THE BEAVER CREEK SHELTER (39CU779) - A HOLOCENE SUCCESSION IN THE BLACK-HILLS OF SOUTH-DAKOTA

The Beaver Creek Shelter contains the most complete Holocene section i n the Black Hills and evidence for the regional cultural transition be tween the Early and Middle Archaic periods, from approximately 6720 to 3800 years ago. Test excavations were limited to 22 stratigraphic uni ts through 4.77 m of section, ranging in age from 9380 years to 1750 y ears ago. Mollusk, plant, and vertebrate remains occur throughout the section, and provide documentation for Holocene environmental change i n the southern Black Hills. Shelter occupation was during warm seasons by peoples engaged in hunting and food processing activities utilizin g locally available raw materials. The McKean cultural complex in this locality represents a continuation of the life-styles represented in the later portion of the Early Archaic period Changes in artifact styl es, lithic composition, and reduction of the numbers of modified flake s and debitage, however, suggest that changes in site utilization may have occurred by the Middle Archaic period.