Elemental analysis of two projectile points types and the implications for identifying communities of practice in the Late Archaic of New York State

Scientific approaches have the ability to contribute to archaeological questions. The present study seeks to identify communities of practice in the Late Archaic period of New York State based on the lithic assemblages from the Castle Gardens and Casey sites located in Vestal, New York, and Greene, New York, respectively. Elemental analysis by means of portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) has been employed to analyze two projectile point types, the Vestal point and the Lamoka point, to produce data clusters that may relate to raw material sources. These data were correlated to projectile point type and site. While preliminary in nature, the method and theoretical framework show some success in attempting to identify communities of practice. A main cluster of data points was identified, with other possible clusters, from which initial interpretations were made. Additional data collection will contribute to the interpretations drawn here.