Anth 3511

Archaic of the Southwest and Lower Pecos

Introduction: the Land, People, and Archaeology of the Southwest

A. Southwest includes all of Arizona and New Mexico, and southern parts of Colorado, Utah, and Nevada, and northern Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora.

B. A common stereotype of the Southwest is harsh deserts with cacti and rattlesnakes. Actually a gamut of environments from stark deserts to mountains and plateaus covered by forests of juniper, pine, and Douglas fir. (1) Most important characteristic of the Southwest is its diversity of topography and elevation - from 300' to 12,000.' In general rainfall increases and temperature and growing season decrease with elevation. (2) Sizzling summer temperatures, mild winters, and rainfall of less than 10" a year characterize the arid Sonoran desert where the site of Snaketown (and Phoenix) is; dominant vegetation includes cacti, shrubs (e.g., creosote, greasewood), and low shrubs like mesquite along drainages.

To the north in the middle sections of Arizona and New Mexico are beautiful mountain ranges. Ponderosa pine forests or woodlands of pinon and juniper cover ridges and slopes, with grassy meadows or sagebrush in valley bottoms. Temperature 10-15 degrees lower than in desert, rainfall 2-3 times higher. An example is the Flagstaff area. (4) Transition zone occur in between these extremes.

(5) There are rapid changes in elevation in many parts of the Southwest, so one can travel 20-30 miles and move from desert to cool, forest covered mountains.

(6) Rivers and streams are often ephemeral, carrying run-off after heavy rain.

(7) Be aware of annual rainfall patterns (e.g., late summer rather than spring), available plants and animals.

C. Most indigenous people not Apache warriors attacking wagon trains but settled farmers. Hundreds of small villages and homesteads, many now in parks, such as Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, Mesa Verde in Colorado, and Casa Grande in Arizona. Some of largest prehistoric settlements in prehistoric North America, some with complex irrigation systems. Also characterized by widespread trade networks for exotic materials like copper, buffalo hides, macaw feathers, shell. Two basic groups of people: Pueblos of the north and west and Rancherios of the South and West (1) Pueblos the oldest continually inhabited settlements in North America. Hopi in NE Arizona, towns of Acoma, Zuni, and Laguna in the Cibola region of WC New Mexico, and communities of the Rio Grande Valley. Multistory, apartment like blocks built of sandstone blocks or adobe. Built around plazas connected by alleys (no streets). Most of food produced through fanning.

(2) Rancherios diffuse communities of scattered dwellings in the west and in southern Arizona and New Mexico. Houses constructed around a pole

frame and often 1/2 mile apart in a village. Shamans rather than priests; also lack the kivas, kachinas, and well-defined hierarchy of offices found in Pueblos. Greater emphasis on hunting and gathering, with most intense farming along Colorado, Sonora, Gila, and other rivers. D. Characteristics of archaeology: tree-ring dating, excellent preservation, easily located sites, continuity with historic people as sources of interpretation and analogy.

2. The Archaic 6000-200 BC. Archaic saw decline of big-game hunting, expansion of an economy based on plant collecting, and the beginnings of a dependence on domesticated plants (maize and squash) A. Why are sites difficult to locate?

B. Changes in site locations to wider variety of locations where greatest variety of plants and animals present. What foods were available? (1) A consistent pattern at sites is large numbers of small mammal bones.

Does this mean they relied primarily on small mammals for animal foods? (2) Importance of scheduling (annual planning). Since many foods become available at the same time, must make decisions about which to collect and which to ignore. What were some of the decisions?

3. Continuity or Change: Examining the Evidence A. To what extent was there cultural continuity between Paleo-Indian and Archaic? Some argue Model 1) that climate so severe during the Altithermal that region largely abandoned. New Archaic people moved in near end of Archaic. Others argue (Model 2) no significant discontinuity. How to resolve the debate? What kinds of evidence would be useful?

B. Reconstruct the Holocene environment more carefully on a micro-regional basis. Are there reasons why earlier Archaic sites may be less visible than later Archaic sites?

4. Social Groups and Regional Networks A Focus so far on environment and economy. What about society? How were societies integrated? How would you determine the size of regional networks?

B. Why did the size of social networks in the Southwest change through time?