NO. lO NEBRASKA ARCHEOLOGY STRONG 269 



Signal Butte Cultures (II and I) 



There are at Signal Butte at least four main cultural manifestations 

 (components) representing four culture types (aspects) or subtypes. 

 Two (Upper Republican and Dismal River) in level III, one (Signal 

 Butte II) in level II, and one (Signal Butte I) in level I. In addi- 

 tion, the two upper levels (III and II) contain artifacts carried up 

 from the exposed edges of the lower and older deposits. Regarding 

 the most recent level of occupation (III), the essential character- 

 istics of the Upper Republican culture in its various manifestations 

 have already been discussed. The little known Dismal River cultural 

 type will be referred to later. The middle occupation level (II), aside 

 from intrusive artifacts from level I, is distinctive but as yet poorly 

 defined. Most characteristic of this horizon are stemmed projectile 

 points of medium size, with and without barbs (SCb2, SCa2) (fig. 7 

 and pi. 24. fig. 2, e, /). This type of point comprises 61 percent 

 of all projectile points from this level. Those with straight bases 

 are most numerous. On Signal Butte, however, this horizon is so 

 limited that it must be found elsewhere in more abundance before 

 it can be described as a major culture (or aspect). The cultural 

 material from the lowest level (I), however, is so abundant and dis- 

 tinctive that it seems safe to designate it as a major culture, or aspect, 

 under the name Signal Butte I. 



Owing to the condensed presentation of this evidence in a previous 

 section, only the major characteristics of the Signal Butte I cul- 

 ture need be recapitulated. Like Signal Butte II, the older horizon 

 (I) lacks pottery. It is primarily a chipped stone culture but a 

 number of ground stone artifact types also occur, particularly grinding 

 stones, shaft polishers and, rather unexpectedly, grooved mauls and 

 one ax with ground notches (pi. 25, fig. 2, nx). The chipped flint 

 industry is rich and is particularly characterized by the use of flakes, 

 usually with excellent retouching. A large number of artifact types 

 occur, especially planoconvex scrapers and chipped points (table 3). 

 Among the latter a medium-sized to large lanceolate, or leaf-shaped, 

 form greatly predominates (65 percent of all projectile points). One 

 leaf -shaped type with a concave base (NAb3) comprises 34 percent 

 of all the other types of projectile points. In outline, this type is 

 similar to the Folsom type of point (NAb4) but lacks the longitudinal 

 grooves (fig. 7, and pi. 25, fig. i, 0). Less numerous (28 percent of 

 all projectile points) are three types (Sca2, SCa3, SCb3) of stemmed 

 points, the majority of which also have stems with concave bases. 

 The occurrence of many planoconvex gravers and small flake drills 

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