Apex complex facts for kids
The Apex complex was a way of life for a group of ancient people in North America. These people lived during the Middle Archaic period, which was a very long time ago. Their tools and other items have been found and studied by archaeologists.
Archaeologists have found items from the Apex complex that are very old. They date back to about 3000 BC to 500 BC. That's over 2,500 years! The first discoveries were made at a place called the Magic Mountain site in Colorado, near a stream called Apex Creek.
Who Were the Apex People?
Archaeologists are like history detectives who study old objects to learn about past cultures. At the Magic Mountain site, archaeologists named the Irwins believe the Apex complex items belonged to the ancestors of the Puebloan people. These Puebloan people later lived in the American Southwest.
What Did They Use?
The Apex complex is special because of its unique Apex projectile points. These were likely tips for spears or darts used for hunting. What's interesting is that more of these points were found closer to the top layers of the Magic Mountain site. This might mean they became more common over time.
Other tools found include:
- Scrapers: Used to clean animal hides or prepare food.
- Choppers: Heavy tools for cutting or breaking things.
- Leaf-shaped bifaces: These were tools shaped like leaves and sharpened on both sides. They might have been used as knives.
Where Did They Live and Bury Their Dead?
Archaeologists also found a few ancient burial sites. These people often buried their dead close to where they lived. The graves were covered with stones and flat grinding stones, called milling slabs.
Scientists are still trying to understand exactly what all these tools were used for. They are also studying how the Apex projectile points connect to similar tools found in places like San Jose and northern New Mexico.
