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Also similar to what is found for the Archaic period, Foothill-Mountain sites are <br />characterized by few lithic raw material types; the majority of which derive from local <br />sources (Alan Reed et al. 2008). The highly localized lithic raw material assemblages <br />suggest an insular quality of Foothill/Mountain groups. <br />Paleoindian Architecture <br />Regionally, Paleoindian architecture is known from excavated sites in Wyoming. At <br />three sites, structures were evidenced by holes indicating circular arrangements of poles or <br />hard-packed living surfaces indicating circular lodge structures. Two of the oldest <br />habitations were found in the Hell Gap valley. Dating 9750-9325 BC, they were apparent <br />wickiup-like log structures with diameters of 2-4m (Irwin-Williams 1973). At the same site, <br />but dating slightly later in age (ca. 9550-9000 BC) were three more with similar arcs and <br />circles of post holes in a component with Agate Basin complex affiliation. Evidence of a <br />sixth structure was found at Hell Gap having a Frederick complex affiliation and dating to <br />ca. 7650 BC. With characteristics of the Late Prehistoric period, it consisted of a stone circle <br />roughly 2m in diameter considered to have functioned as weights for holding down the <br />edges of a hide tipi. Similar to floors of these structures, a Folsom complex camp at the <br />Hanson site in northern Wyoming, which dated 9750-9100 BC, yielded three hard-packed <br />living surfaces "believed to represent some sort of circular lodge structures" (Frison and <br />Bradley 1980:9). Frison (1978:115-146) notes that indications from the associated artifacts <br />and the nature of the "lodge" floors were that these were probably utilized for no more than <br />a few days at a time. Similar evidence of structural remains was found at the Agate Basin <br />site in southwest Wyoming. In the Folsom component there, two bison ribs were uncovered <br />in a position suggesting they held down the edge of a lodge covering (Frison 1988:91-92). <br />All these examples are evidence of temporary structures – not unexpected in a nomadic <br />hunting-gathering culture. It is possible that more substantial habitations similar to late <br />Pleistocene Paleoindian pit structures previously found in Russia were constructed in the <br />intermountian region of the Untied States during the cold seasons. <br />Archaic Era <br />Empirical data for plant and animal use during the Late Pleistocene and early <br />Holocene periods are exiguous. However, during this time span the last extinctions of the <br />megafauna were occurring and vegetation communities were radically changing across the <br />North American landscape in response to climatic changes. It marks the beginning of a <br />technological and economical transition from a hunting/mobile subsistence pattern to a <br />hunting-gathering/semi-sedentary one. The primary technological changes were the <br />transition from twined basketry to coiled and the increased use of a variety of grinding tools <br />that were utilized for the processing of roots, tubers and seeds collected from the expanding <br />forests and grasslands. In general, this conversion resulted in a broader diet based on the <br />increased emphasis on lower ranked plants and small animals. Also, evidence of the <br />technological change is seen in the lithic tool kits used to hunt large game animals, as the <br />large fluted and unfluted lanceolate projectile points gave way to smaller types, many of <br />which were notched. <br />18