Richard S. MacNeish

Re-Evaluation of the Isotopic and Archaeological Reconstructions of Diet in the Tehuacan Valley

Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in collagen from bones of individuals who lived in the Tehuacan Valley during the period 8000–1000 years B.P. have been interpreted as indicating earlier use of maize and more utilization of legumes as food sources than is suggested by the occurrence of the remains of these plants in the coprolites and debris excavated along with the bones. Reassessment of the assumptions made in interpreting the bone collagen isotope ratios reduces some but not all of the discrepancy between the isotopic and archaeological reconstructions of diet. The original archaeological reconstruction relied entirely on remains from cave sites, thus introducing seasonal and locational biases into the dietary reconstruction. Using the bone collagen isotope ratios as a guide, we re-interpreted the archaeological data to produce a more complete picture of temporal changes in the overall diet. We suggest that heavy dependence on grains began in the Coxcatlan phase and then may have remained unchanged for the next 5,500–6,500 years. These conclusions, which are based on a relatively small isotopic data base, need to be verified by an extensive program of isotopic analysis of the floral, faunal, and human remains from Tehuacan.

The Preceramic of Mesoamerica

Abstract This paper is an attempt to summarize and synthesize the Preceramic (more than 40,000 years ago to ca. 4,000 B.P. in radiocarbon time) for the major New World culture area, Mesoamerica. In attempting to do this, the authors have divided the period into two general stages: Early Man, with four substages, and Archaic, with three substages. Each of these substages seems to have some general developmental characteristics in terms of technology, subsistence, and culture that are reflected in their artifact complexes. Furthermore, each substage after the first two seems to have more than one cultural tradition that may reflect some sort of adaptation to natural areas or eco-zones. Throughout the sequence, there is not only a development of more complex technology and subsistence systems, but more traditions occur, so that at the threshold of village-agriculture with ceramics, there are two major super traditions—a highland one and lowland one. These two traditions form the base on which Mesoamerican ci...

LATE PLEISTOCENE HUMAN FRICTION SKIN PRINTS FROM PENDEJO CAVE, NEW MEXICO

In the excavation of Pendejo Cave (FB 9366) near Orogrande, New Mexico, 16 friction skin imprints were found in five stratified zones on clay nodules, baked at over 120?C. After careful analysis, expert dermatoglyphologists determined that these imprints had positive primate characteristics. The imprints are probably of human origin, since no other primates are known to have existed in prehistoric New Mexico. Eight of the imprints occurred in three well-dated zones falling in the late Pleistocene. These zones have direct radiocarbon dates between 12,000 and 37,000 B.P. In addition to their association with radiocarbon determinations, the prints come from three of 24 stratified zones, intensively studied by geologists and pedologists, that are dated in sequence by 34 other radiocarbon determinations acquired from four different laboratories. The imprints are associated with a column of over 35,000 paleontological specimens and more than 15,000 botanical remains. These specimens indicate Pleistocene changes and supply evidence of human transportation and modification of various materials. The prints are also associated with artifacts, ecofacts, features of human construction, and human remains. The imprint specimens therefore provide evidence of Pleistocene human occupation in the New World.

Antiquity of American Polyploid Cotton

Fragments of a boll of Gossypium hirsutum L. from archeological excavations near Tehuac�n, Mexico, prove that this species existed in 5800 B. C. No doubt remains that American tetraploid cotton species originated through natural hiybridization.