A Predictive Model of the Shivwits Plateau, Northwest Arizona
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2008 Prehistoric settlement and land use: A predictive model of the Shivwits Plateau, northwest Arizona Glendee Ane Osborne University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Osborne, Glendee Ane, "Prehistoric settlement and land use: A predictive model of the Shivwits Plateau, northwest Arizona" (2008). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 2420. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/t7u5-gfhv This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT AND LAND USE: A PREDICTIVE MODEL OF THE SHIVWITS PLATEAU, NORTHWEST ARIZONA. By Glendee Ane Osborne Bachelor of Arts University of Montana, Missoula 2002 A thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts in Anthropology Department of Anthropology and Ethnic Studies College of Liberal Arts Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 2008 UMI Number: 1463523 INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, If unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI UMI Microform 1463523 Copyright 2009 by ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 E. Eisenhower Parkway PC Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Thesis Approval The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas November 14, _,2i The Thesis prepared by Glendee Ane Osborne Entitled Prehistoric Settlement and Land Use: A Predictive Model of the Shivwits Plateau, Northwest Arizona. is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters Of Arts of Anthropology Examination Committee Chair Dean of the Graduate College ExamimUon Committee Member Excminaiion Committee Member Graduate College Faculty Representative 11 ABSTRACT Prehistoric Settlement and Land Use: A Predictive Model for the Shivwits Plateau, Northwest Arizona. By Glendee Ane Osbome Dr. Karen Harry, Advisory Committee Chair Associate Professor of Anthropology University of Nevada, Las Vegas The obj ective of this research is to develop, test, and utilize a Geographic Information Systems based predictive model of prehistoric site location and settlement for the Shivwits Plateau in northwestern Arizona to better understand settlement patterns and land use across the region from the Archaic to Protohistoric period. The GIS data are used to determine site location probability for specific temporal phases of Virgin Anasazi cultural activity. The database includes previously recorded sites, vegetation, elevation, aspect, slope, and water resources which are integrated to establish probable patterns of land use and settlement. My thesis examines two research questions. First, is it possible to reliably predict site locations? This focuses on the results of the predictive model. Second, what can this information tell us? Utilizing model and comparative research settlement, subsistence strategies, and settlement/subsistence differences and similarities between the Kayenta, Virgin Anasazi, and the Southern Paiute are explored. m TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT........................................................................ iii LIST OF FIGURES.................................................................................................................vi LIST OF TABLES..................................................................................................................vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.......................................................................... x CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION.................. 1 Research Context ........................................................ 2 Early Exploration and Settlement ........................................................................................5 Previous Research .................................................................................................................9 CHAPTER 2 RESEARCH DESIGN.............................................................................. 15 Independent Variables .......................................... 16 Water Resources ............................................................................................................. 16 Geological Substrate ...................................................................................................... 22 Vegetation ....................................................................................................................... 27 Elevation, Slope, & Aspect ............................................................................................31 Survey Areas ....................................................................................................................... 33 Dependent Variables ...........................................................................................................36 Previously Recorded Site Locations .................. 36 Cultural Affiliation ..................................................................................................... 37 Temporal Affiliation .................................................................................................. 38 Site Type Definitions ................................................................................................. 42 Site Function Definitions ...........................................................................................42 Assumptions ........................................................................................................................ 43 Limitations...........................................................................................................................44 CHAPTER 3 METHODS................................................................................................ 50 Modeling ..............................................................................................................................51 Independent Variables .................................................................................................... 60 Dependent Variables .......................................................................................................62 CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS RESULTS............................................................................ 64 General Site Model .............................................................................................................65 Campsite Site Type Model ................................................................................................ 71 Habitation Site Type Model ................... 77 Pueblo II Period Model .......................................................................................................83 IV Puebloan Period Model ...................................................................................................... 89 CHAPTER 5 IF WE CAN SUCCESSFULLY PREDICT SITE LOCATIONS, WHAT CAN THEIR LOCATIONS TELL US?...................................................95 Prehistoric Settlement Strategies .......................................................................................95 Prehistoric Subsistence ...................................................................................................... 99 Differences/Similarities Between the Virgin Puebloans and Southern Paiutes ........... 101 Differences/Similarities Between Virgin and Kayenta Puebloan Peoples ...................103 CHAPTER 6 SUMMARY AND FUTURE RESERACH...........................................107 Appendix A Vegetation Deseriptions ............................................................................ 114 Appendix B Site Type Definitions ..................................................................................138 Appendix C Site Function Definitions ........................................................................... 142 Appendix D Site Distribution Maps, Model Proportion & Frequency Tables ........... 144 BIBLIOGRAPHY................................................................................................................. 195 VITA......................................................................................................................................201 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Map of the Shivwits Plateau region .................................................................... 3 Figure 2. Map of Colorado Plateau region ........................................................................