A Geospatial Analysis of Prehistoric Hunting Blinds and Forager Group Size at Cowhead Slough, Modoc County, California

Abstract

ABSTRACT A GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS OF PREHISTORIC HUNTING BLINDS AND FORAGER GROUP SIZE AT COWHEAD SLOUGH, MODOC COUNTY, CALIFORNIA by © Kevin D. Dalton 2011 Master of Arts in Anthropology California State University, Chico Spring 2011 Understanding forager social complexity is critical to explaining resource acquisition systems. This thesis will use data from an extensive survey in northeastern California to discuss the geographic placement of prehistoric hunting blinds. Employing a geographic information system, a hierarchical cluster analysis, and nearest neighbor analysis, this study will seek to explain how hunting landscapes are shaped by forager group size and hunting technology. Results suggest that the observed patterning in the spatial positioning of hunting blinds is consistent with expectations derived from foraging theory, and that the spatial placement of hunting features is likely influenced by the performance characteristics of the bow and arrow.