The Plano cultures existed in the North American Arctic during the
Paleo-Indian or
Archaic period between
9000 BCE and
6000 BCE. The Plano cultures originated in the plains, but extended far beyond, from the Atlantic coast to modern-day British Columbia and as far north as the Northwest Territories. "Early Plano culture occurs south of the
North Saskatchewan River in Saskatchewan and in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains north to the
Peace River Valley of Alberta and adjacent British Columbia. At this time, most of Manitoba was still covered by
Glacial Lake Agassiz and associated glacial ice." Bison herds were attracted to the grasslands and parklands in the western region. Around 9,000 B.P. as retreating glaciers created newly released lake regions, the expansion of plant and animal communities expanded north and east, and the
barren ground caribou in the tundra,
boreal woodland caribou in the boreal forests and plains, and mountain caribou replaced
bison as the major prey animal. In the Great Plains, the following are Plano cultures from 10,000 to 7,000 years ago, distinguished by long,
lanceolate projectile points: • Agate Basin complex, named for the
Agate Basin Site. •
Cody complex, named for the Horner site near
Cody, Wyoming, includes the
Olsen-Chubbuck Bison Kill Site and the
Jurgens Site. •
Hell Gap complex, such as the
Hell Gap, Wyoming site for which it was named and the
Jones-Miller Bison Kill Site. • Foothills / Mountain complex ==Citations==