Assessing raw material diversity at Poverty Point (16WC5) using non‐destructive reflectance spectroscopy

A groundbreaking analysis of lithic artifacts from the UNESCO World Heritage Site Poverty Point reveals that tool stones originated from diverse geologic sources across a vast geographic area. This study marks the first systematic application of hyperspectral reflectance spectroscopy to cryptocrystalline silicate artifacts, such as chert and flint, at this site. The findings challenge traditional assumptions about prehistoric exchange patterns by demonstrating the accuracy of non-destructive spectroscopic techniques over macroscopic visual identification. By examining 845 bifaces using visible/near-infrared reflectance and Fourier transform reflectance spectroscopy, researchers provide compelling evidence for extensive human mobility and differential access to raw materials during the site's occupation.

Sherman, S. P., Parish, R. M., Greenlee, D. M., & Miller, D. S. (2022). Assessing raw material diversity at Poverty Point (16WC5) using non‐destructive reflectance spectroscopy. Geoarchaeology, 38(1), 76–88. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.21940