9411016 Stoltman Under the direction of Dr. James Stoltman, Mr. Patrick Lubinski will collect data for his doctoral dissertation. The work consists of two phases. In December 1991 a herd of 150 Wyoming proghorn antelope fell over a cliff on a foggy day and were killed. The skeletal remains have been collected and through analysis of dental remains it is possible to reconstruct the age profile of the group and to improve criteria for aging skeletal remains of this species. In the first part of his research, Mr. Lubinski will study these materials. On this basis he will then examine a series of proghorn skeletal remains collected from many sites and time periods in the Great Basin region. Prehistoric peoples hunted this species widely and Mr. Lubinski's goal is to reconstruct changing utilization patterns over time. This work is important for several reasons. Archaeological evidence suggests that over time intensified resource use occurred in the Great Basin and that human groups tended to specialize and focus on limited types of food. While this process is well documented in other parts of the world and led to the domestication of plants and animals, it would be surprising and unusual if such a process took place in a desertic Great Basin environment. Mr. Lubinski will examine this phenomenon. Secondly, the research will contribute basic biological data which will be useful to archaeologists who study and attempt to interpret faunal remains. Finally, this project will contribute to the training of a promising young scientist. ***
