essay

Interpretating use of animal resources at prehistoric American Southwest communities

ancient southwestern community : models and methods for the study of prehistoric social organization • Albuquerque • Published In 1994 • Pages: 67-76

By: Szuter, Christine R., Gillespie, William B..

Abstract
Szuter and Gillespie discuss the changes in analysis and interpretation of animal remains. In particular, field recovery techniques are better so we now know there was considerable exploitation of small mammals. In many sites in the Southwest the meat diet consists mostly of lagomorphs. Changes from cottontail to jackrabbit (which means a change in vegetation from more brush to less) can be due to people and crops culturally modifying the environment. When examining artiodactyl bones archaeologists need to determine whether they were hunted by the people at the site being examined, whether the meat was traded in, or whether just the bones were traded in for tool use. They also point out that faunal exploitation was similar throughout the Southwest.
Subjects
Theoretical orientation in research and its results
Settlement patterns
Hunting and trapping
Diet
tradition
Early Anasazi
HRAF PubDate
2012
Region
North America
Sub Region
Southwest and Basin
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Archaeologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
Analyst
Sarah Berry; 2011
Field Date
not specified
Coverage Date
Pueblo I-III; 1300-700 BP (AD 700-1300)
Coverage Place
Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, United States
Notes
Christine R. Szuter, William B. Gillespie
Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-76)
LCCN
93036796
LCSH
Indians of North America--Southwest, New--Antiquities
Indians of North America--Southwest, New--Social life and customs