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Prehistory and Early History of the Malpai Borderlands: Archaeological Synthesis and Recommendations

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Prehistory and Early History of the Malpai Borderlands: Archaeological Synthesis and Recommendations United States Department of Agriculture Prehistory and Early History Forest Service of the Malpai Borderlands: Rocky Mountain Research Station Archaeological Synthesis and General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-176 Recommendations September 2006 Paul R. Fish Suzanne K. Fish John H. Madsen Fish, Paul R.; Fish, Suzanne K.; Madsen, John H. 2006. Prehistory and early history of the Malpai Borderlands: Archaeological synthesis and recommendations. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR- 176. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 112 p. Abstract—Prehispanic and early historic archaeological information for the Malpai Borderlands of southwest New Mexico and southeast Arizona is reviewed using data derived from field reconnaissance, discussion with relevant scholars, archival resources from varied agencies and institutions, and published literature. Previous regional research has focused on late prehistory (A.D. 1200 to 1450), shaping the scope of cultural historical overview and providing an opportunity to examine relationships with Casas Grandes (Paquime) to the south. A second important objective of current study is the exploration of pre- hispanic and early historic human impacts to Borderlands ecosystems, particularly in relation fire ecology. A recommended sequence of future research is intended to address significant questions surrounding both culture history and anthropogenic environments in the Malpai Borderlands. Key Words: Malpai Borderlands, archaeology, Mimbres culture, Animas phase, Paquime The Authors Paul R. Fish is Professor of Anthropology and Curator of Archaeology, Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. Suzanne K. Fish is Professor of Anthropology and Curator of Archaeology, Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. John H. Madsen is Associate Curator of Archaeology, Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. Cover photos: top left: Cloverdale Playa top right: Sandals bottom left: Map of Box Canyon bottom right: Photo of feature at Box Canyon You may order additional copies of this publication by sending your mailing information in label form through one of the following media. Please specify the publication title and series number. Fort Collins Service Center Telephone: (970) 498-1392 FAX: (970) 498-1122 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm Mailing address: Publications Distribution Rocky Mountain Research Station 240 West Prospect Road Fort Collins, CO 80526 Rocky Mountain Research Station Natural Resources Research Center 2150 Centre Avenue, Building A Fort Collins, CO 80526 Prehistory and Early History of the Malpai Borderlands: Archaeological Synthesis and Recommendations Paul R. Fish, Suzanne K. Fish, and John H. Madsen with contributions by: Christopher R. Baisan A.C. MacWilliams Guadalupe Sanchez de Carpenter Thomas W. Swetnam Margot Wilkinson-Kaye U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Preface Considerable time has passed since we began this project, and indeed, since we submitted this report. The volume has been through various rounds of editing, but publication has been delayed; its present form is much as it was when submitted in 2000. We have updated the text and references where feasible, but revising the entire document to reflect the last six years of research would have meant revisions beyond available time and resources. The volume must stand on its merits as a synthesis of archaeological and environmental research on the Malpai Borderlands study area at that time. We appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station to bring the volume to final publication, and particularly Carl Edminister. Su Benaron of the Arizona State Museum provided invaluable editorial oversight in the final round of preparation. Her commitment and skill are greatly ap- preciated. We also thank Todd Pitezel, Department of Anthropology at the University of Arizona, for many tasks of compilation, editing, and attention to detail. ii Contents Chapter 1. Introduction ..........................................................................................1 Malpai Borderlands Ecosystem Study Area .................................................................. 1 Borderlands Archaeological Context ............................................................................. 2 Goals for This Overview ................................................................................................ 2 Project Methodology ..................................................................................................... 3 Postscript and Acknowledgments ................................................................................. 4 Chapter 2. Borderlands Environment, Past and Present.................................... 7 Post-Pleistocene Environmental Change ..................................................................... 7 Precipitation and Growing Season ............................................................................... 9 Borderlands Biotic Communities ................................................................................. 10 Soil Types ................................................................................................................... 16 Study Area Lithic Resources ....................................................................................... 17 Settlement Potential of Borderlands Valleys ............................................................... 20 Closing Observations .................................................................................................. 22 Chapter 3. Malpai Borderlands Prehistory ......................................................... 23 History of Research .................................................................................................... 23 Culture History ............................................................................................................ 25 A Final Comment on Regional Interaction .................................................................. 41 Chapter 4. Summary of Spanish, Mexican, and Early American Exploration in the Borderlands .................................................................... 45 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 45 Documentary Resources ............................................................................................ 45 The Land ..................................................................................................................... 45 History of the Borderlands .......................................................................................... 46 Ecology, Landscape, and Colonial/Mexican Period Use............................................. 50 Concluding Remarks .................................................................................................. 53 Chapter 5. Borderlands Fire Regimes ................................................................ 55 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 55 Climate and Study Area Information ........................................................................... 55 Regional Fire History Study ........................................................................................ 55 Local Fire History Reconstructions ............................................................................. 57 Human Influence on Fire Histories ............................................................................. 60 Conclusions ................................................................................................................ 61 Chapter 6. Modeling Human Impacts to the Borderlands Environment From a Fire Ecology Perspective................................................................. 63 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 63 Human-Induced Fire in Historical Perspective ............................................................ 63 Natural Versus Cultural Magnitudes ........................................................................... 64 Fire Ecology of the Early Archaeological Sequence ................................................... 64 Fire Ecology of the Late Prehistoric Archaeological Sequence .................................. 65 A Zonal Model of Fire Use .......................................................................................... 66 Fire Ecology of Anthropogenic Landscapes ............................................................... 68 iii Chapter 7. An Archaeological Research Design for the Malpai Borderlands .......................................................................................71 Borderlands Archaeological Context ........................................................................... 71 Phase 1: Spanish and Mexican Archival Study .......................................................... 71 Phase 2: Malpai Borderlands Conference/Workshop ................................................. 71 Phase 3: Survey of Existing Artifact and Field Record Collections ............................. 72 Phase 4: Tree-Ring Studies Pertaining to Archaeology .............................................. 72 Phase 5: Geoarchaeological Assessment .................................................................
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