Bone Beds

This report describes the final archaeological and interdisciplinary research efforts completed at the Water Canyon Paleoindian site (LA 134764) under the direction of Dr. Robert Dello-Russo as the Principal Investigator. These efforts occurred during the 2015 and 2016 field seasons, and included manual and mechanical excava-tions in the field and the recovery of a broad range of physical samples. The report discusses these and provides the results of some analytical studies (such as the development of an age-depth model using both previously and newly acquired radiocarbon dates). The results of laboratory-based analyses are also discussed in the body of the report; the detailed analytical reports by individual specialists are provided in the report appendices. These analyses included a phytolith study (Appendix C), a diatom study (Appendix D), a ground stone residue analysis (Appendix E), and a soil micromorphological study (Appendix F). Additional appendices include the Field Sample Log (Appendix A) for all work done during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, locations and descriptions for all mechanical sediment cores (Appendix B), and reports from radiocarbon dating laboratories for all chro-nometric samples submitted after the 2015–2016 seasons (Appendix G). Appendix H comprises a listing of all publications (peer reviewed and otherwise), presentations, papers, and posters that derived from work at the Water Canyon Paleoindian site. Further, within the report, there is a summary of recently acquired chronometric dates for the site and a summary of temporally diagnostic projectile points. The report closes with a brief discussion of potential future directions for research at the site, conclusions, and a references section.