But combined with other lines of evidence — changes in artifact assemblages, in the distribution of sites, in the types of faunal remains found at excavated sites — it contributes to a picture that archaeologists are gradually assembling.

The Regional Networks — Where The Marine Shells Came From

The marine shells found in Texas Archaic burials hundreds of miles from the coast are one of the most evocative pieces of evidence for the long-distance exchange networks that connected ancient North American populations.

These shells were not gathered casually.

To reach the Edwards Plateau from the Gulf of Mexico coast, a shell or shell ornament would have had to travel hundreds of miles — either carried directly by travelers making the journey, or passed through a chain of exchanges between intermediate groups.

The maintenance of such networks requires investment: in travel, in the goods exchanged along the way, in the relationships that make exchange possible.