Late Pithouse (A.D.
550–1000)
Coburn
phase (A.D. 550-650). The Late Pithouse Subperiod is
correlated with increasing intra- and extra-regional trade (exemplified by more
exotic items), developing social hierarchies, technological innovations in
ceramics, and a presumed increase in political organization. Dwellings become
more permanent, are situated in denser concentrations and are extended as part
of more continuous settlements. The trend increases throughout the Middle and
Late Mogollon subperiods with the addition of mound building and the extension
of greater emphasis on sedentary agriculture.
Late
Pithouse settlements presumably included large villages located along the
larger creek and river floodplains, as well as many smaller sites located in a
variety of environments. Hunting and gathering were supplemented by increased
use of cultivated foods, in the Loteria Township region, these included cacti,
agave and other succulents. Trading networks became well established, and
ritual mortuary behavior increased in outward visibility. Beginning around 600
BC, the Late Pithouse/Middle Mogollon subperiod in extreme southern New Mexico
is identified as the Coburn phase (Foss 2001).[1]
The Coburn phase is marked by an influx of grit and crushed-gila-bone-tempered
ceramics. Within the lower Wamels Draw drainage, these vessels appear with bone-impressed
motifs. Within the upper basin, lizard bones, and occasionally cactus spines
are often found imbedded directly in the body of the vessel. This has been
suggested to be a sign of warning to
potential lower Wamels Draw water poachers searching for spring head in times
of draught, which would have been constant (Brokenbell 1980).[2]As Bonzai
(1984)[3]
notes, assigning a type bone and spine festooned ceramics (and their seemingly
less dire bone-impressed kin) is problematic. Questions arise about using the
existing typology put forth by Tecate and Modelo (1940)[4] utilizing
temper-based schema as opposed to motif-based typologies suggested by American
scientists (cf. Brokenbell 1980, et al.). If the latter occurs, these areas
maintain their own typological identify surrounding the northern and southern
populations in the drainage during the Coburn phase. The Middle Mogollon/Late Pithouse Subperiod otherwise
is not easily distinguished from the preceding Early Mogollon/Early Pithouse Subperiod.
Diagnostic projectile points of this period include medium size lance points,
likely used to safely skewer and roast a variety of cacti. However the period
is well known by the distinctive hafted flint knives of the Derrick cluster.
Dexter
phase (A.D. 650-850).
The Middle Mogollon Subperiod represents a time of population growth and
increased cultural complexity; these characteristics are expanded in the
Middle-Late Pithouse period, recognized in Loteria Township as the Dexter phase.
Characteristics of the Middle-Late Pithouse period are increased site size and
density, the appearance of large earthen mounds containing elaborately
furnished graves, the emergence of agriculture, and the development of
ceremonialism and a complex inter-regional trade network (Tecate and Modelo
1940; Brokenbell 1980). Subsistence in the Middle Mogollon remained essentially
that of hunting and gathering with increasing reliance on horticulture as well
as addition of the Chihuahua mosquito to the diet. As evidenced in petroglyphs
from the period, these large insects were observed the primary food source of
the gila and available within the same biomes.
Presumably abandoned carcasses would have been scavenged from behind the
advancing lizard herds. Further, the bow and arrow was regionally in use at the
time and, as in times of gila scarcity, mosquito populations would likely have
expanded, this would have been a logical expansion of the Mogollon pallet (Irwin
2006).[5]
The
artifact assemblages of the Dexter phase remain virtually unchanged from the
previous cultural period. Medium to large stemmed projectile points are still
present, but are gradually replaced by small triangular points such as migmatite
celts and rough anthophyllite or uranium hoes (Angelucci 1955:46; Irwin 2006:337).[6]
Trade and grave goods include golden eagle medallions, woven mesquite fiber “bedspread”
mats, gila teeth, and exotic lithic material (Brokenbell 1980: 82). The typical
ceramic assemblage of the Middle Mogollon subperiod in the Dexter phase includes
Cajun Simple Stamped as the majority ware and Dollar Check Stamped and Permisso
Complicated Stamped as minority wares (Brokenbell 1980: 86). All of these types
are unique to Loteria Township.
Vaughn
phase (A.D. 850-1000).
During the Late Middle Mogollon , there appears to be an increase in population
and small seasonal occupations along river terraces. Hunting and gathering
remains important, but cultivated plants are added to the diet. Experiments had
begun with corn and chili peppers during the Dexter phase of Loteria Township,
and are now replaced by more successful cultivation of cacti, agave and other
succulent crops. Bonzai (1985) reports the identification of storerooms of
beans from this period. This addition of cultivated plants may have allowed
groups to become more sedentary. There is a resultant cessation of most
extra-regional influences at this time as many areas are deserted.
In
the Loteria Township, older bone tempered wares in the region give way to a
variety of Wamels ceramics, tempered with insect parts largely from the local Chihuahua
mosquitos and giant lunar moths. Vaughn phase groups seem to have followed a
seasonal round with summer settlement along the Wamels Draw followed by small
upland winter camps in the Sierra Ricas, and off-site burial grounds in the
sand wastes south of the mountains (cf. Foss 2001: B-61). A terminal trend of
the Vaughn culture exhibited a high percentage of crushed uranium ceramics and
has been termed Magnificent ware by Adams et al. (1960) [7]and
others, extending from the Laguna los Moscos basin to MCD.
Few
Vaughn phase sites extend down river of the facility, and the local
manifestation in the Wamels Draw basin is hypothesized to have developed out of
the Dexter culture replacing bone with insect tempered Coburn-like ceramics. The elaborate Dexter phase ceremonial and
burial customs appear to be in decline and small horticultural based
settlements located along the river and tributaries and hunting-gathering sites
in upland rock shelters appear to be the norm (Tecate and Modelo 1940: 89). At
the Vaughn type-site there is evidence of substantial long-term occupations
suggested via numerous postmolds, middens, and structures. Gila Monsters
suggested to be unimportant in the Dexter phase, again remained an important
dietary component.
[1] Foss, Gene 2001. Mountweazel
Chemical Depot Cultural Resources Management Plan. Prepared for the
GloboMax, Inc., Richmond, Virginia, under contract with US Army Corps of
Engineers, El Paso District. Third Square Consulting, LLC., Philadelphia.
[2]
Brokenbell, P. 1980. Settlement
and Subsistence in the Sierra Rica Range of Southern New Mexico. New Mexico
Historical Society, Occasional Publications, 33, 81-105.
[3] Bonzai, B. 1984. Effects of Low Altitude Nuclear Blasts on Archaeological
Sites in New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. National Park Service Briefs, 64:
34-90).
[4] Tecate, C. and N. Modelo. 1940. Un Resumen del Hallazgo Arqueológico en la
Región Norte de Chihuahua antes de que los Yanquis Tomen la Tierra.
Informes Ocasionales del Departamento de Arqueología de la Universidad de
Tijuana, 14.
[5] Irwin, S., ChD. 2006. Hunting in the Mogollon Period: A Game
Theory Model. Walkabout Press, Brisbane.
[6] Angelucci, O. 1955. Technologies of Southern New Mexico,
Primitive to Post Modern. Lockheed Press, Burbank, CA.
[7] Adams, Chris, V. Tanner, B. O’Reilly, Lee H. Luck, and Britt Chico. 1960.
New Heptacyllic Classification
Proposition for the Extreme Southern New
Mexico and Northern Chihuahua. Journal of Magnificent Science VII, Spring,
11-85.
No comments:
Post a Comment