Jane H. Kelley

Prehistoric macaw breeding in the North American southwest

The scarlet macaw (Ara macao) was an important prehistoric trade item in northern Mexico and southwestern United States. Paquime (or Casas Grandes) in northwestern Chihuahua has been assumed to have dominated or even monopolized the macaw trade. This conclusion is a result of the fact that Paquime is the only site with evidence of substantial macaw-breeding facilities. Two recent archaeological projects in Chihuahua indicate that macaw production was not limited to Casas Grandes. Furthermore, the political relations of production for these ritually and economically important birds differed depending on whether or not the producers were part of the complex polity centered at Casas Grandes.

Gender and Archaeological Knowledge

We have used the abstracts from the Chacmool Archaeology of Gender Conference as one set of examples of what archaeologists actually have done under the rubric of gender studies. The range of topics, time and place, and methodological approach prove to be extremely varied, and there appear to be several research areas that need to be developed. The study of gender roles in the past raises to new levels the need for archaeologists to examine the role of analogy in the creation and evaluation of inferential frameworks. Feminist critiques of science raise issues of making one’s premises explicit and approaching science with a sceptical, questioning attitude. They can also help us to recognize the importance of making connections between archaeology and other disciplines and of learning from feminist approaches to knowledge a more connected way of doing our work.

Petrographic analysis and INAA geochemistry of prehistoric ceramics from Robinson Pueblo, New Mexico

Abstract The examination of thin sections is a successful method for discovering provenance groupings of archaeological ceramics if non-clay inclusions in pottery paste can be identified with petrographically distinctive geologic sources. When this is not the case, geochemical analysis must be employed to search for more subtle evidence of such groupings. This situation is likely to arise in studies, such as the present one, where the objective is to discern local or subregional patterns of pottery manufacture and exchange. Ninety potsherds from site LA46326 in New Mexico were subjected to both INAA and petrographic analysis. The results of this conjoint approach are assessed in relation to geochemical theory and are analysed graphically and statistically.

Ancient mitochondrial DNA and ancestry of Paquimé inhabitants, Casas Grandes (A.D. 1200–1450)

OBJECTIVES The Casas Grandes (Paquimé) culture, located in the Northwest of Chihuahua, Mexico reached its apogee during the Medio Period (A.D. 1200-1450). Paquimé was abandoned by the end of the Medio Period (A.D. 1450), and the ancestry of its inhabitants remains unsolved. Some authors suggest that waves of Mesoamerican immigrants, possibly merchants, stimulated Paquimés development during the Medio Period. Archaeological evidence suggests possible ties to groups that inhabited the Southwestern US cultures. This study uses ancient DNA analysis from fourteen samples to estimate genetic affinities of ancient Paquimé inhabitants. MATERIALS AND METHODS DNA was extracted from 14 dental ancient samples from Paquimé. PCR and Sanger sequencing were used to obtain mitochondrial control region sequences. Networks, PCoA, and Nei genetic distances were estimated to compare Paquimé haplotypes against available past haplotypes data from Southwestern and Mesoamerican groups. RESULTS Haplogroups were characterized for 11 of the samples, and the results revealed the presence of four distinct Amerindian mitochondrial lineages: B (n = 5; 45%), A (n = 3; 27%), C (n = 2; 18%) and D (n = 1; 10%). Statistical analysis of the haplotypes, haplogroup frequencies, and Nei genetic distances showed close affinity of Paquimé with Mimbres. DISCUSSION Although our results provide strong evidence of genetic affinities between Paquimé and Mimbres, with the majority of haplotypes shared or derived from ancient Southwest populations, the causes of cultural development at Paquimé still remain a question. These preliminary results provide evidence in support of other bioarchaeological studies, which have shown close biological affinities between Paquimé and Mimbres, a Puebloan culture, in the Southwestern US.

Rock Art and Ceramic Art in the Jornada Mogollon Region

ABSTRACTStudies of rock art and painted ceramics largely have been separate domains of scholarship in the American Southwest, except in cases of rather obvious decorative overlap, such as Jornada Style rock art and Mimbres Black-on-white pottery. This paper calls attention to a small but important degree of parallel between Jornada Style rock art and painted ceramic designs in the Jornada Mogollon region. Researchers in the Southwest are urged to give more attention to similarities across these and other visual media.

“Law-Talk,” Mobilization Procedures, and Dispute Management in Yaqui Society

ABSTRACTYaqui law is a communication system that provides cognitive consistency across various symbolic domains of Yaqui culture. “Law-talk” reflects the values of Yaqui law and permeates Yaqui social control and dispute management mechanisms. In this paper, Yaqui law is viewed as embodying the ideals of Yaqui behavior and sometimes as a functioning legal system. Many of the same mobilization procedures operate in different areas of dispute management. “Law-talk” is shared by Yaquis everywhere as a guide to the core values of the Yaqui way of life. Although tactics used in Yaqui society to manage disputes have changed over time and in their context, the basic ideals of what constitutes good and acceptable Yaqui behavior have remained remarkably stable.