Reassessing the chronology of the archaeological site of Anzick

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Jul 3;115(27):7000-7003. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1803624115. Epub 2018 Jun 18.

Abstract

Found in 1968, the archaeological site of Anzick, Montana, contains the only known Clovis burial. Here, the partial remains of a male infant, Anzick-1, were found in association with a Clovis assemblage of over 100 lithic and osseous artifacts-all red-stained with ochre. The incomplete, unstained cranium of an unassociated, geologically younger individual, Anzick-2, was also recovered. Previous chronometric work has shown an age difference between Anzick-1 and the Clovis assemblage (represented by dates from two antler rod samples). This discrepancy has led to much speculation, with some discounting Anzick-1 as Clovis. To resolve this issue, we present the results of a comprehensive radiocarbon dating program that utilized different pretreatment methods on osseous material from the site. Through this comparative approach, we obtained a robust chronometric dataset that suggests that Anzick-1 is temporally coeval with the dated antler rods. This implies that the individual is indeed temporally associated with the Clovis assemblage.

Keywords: AMS radiocarbon dating; Anzick; Clovis; First Americans; hydroxyproline.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anthropology, Cultural*
  • Chronology as Topic
  • Databases, Factual*
  • Female
  • History, Ancient
  • Humans
  • Indians, North American*
  • Male
  • Montana