About 8500 BCE, in the Columbia Plateau region, the Windust phase began to replace Clovis. Clovis spear points, with their characteristic flute, were replaced with leaf-shaped and stemmed points.
Archaeologist James Keyser, in his book Indian Rock Art of the Columbia Plateau, writes:
“Living in the numerous rock shelters throughout the central Columbia Plateau, and in open campsites elsewhere, the Windust people, also nomadic hunters, preyed on deer, elk, birds, and small mammals.”
In his chapter in North American Archaeology, Kenneth Ames reports:
“Windust people were foragers with some logistical movement; population densities were low.”
The Reach Museum in Kennewick, Washington, has a small display of some Windust artifacts.
Ancient America
Ancient America is a series discussing the Americas prior to the European invasion. More from this series:
Ancient America: Some Artifacts from the Columbia Plateau (Photo Diary)
Ancient America: American Indians at Rancho La Brea
Ancient America: Columbia River Pictographs (Photo Diary)
Ancient America: Stone Artifacts from the Columbia Plateau (Photo Diary)
Ancient America: Life in a California Rock Shelter (Photo Diary)
Ancient America: The Great Basin Archaic
Ancient America: The Halliday Site in Illinois
Ancient America: Texas Prior to 5000 BCE