A First Approximation of Holocene Inter-Assemblage Variability in Central Alaska

Holocene variability in technology and subsistence economy in central Alaska is examined through a coarse-grained synthesis of dated components. Remarkable continuity during this period is evident in the ubiquity of microblade technology and the breadth of diet, including large and small mammals, birds, and fish. Significant changes in technology can, however, be tracked around 6000 and 1000 cal B.P. These seem to relate to changes in resource scheduling and land use strategies, shifts from residential to logistic mobility, and increased reliance on storage. Heuristic scenarios integrating these elements are offered to explain these transitions.