Using Principal Component and Trend Surface analyses, the authors attempt to determine the underlying structure of Oxbow sites, and to analyse the distribution of those sites in time and space. Their results suggest that Oxbow technology originally entered the Canadian grasslands 5000 years ago from both the southwestern foothills and the southeastern prairies. The development of adaptive strategies involving seasonal use of the boreal forest and parkland zones allowed the eventual full-time colonization of these zones by Oxbow groups.