Sedalia bifacial spear

Environmental differences between the western short grass plains and the tall grass prairies became more significant with the development of the Holocene period, so it is not surprising that variability in adaptations becoming increasingly evident during the Archaic period.  It is during this time period that archaeologists recognize a profound difference in the adaptation and overall life style between groups in the western plains and those in the eastern prairies. Some of the western Plains Archaic complexes had economic strategies that, at least during some seasons and years, were comparable to those of the earlier Paleoindian hunters.  In the eastern part of the Plains, diverse landforms with an increasing drier, warmer and more variable climate with a more seasonal distribution of rainfall and greater variability in seasonal temperatures were characteristic of the mid to late Holocene. Eastern Archaic complexes exhibit different land-use patterns, technological assemblages, and overall economies. Most Archaic sites have chipped stone assemblages dominated by local cherts, reflecting a more focused use of resources.  At the same time, there appears a greater variability in projectile point styles with a many styles having notched, stemmed or flaring bases.

Large stemmed and corner notched dart points

With a decrease in mobility and an increased use of local resources, research is providing more evidence for the etiology of such processes as sedentism and horticulture.  Evidence for temporary structures (post mold stains and shallow basins) are noted from several sites in the eastern prairies.  In this region, the economic focus was on local animals and plants, with remains of deer, small mammals, fish, waterfowl, and various nuts and weedy annuals commonly identified from excavations. Plants such as grape, sunflower, goosefoot, and wild squash often dominate the floral assemblage.  The extensive use of the latter three species may signal an early stage in the eventual domestication of these native species.

The construction of large earth ovens seems to be an innovation associated with the Archaic. Research over the past 30 years (although recently significantly heightened) has identified several early to late Holocene adaptations within the tall grass prairie region and adjacent areas to the east. Exposed by migrating streams, these deposits (often identified by the exposed hearths) are deeply buried and associated with well-dated soil horizons.  Several sites exhibit repeated occupations by groups that exploited seasonally available freshwater mussels, small mammals, fish and plants that thrived in the disturbed soils surrounding the occupation.  By 5000BP, the first ceramics (effigies) are noted in several of these sites and by 2000BP, the first ceramic pottery is present.

Concentration of lithics and burned debris, Coffey site, northeastern Kansas