are all human. Throughout our entire history, and across all cultures,
societies, and philosophies, humans have always had the same needs
to be fulfilled. We al need to eat, sleep, be sheltered from the
weather, reproduce our culture, love, laugh, believe, and communicate.
How humans accomplish this, however, varies greatly across time
A variety of peoples have occupied the Lubbock Lake Landmark over
the past 11,500 years. Because no written history was left by the
native populations, we cannot know many aspects of their cultures.
We can, however, learn more about these peoples by examining the
materials they left behind. These materials are most often stone
or bone tools used in hunting and processing animals for food and
below are the types of materials found from each period of occupation.
sites have Clovis projectile points associated with mammoth (Mammuthus
columbi) and other late Pleistocene megafauna. At Lubbock, a
Clovis age Rancholabrean megafaunal processing station is known.
Animals include mammoth (Mammuthus columbi), extinct bison
(Bison antiquus), two varieties of Pleistocene horse (Equus
mexicanus and Equus francisi), camel (Camelops hesternus),
giant armadillo (Chlamytherium spetentrionalis), and short
faced bear (Arctodus simus). Most remains exhibit evidence
of cultural modification, indicating these animals were probably
sources for food and other uses.
cultural group is generally identified on the basis of the
distinctive Folsom projectile point and radiometric evidence.
Folsom artifacts are most often found in association with
extinct bison. Lubbock Lake probably is best known as a Folsom
locality. Many Folsom points have been recovered from the
numerous bison kills explored.
Plainview period is the earliest post-Folsom occupation on the Southern
Plains and is restricted to around 10,000 years before present (B.P.).
Plainview occupations are identified on the basis of the Plainview
point, usually associated with extinct bison. At Lubbock Lake, the
Plainview period bison kill/butchering locales represent kills of
only a few bison at a time.
Firstview period dates from around 8,600 years B.P. on the Southern
High Plains. Tool types common to this cultural group include Firstview
points, large hammerstones, large flake knives, snubnosed end scrapers,
side scrapers, bone needles, tools with denticulate edges, and lithic
and bone anvils. At Lubbock Lake, Firstview points were recovered
from within a bison kill/butchering locale and camping area.
Archaic is the longest cultural period known on the Southern High
Plains (8,500 to 2,000 years B.P.). This period is subdivided into
Early (8,500 to 6,400 years B.P.), Middle (6,400 to 4,500 years
B.P.), and Late Archaic (4,500 to 2,000 years B.P.).
Evidence for human occupation on the Southern High Plains during
Early Archaic is
sketchy. Butchered remains of pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra
americana) were recovered at Lubbock Lake, as were extinct bison
which existed into the earliest part of the Early Archaic. The environment
was becoming hot and dry.
Archaeological materials from the Middle
Archaic documented at Lubbock Lake include
butchered remains of modern bison and a large oval basin filled
with ash and capped by a layer of burned caliche cobbles. This was
the time of the Altithermal; the climate was very hot and very dry.
Late Archaic cultural
remains are more common on the Southern High Plains than for earlier
subperiods. At Lubbock Lake, considerable archaeological remains,
including Bulverde and Ellis points, were recovered and indicate
renewed use of the site. Climate conditions returned to more equitable
conditions approaching the cooler and more moist weather we have
Ceramic period begins about 2,000 years B.P. and ends about
550 years B.P. (A.D. 1450). Ceramic technology is characteristic
of this period throughout the Plains and describes a dominant
part of the material culture.
Central and southern sections of the Southern High Plains have
sites that have Puebloan pottery and Plains artifacts. Plains
artifacts associated with Puebloan pottery include triangular
arrow points, metates with oval basins, small end scrapers,
alternately beveled four edge knives, and bison hunting. At
Lubbock Lake, evidence of occupation during this period is indicated
by Chupadero Black-on-White pottery.
Protohistoric period on
the Southern High Plains begins
about A.D. 1450. The end of the period is marked by the appearance
of European influence in the archaeological record (late 1600's).
This period for the region is defined on the basis of radio-carbon
dated archaeological features at Lubbock Lake and ethno-historic
This time period is marked by numerous occupation levels attesting
to intense and repeated use of the area. Radiocarbon dates are available
ranging in time from A.D. 1445 through A.D. 1665, corresponding
to the known time span of Apache on the Southern High Plains. Activities
include camping areas and secondary processing stations. The diagnostic
artifact is the Garza point, a small triangular point with a basal
notch. Pottery is thick-walled, coarsely tempered, brushed, utility
ware; and thin-walled, mica tempered, utility ware.
Historic period begins when evidence of European influence is recorded
in archaeological deposits. The Historic period spans the time from
the late 17th century through the late 19th century, including both
aboriginal and European occupations. Remains of modern horse
(Equus caballus) are the principal evidence of European influence
on aboriginal culture along with metal and glass.
Apache and Comanche peoples are known to have occupied the Southern
High Plains successively during this time period. Evidence at Lubbock
Lake is strongest for Apache occupation. Comanche occupation may
be represented in features where diagnostic artifacts were not recovered
but date within the known Comanche period in the area.
occupation of the Southern High Plains began in the middle to
late 1800's. The first occupants of the area were comancheros,
buffalo hunters, and U.S. military units followed by traders
and settlers. Few excavations of these sites have been conducted.
One of the first permanent settlements was Singer Store, a trading
post located at Lubbock Lake from 1881 to 1886.
representation of the interior of the Singer Store,
the first trading post on the Southern High Plains.
more about these aspects of cultural history by exploring the following
Natural Resources Use
Travel and Trade