Synopses & Reviews
Early Pithouse period villagers played a generative role in the cultural and historical sequence of the Mogollon region, which is best known for the stunning black-on-white pottery of the Classic Mimbres culture. This volume presents a complete report on the archaeology of two important Early Pithouse settlements located along the Rio Mimbres, including detailed accounts of the excavation units, depositional contexts, architectural details, radiocarbon dates, miscellaneous artifacts, and ceramic frequency distriductures.
The Thomson and McAnally sites contain architecture, artifacts, and other remains of the earliest relatively sedentary horticulturalists to occupy this part of the Southwest. The authors synthesize the data about charges over time in the villagers' lifestyle to develop a new chronology for the occupation of the region.
Review
The latest of many important contributions to the science of anthropology and the archaeology of the Southwest that have--improbably--emerged from the vandal-ridden, archaeologically battered Mimbres Valley during the last quarter century. J. J. Brody
About the Author
Steven A. LeBlanc is an archaeologist and Director of Collections at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University.
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
1. Introduction
Background to the Mimbres Foundation Excavations
Culture History Summary
The Organization of this Volume
2. The Environmental Context and Culture-Historical
Framework of the Upland Mogollon Region
The Upland Mogollon Region as it is Defined in this Volume
Upland Mogollon as a Prehistoric Resource use Area
A Description of Biotic Provinces within 60 km of Upland Mogollon Sites
The Upland Mogollon Region as a Culture Area
The Upland Mogollon Chronological Sequence used in this Volume
3. Competing Models of Upland Mogollon Pithouse Period Life-Styles
Michael W. Diehl
Models that Describe What Happened Between A.D. 200 and 1000
The Hilltop Locations of Early Pithouse Villages: Warfare Versus Social Interaction
Economic Transitions from the Archaic to the Early Pithouse Period
Concluding Thoughts: Mogollon Pithouse Village Archaeology and the "Big Picture"
4.