostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental record, the data they present do not support their central argument, that these lithic items are anthropogenic and represent a unique lithic industry produced by early human occupants. They give limited consideration to the most plausible alternative explanation: that the assemblage is a product of natural processes of disintegration, roof fall, and mass movement of the cave fill, and thus the lithic materials are best explained as geofacts. We assess the evidence by considering the alternative hypotheses (1) that the observed phenomena are artifacts or (2) that they result from natural processes. We conclude that hypothesis 2 is more strongly supported and that Chiquihuite Cave does not represent evidence for the earliest Americans.

Current Understanding of the Earliest Human Occupations in the Americas: Evaluation of Becerra-Valdivia and Higham (2020

by Kurt Rademaker, Stuart Fiedel, Gary Haynes, Jacob Holland-Lulewicz, Guadalupe Sanchez, Jesse Tune, David Kilby, and Shane Miller

Various chronologies of the earliest Native American occupations have been proposed with varying ... more Various chronologies of the earliest Native American occupations have been proposed with varying levels of empirical support and conceptual rigor, yet none is widely accepted. A recent survey of pre-Clovis dated sites (Becerra-Valdivia and Higham 2020) concludes a pre-Last Glacial Maximum (>26,500-19,000 cal yr BP) entry of humans in the Americas, in part based on recent work at Chiquihuite Cave, Mexico. We evaluate the evidence used to develop this inference. To provide clarity, we present three explicit dispersal models for the earliest human dispersals to the Americas: Strict Clovis-First (13,050 cal yr BP), Paleoindian (<16,000 cal yr BP), and Pre-Paleoindian (>16,000 cal yr BP, encompassing pre-LGM, preferred by Becerra-Valdivia and Higham (2020)), and we summarize the current genetic and archaeological evidence bearing on each. We regard all purported Pre-Paleoindian sites as equivocal and the Strict Clovis-First model to be equally unsupported at present. We conclude that current data strongly support the Paleoindian Dispersal model, with Native American ancestors expanding into the Americas sometime after 16,000 cal yr BP (and perhaps after 14,800 cal yr BP), consistent with well-dated archaeological sites and with genetic data throughout the western hemisphere. Models of the Americas' peopling that incorporate Chiquihuite or other claimed Pre-Paleoindian sites remain unsubstantiated.

Evaluating Claims of Early Human Occupation at Chiquihuite Cave, Mexico

by David Kilby, Gary Haynes, Jacob Holland-Lulewicz, Kurt Rademaker, Guadalupe Sanchez, Jesse Tune, and Shane Miller

PaleoAmerica, 2021

Archaeologists working in Mexico recently claimed evidence for pre-Last Glacial Maximum human occ... more Archaeologists working in Mexico recently claimed evidence for pre-Last Glacial Maximum human occupation in the Americas, based on lithic items excavated from Chiquihuite Cave, Zacatecas. Although they provide extensive array of ancillary studies of the cave's chronostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental record, the data they present do not support their central argument, that these lithic items are anthropogenic and represent a unique lithic industry produced by early human occupants. They give limited consideration to the most plausible alternative explanation: that the assemblage is a product of natural processes of disintegration, roof fall, and mass movement of the cave fill, and thus the lithic materials are best explained as geofacts. We assess the evidence by considering the alternative hypotheses (1) that the observed phenomena are artifacts or (2) that they result from natural processes. We conclude that hypothesis 2 is more strongly supported and that Chiquihuite Cave does not represent evidence for the earliest Americans.

Variation in Fluted-point Technology: Investigations across Space and Time

by Heather Smith and Jesse Tune

Paleoamerica, 2019

The transmission of Clovis fluted-point technology, the earliest well-dated fluted point industry... more The transmission of Clovis fluted-point technology, the earliest well-dated fluted point industry, is considered to have led to regional variants of point forms as a result of cultural drift and founder effects as Paleoindian groups dispersed throughout the Western Hemisphere and adapted to local ecological settings. The papers collected in this volume present recent research and perspectives of a group of archaeologists focusing on regional variation in fluted-point morphology and technology and their relationships to neighboring forms, both spatially and chronologically, as well as the methodology used to examine evidence of their historical development and origin.

The colonization of Ireland: A human ecology perspective

Quaternary Science Reviews, 2020

Human migration throughout northern Europe following the Last Glacial Maximum is an ideal situati... more Human migration throughout northern Europe following the Last Glacial Maximum is an ideal situation to investigate human colonization and adaptation in new landscapes. This is particularly so in Ireland, which possesses a distinctly compressed archaeological record compared to the rest of Europe. While various periods of Paleolithic occupations are well-documented throughout Europe, including Britain, the initial colonization of Ireland appears to be delayed until the Early Holocene. An assessment of archaeological and paleoenvironmental data suggests that inhospitable environmental conditions, specifically the absence of mature woodland ecosystems, substantially delayed the human colonization of Ireland. Once Mesolithic peoples reached Ireland, the absence of familiar fauna led them to quickly modify existing technologies. These local adaptions are reflected in the discontinuation of composite microlith technologies that characterize the rest of the European Mesolithic record. Within 1000 years of colonization, Mesolithic hunter-gatherers developed a uniquely Irish macrolith-based technology.

Hunter-Gatherer Occupation of the Central Colorado Plateau during the Pleistocene-Holocene Transition

American Antiquity, 2020

The central Colorado Plateau contains an exceptional density of cultural resources. Historically,... more The central Colorado Plateau contains an exceptional density of cultural resources. Historically, however, archaeological investigations have overlooked the late Pleistocene and early Holocene record of this region. As such, there is currently a biased understanding of the earliest human occupations and adaptations. The regional Paleoindian record is reviewed here to assess the nature of initial human occupation of the area. Projectile point typologies, toolstone selection, and site distributions are used to characterize the land use patterns used by the region's earliest inhabitants. Results suggest that as early as circa 13,000 cal BP Clovis groups were familiar with the lithic landscape and habitually made use of local materials. Subsequent Paleoindian populations maintained relatively consistent levels of occupation throughout the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. Finally, the presence of classic Southwest, High Plains, and Great Basin-related lithic technologies suggests that the central Colorado Plateau was part of early interregional land use strategies. La meseta central de Colorado es conocida por su excepcional densidad en recursos culturales. Sin embargo, históricamente las investigaciones arqueológicas han pasado por alto el registro del Pleistoceno tardío y el Holoceno temprano en esta región. De esta manera, la comprensión actual sobre las primeras ocupaciones y adaptaciones humanas es parcial. En este estudio se realiza una revisión del registro paleoindio regional para evaluar la naturaleza de las primeras ocupaciones en el área. Con la finalidad de caracterizar los patrones de uso de la tierra implementados por los primeros habitantes de la región se estudiaron los tipos de puntas de proyectiles, las herramientas de piedras que utilizaban y la distribución de sitios. Los resultados sugieren que ya circa 13.000 cal BP, los grupos de Clovis estaban familiarizados con el paisaje lítico y habi-tualmente utilizaban materiales locales. Las poblaciones paleoindias posteriores mantuvieron niveles relativamente con-stantes de ocupación durante la transición del Pleistoceno-Holoceno. Finalmente, la presencia de tecnologías líticas clásicas relacionadas con el Altiplano y las Grandes Cuencas, sugiere que la meseta central de Colorado fue parte de las pri-meras estrategias interregionales de uso de la tierra. Palabras clave: Paleoindio, Meseta de Colorado, transición del Pleistoceno-Holoceno, uso del suelo, organización tecnológica lítica

A multi-sensor, multi-scale approach to mapping tree mortality in woodland ecosystems

Remote Sensing of Environment, 2020

Woodland ecosystems, dominant on nearly 4% of all terrestrial land globally, are faced with a var... more Woodland ecosystems, dominant on nearly 4% of all terrestrial land globally, are faced with a variety of threats, including increasingly prolonged and severe droughts, invasive insect outbreaks, and the rapid spread of pathogens. While many remote sensing methods have been developed for the detection and quantification of mortality in forested environments, woodland ecosystems present unique challenges to accurately mapping tree die-off due to relatively lower canopy covers, smaller and irregularly-shaped tree crowns, and greater influence of understory vegetation and soil cover on reflectance. To address these challenges, we developed a multi-sensor, multi-scale approach combining the analytical strengths of centimeter-resolution unmanned aerial system imagery for interpreting individual tree-level mortality, airborne lidar for crown mapping and quantifying percent canopy mortality, and Landsat imagery for upscaling mortality estimates to a regional scale. This approach utilizes a new algorithm for delineating the shapes of small, irregular woodland tree crowns using lidar. To demonstrate the application of this method, we map the extent and severity of a recent tree mortality event in piñon-juniper (PJ) woodlands of southeastern Utah. Our results suggest that 39% of PJ in this region has experienced some level of mortality, with patches exceeding 50% mortality. An analysis of potential mortality drivers revealed that canopy cover, terrain, and recent winter precipitation conditions are most directly linked with mortality, although the explanatory power of the mortality driver model was low. Our approach demonstrates a methodology that could be used for tree mortality mapping and scaling in a variety woodland ecosystems , and can provide a strong basis for further ecophysiological, ecological, and carbon cycle studies involving woodland tree mortality.

Identification of the natural origin of waterproofing pine pitch in historical Southwest Native American basketry through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Archaeological and ethnographic records document a long and rich history of plant-based resource ... more Archaeological and ethnographic records document a long and rich history of plant-based resource use by Indigenous peoples of the American Southwest. The history of this resource use tells a complex story of human-environment relationships in this arid landscape. Indigenous peoples of the American Southwest have historically made use of pine pitch to waterproof their basketry. Here, we have identified the pine species origin of the pitch used to construct historical baskets utilizing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Resin samples were collected from the three main resinous plants in the Four Corners area: Pinus edilus, Pinus ponderosa, and Juniperus scoplulorum, and their GC chromatograms were analyzed for characteristic molecular components. Furthermore, some of these resin samples were heated to simulate the pitch-application process to ensure the characteristic molecular components were still present after baking. We have found that the ratio of γ-muurolene to longifolene provides a reliable indication of the pines species origin of the pitch, even after being exposed to elevated temperatures, and that all 14 of the historical baskets analyzed were waterproofed primarily with resinous material collected from the Pinus edilus species.

A Crescent Biface from Southeastern Utah

Crescent bifaces are one of the most enigmatic stone tool types in North America. While these art... more Crescent bifaces are one of the most enigmatic stone tool types in North America. While these artifacts are poorly understood, they are widely known from sites throughout a core area consisting of the Great Basin and California. Here, we report on one of the eastern-most crescents from southeastern Utah, which is also the only crescent currently documented from the northern Colorado Plateau.

Variation in Fluted-point Technology: Investigations across Space and Time

The transmission of Clovis fluted-point technology, the earliest well-dated fluted point industry... more The transmission of Clovis fluted-point technology, the earliest well-dated fluted point industry, is considered to have led to regional variants of point forms as a result of cultural drift and founder effects as Paleoindian groups dispersed throughout the Western Hemisphere and adapted to local ecological settings. The papers collected in this volume present recent research and perspectives of a group of archaeologists focusing on regional variation in fluted-point morphology and technology and their relationships to neighboring forms, both spatially and chronologically, as well as the methodology used to examine evidence of their historical development and origin.

Miller and Tune 2018 - Small Decisions and Big Floods.pdf

by Shane Miller and Jesse Tune

When the Levee Breaks: Small Decisions and Big Floods at the End of the Last Ice Age, 2018

Assessing the proposed pre-last glacial maximum human occupation of North America at Coats-Hines-Litchy, Tennessee, and other sites

Genomic studies indicate that the first Pleistocene foragers who entered North America diverged f... more Genomic studies indicate that the first Pleistocene foragers who entered North America diverged from ancestral populations in Beringia sometime after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM); however, several archaeological sites in North America have been proposed to predate the LGM. We present the results of our excavation and analysis of one such site, Coats-Hines-Litchy, Tennessee, which show that this site is a paleontological locality containing a geofact assemblage that pre-dates the LGM. Other sites in North America that purportedly predate the LGM occur in geomorphic contexts that are also conducive to the formation of geofact assemblages. As such, we propose that the reported artifacts from these sites were created by natural processes. No sites in North America currently provide credible evidence of a pre-LGM occupation.

The Clovis-Cumberland-Dalton Succession: Settling into the Midsouth United States during the Pleistocene-to-Holocene Transition.pdf

Considerable debate has recently focused on understanding the effects of the Younger Dryas (YD) o... more Considerable debate has recently focused on understanding the effects of the Younger Dryas (YD) on human behavioral adaptations throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It has been proposed that adverse paleoecological conditions in southeastern North America triggered a decline or substantial reorganization in human populations. The Tennessee Paleoindian biface data in the Paleoindian Database of the Americas is used here to assess transitions in behavioral adaptations during the Pleistocene to Holocene transition. Patterns in technological organization, land use, and toolstone selection do not support the hypothesis that paleoecological changes during the YD adversely affected human populations in the Midsouth. An alternative hypothesis is proposed and contends that changes in behavioral adaptations were a result of settling in processes associated with initial regional colonization and increased regionalization throughout the Pleistocene to Holocene transition.

The Old Man And The Pleistocene: John Broster And Paleoindian Archaeology In The Mid-South

by Shane Miller and Jesse Tune

The Paleoindian and Early Archaic Record in Tennessee: A Review of the Tennessee Fluted Point Survey

Tennessee possesses some of the densest concentrations of Paleoindian and Early Archaic artifacts... more Tennessee possesses some of the densest concentrations of Paleoindian and Early Archaic artifacts in North America. As a result, it is an ideal location for research related to the early human colonization of the continent. Under John Broster's guidance, as of 2013, there are nearly 5,500 points documented in the Tennessee Fluted Point Survey. Early Paleoindian points are the most prevalent point type recorded in Tennessee. Clovis/Gainey and Cumberland/Barnes make up over 40 percent of all Paleoindian and Early Archaic points documented in the state. The highest density of Paleoindian and Early Archaic points is recorded from the Highland Rim, and accounts for approximately two-thirds of all points in the state.

Characterizing Cumberland Fluted Biface Morphology and Technological Organization

Cumberland bifaces are frequently referenced in discussions of fluted point technology, Paleoindi... more Cumberland bifaces are frequently referenced in discussions of fluted point technology, Paleoindian chronologies , and Younger Dryas adaptations. However, due largely to the absence of stratified, datable components, limited information exists about Cumberland lithic technology. Only brief descriptions of morphology, reduction sequence, and potential chronologies based on exceptionally small datasets are available in the existing literature. To address these deficiencies, a study of biface morphology and technological organization was conducted based on over 900 fluted Cumberland bifaces. Morphological and technological similarities to other fluted biface types, as well as bracketing radiocarbon ages, suggest that Cumberland bifaces likely date to the early Younger Dryas. Cumberland appears to represent a maintainable technology used by people adapted to an environment with predictable resources. Reconstructing artifact life histories suggests Cumberland technology was related to a logistically mobile settlement strategy.

Tennessee's Paleoindian Record: The Cumberland and Lower Tennessee River Watersheds

The Wells Creek Site: A Reinterpratation of Site Occupation

UAV-based Mapping and Public Outreach at Blackwater Draw

by Jenna Domeischel, Jesse Tune, and Heather Smith

Remote sensing has dramatically changed the way we collect data at archaeological sites, and has ... more Remote sensing has dramatically changed the way we collect data at archaeological sites, and has added new and innovative methodologies to our fieldwork. It has also facilitated greater public engagement by making archaeology more accessible – this is especially true of sites that are considered remote or difficult to access because of challenging terrain. As part of the public outreach initiative of the new Blackwater Draw Museum and its associated website, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) mapping project was undertaken to provide a layered interpretive experience for visitors. Visitors are only able to physically access limited areas of the archaeological site due to a variety of factors, most importantly their own safety and the safety of our archaeological resources. As a result of the UAV mapping project, the public, students, and researchers alike will able to digitally access and explore the terrain outside of the marked roads. In this manner they will have the unique experience of seeing archaeology through an archaeologist’s eyes, and be better equipped to understand the data collected throughout the site’s history.

Interpreting Activity Areas and Cumberland Lithic Technology at the Phil Stratton Site, Kentucky

National Register Testing at the Coats-Hines Site (40WM31), Williamson County Tennessee

Five Big Questions for the Paleoindian and Early Archaic Southeast

by Shane Miller, Ashley Smallwood, and Jesse Tune

In 1996, Anderson and Sassaman edited " The Paleoindian and Early Archaic Southeast " a collectio... more In 1996, Anderson and Sassaman edited " The Paleoindian and Early Archaic Southeast " a collection of chapters that have provided a valuable compendium of resources for studying the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene record of the region. In the 20 years since its publication, five major questions continue to be at the forefront of the archaeology in the region: 1) When did people first arrive? 2) Where did they come from? 3) Who were they? 4) How did they adapt to local resources and environmental changes? and 5) How did this shape subsequent cultures in the Holocene?

Interpreting Activity Areas and Cumberland Lithic Technology at the Phil Stratton Site, Kentucky

by Jesse Tune and J. Anne Melton

A reinterpretation of the previously excavated Phil Stratton Site (Kentucky) at which has been fo... more

Poster (SEAC 2016) - The Swag Site (38AL137): Another Paleoindian Site at the Allendale Quarries?

by Shane Miller, Jesse Tune, Ryan Young, Derek T. Anderson, and Kelsey Meer

The Swag Site (38AL137) was recorded during the initial survey of the Allendale chert quarries by... more The Swag Site (38AL137) was recorded during the initial survey of the Allendale chert quarries by Albert Goodyear and Tommy Charles in 1984. While subsequent work fo-cused on the Topper and Big Pine Tree sites, the Swag site was overlooked until a systematic survey conducted in 2015 identified several localities with buried archaeological deposits. In May 2016, a field school conducted by Mississippi State excavated 10m 2 block in one of these localities that produced artifacts that are comparable to Clovis components at Topper and elsewhere in eastern North America.

Introducing the Magnolia Valley Site (40RD314): Preliminary Results of Near-Surface Geophysical Investigations at a Multicomponent Site in Rutherford County, Tennessee

by Tanya M Peres, Timothy S de Smet, and Jesse Tune

We offer our preliminary results of the near-surface geophysical survey conducted at the Magnolia... more We offer our preliminary results of the near-surface geophysical survey conducted at the Magnolia Valley (40RD314) site in May 2014. Magnolia Valley is a multicomponent site located in southwestern Rutherford County, and was investigated as part of the MTSU Rutherford County Archaeology Research Program and MTSU Archaeological Field School. The use of magnetic
gradiometry, frequency-domain electromagnetic-induction (EMI), and ground-penetrating radar was necessary to distinguish feature type. Ground-truthing the results via excavation proved the efficacy of this multi-method survey strategy and resulted in the identification of Archaic and Historic period features. Funding for this project was provided by the Tennessee Council for Professional Archaeology, Tennessee Historical Commission, and MTSU.

Reintroducing Fernvale, A Multicomponent Prehistoric Site Along the South Harpeth River in Williamson County

by Aaron Deter-Wolf and Jesse Tune

In 1985, staff from the Tennessee Division of Archaeology conducted data recovery excavations at ... more In 1985, staff from the Tennessee Division of Archaeology conducted data recovery excavations at the Fernvale site, situated along the South Harpeth River west of Nashville. The project resulted in the identification and examination of numerous prehistoric features including Late Archaic human and dog burials and several Mississippian structure footprints. Although a partial draft manuscript was prepared, artifact analysis was not completed and a final report on the site was never published. This presentation will reintroduce the Fernvale site, and describe new analysis being conducted by the Tennessee Division of Archaeology and Middle Tennessee State University.

New Finds of Old Bones at the Coats-Hines Site (40WM31)

by Jesse Tune and Aaron Deter-Wolf

The Coats-Hines Site was first recorded in 1977 when mastodon remains were identified during cons... more The Coats-Hines Site was first recorded in 1977 when mastodon remains were identified during construction of a golf course in Brentwood, TN. In 1994 subdivision construction and excavations by the Tennessee Division of Archaeology uncovered remains of two additional mastodons and an assortment of other late Pleistocene animals. The importance of the site was elevated when lithic tools were found in association with one of the mastodons, which exhibited cut marks from butchering. Over the last 14 years, reconnaissance investigations at the site have continued to produce material. This presentation will describe the current condition of the site and discuss a May 2008 visit that resulted in the identification of additional faunal remains.

Excavations and Dating of Late Pleistocene and Paleoindian Deposits at the Coats-Hines Site, Williamson County, Tennessee

by Aaron Deter-Wolf and Jesse Tune

Tennessee Archaeology, 2011

The Coats-Hines archaeological site (40WM31) consists of a Paleoindian butchering site and Pleist... more The Coats-Hines archaeological site (40WM31) consists of a Paleoindian butchering site and Pleistocene bone bed located in northern Williamson County, Tennessee. Archaeological examinations since 1977 have documented the presence of various Pleistocene species, and recovered Paleoindian artifacts in direct association with those remains. The authors directed excavations in October 2010 designed to evaluate archaeological integrity and assess the eligibility of the site for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. These investigations resulted in the recovery of Pleistocene faunal material, Paleoindian stone tools, and radiocarbon samples. As a result of the excavations, the Coats-Hines site was added to the National Register in July 2011. This article provides a summary of work conducted at the site to date, presents previously unreported Paleoindian artifacts and radiocarbon dates from earlier excavations, and discusses the significance of the Coats-Hines site.

****Following an excellent and comprehensive review by Tune et al., the Coats-Hines site is now considered a paleontological locality rather than an archaeological site. The authors of the 2010 paper in Tennessee Archaeology support the findings of this assessment and the resulting site reclassification. Please see:

Tune et al. (2018) Assessing the proposed pre-last glacial maximum human occupation of North America at Coats-Hines-Litchy, Tennessee, and other sites. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.02.018

The Parris Collection: A Life-Long Dedication To Archaeology

by Nathan Allison, Aaron Deter-Wolf, Ryan M . Parish, PhD, and Jesse Tune

The Parris Collection is one of the largest provenience private collections in the state. It stan... more The Parris Collection is one of the largest provenience private collections in the state. It stands as a testament to the scientific value of collaboration between professional and avocational archaeologists. The collection primarily comes from Hardin County, Tennessee and includes Early Paleoindian through Mississippian artifacts. Jim Parris maintained meticulously organized records based on his own site numbering system. These numbers were linked to field notes, as well as to a series of USGS quadrangles with hand-drawn site boundaries and notations identifying site types. In 2014 Jim worked with the Tennessee Division of Archaeology to officially record the collection and site locations, which resulted in adding over 200 previously undocumented sites to the state site files. The Parris
Collection has already contributed significantly to numerous research projects, and will continue to advance research and the understanding of prehistory in Tennessee and the greater Southeast for many years to come.

Using Drone-based Remote Sensing to Document Sites

by Jesse Tune and Aaron Deter-Wolf

Blog post for the "30 Days of Tennessee Archaeology" blogfest, in celebration of Tennessee Archae... more