The Chronological Position of 14RC410, a Little River Focus Site in Rice County, Kansas, and its Implications

Archaeological site 14RC410, assigned to the Little River focus of the Great Bend aspect, was partially excavated in 2005. The recovered assemblage gave the distinct impression that this was an early Little River focus site. Although more precise temporal placement was uncertain, it was possible that the site was just early enough that calibration of radiometric age determinations might avoid the calibration curve fluctuations that have made it difficult to make temporal distinctions within the Little River focus. Accordingly, 14 age determinations were obtained on corn or grass matting. Five of the dated samples apparently were modern contaminants; the other nine placed 14RC410 solidly in the 1400s, indeed making 14RC410 an early Little River focus component. This temporal placement allowed a partial tracing of the changes between 14RC410 and its predecessors, and between 14RC410 and later Little River focus sites.