article

Risk and agriculture intensification during the Formative Period in the northern basin of Mexico

American anthropologist89 (3) • Published In 1987 • Pages: 596-616

By: Nichols, Deborah L..

Abstract
The relationship between the development of hydraulic agriculture and the formation of sociopolitical hierarchies is a major issue in studies of the evolution of early civilizations in the Basin of Mexico and elsewhere. Previous explanations of agricultural intensification have emphasized population pressure and the effects of settlement nucleation and distance to markets. Neither factor, however, adequately explains the shift to hydraulic farming at relatively low population levels in arid and semi-arid environments. This paper attempts to demonstrate that risk of crop failure was significant in promoting land-use intensification and the development of hydraulic agriculture during the Formative period in the northern Basin of Mexico (p. 596).
Subjects
Tillage
Cereal agriculture
Water supply
Climate
Production and supply
Settlement patterns
tradition
Highland Mesoamerican Early Preclassic
HRAF PubDate
2010
Region
Middle America and the Caribbean
Sub Region
General Middle America and the Caribbean
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Archaeologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
Analyst
John Beierle; 2008
Field Date
no date
Coverage Date
3150-2100 BP (1150-100 BC)
Coverage Place
northern Basin of Mexico
Notes
Deborah L. Nichols
Includes bibliographical references (p. 613-616)
LCCN
17015424
LCSH
Indians of Mexico--Mexico--Oaxaca Valley--Antiquities