Page/Ladson (8JE591): Excavation of an early Holocene occupation site in the Aucilla River, Florida

The early Holocene in north Florida encompasses dramatic changes in landmass, climate, and biotia. Foraging theory and climatic change models predict that there should have been a change in hunting/foraging strategies when climates became dramatically warmer around 10,000 BP. Pre-existing hunting/foraging strategies and low human populations in north Florida seem to have partially mitigated those changes. A review of dated early Holocene projectile points from the Southeast suggests that different projectile point styles were made concurrently by the same groups, or were made concurrently by different groups. This interpretation is very different than the traditional horizon-style interpretation of changing projectile point.;Excavations on land and underwater at the Page/Ladson site (8Je591) yielded dated projectile points, scatters of stone, bone, and wooden material from an early Holocene camp site, and significant environmental information about the Holocene transition in North Florida. Analysis of the artifact scatter suggests the underwater site component was used as either a work area or a disposal area for an adjacent upland site. Analysis of individual stone artifacts suggests that so-called “bola” stones—here termed handstones—were manufactured nearby. A shallow depression on an inundated soil horizon is interpreted as a hearth or smudge pit. Vertical stakes driven into the same surface are likely the remains of a camp-related structure, or possibly a burial.;Evaluation of bone and antler tools from the Page/Ladson site and Little Salt Spring suggests that the extensive Middle and Late Archaic osseous tool tradition begins prior to 9,500 B.C. and is derived from the late Pleistocene Paleoindian tool tradition. Tool types include antler points, awls, beads, billets, bone pins, cups, digging implements, dippers, handles, hoes, and multi-function tools. Some of these items may have had significant ceremonial value.