Pages: 300-333

A cache is traditionally understood to represent a hidden storage space for tools, preforms or provisions. Caches of stone artifacts are well-known for the Precolumbian cultures of North America. The earliest caches (about 20) belong to the Clovis technological tradition (Early Palaeoindian Period, 11,500 – 11,000 BP). Such famous caches as Anzick, Fenn, Drake, Richey-Roberts and Simon represent the wide variety of perfectly knapped bifacies, blades and fluted points along with some part of bone and ivory tools. Studies show that all the caches may be divided into functional (sets of tools and preforms for further use) and ritual (including burial ones). The tradition of caches existed during Palaeoindian, Archaic and Prehistoric periods and may be also seen in some ethnographical contexts all over North America.