MUSEUM OF NEW MEXICO OFFICE OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE MOGOLLON HIGHLANDS: SETTLEMENT SYSTEMS AND ADAPTATIONS edited by Yvonne R. Oakes and Dorothy A. Zamora VOLUME 1. DEFINING THE MOGOLLON Yvonne R. Oakes Glenn S. Russell Submitted by Timothy D. Maxwell Principal Investigator ARCHAEOLOGY NOTES 232 SANTA FE 1999 NEW MEXICO CONTRIBUTORS Joy Beasley David V. Hill Lloyd A. Moiola M. Steven Shackley Heather Bixler Richard G. Holloway James L. Moore Mollie S. Toll Linda Scott Cummings Pamela McBride Kathryn Puseman Sonya O. Urban Joan K. Gaunt Dennis McMahon Glenn S. Russell C. Dean Wilson David J. Hayden Linda Mick-O'Hara Patrick H. Severts ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE MOGOLLON HIGHLANDS: SETTLEMENT SYSTEMS AND ADAPTATIONS VOLUME 1. DEFINING THE MOGOLLON VOLUME 2. SITE DESCRIPTIONS VOLUME 3. ANALYSES OF CHIPPED AND GROUND STONE ARTIFACTS VOLUME 4. CERAMICS, MISCELLANEOUS ARTIFACTS, BIOARCHAEOLOGY, BONE TOOLS, AND FAUNAL ANALYSIS VOLUME 5. ANCILLARY STUDIES: BOTANY, PALYNOLOGY, PHYTOLITH AND PARASITE ANALYSIS, RESIDUE STUDY, AND GEOMORPHOLOGY VOLUME 6. SYNTHESIS AND CONCLUSIONS iii ADMINISTRATIVE SUMMARY The Luna Project began in 1989 with a 30.7 km (19.1 from the sites by either hand or mechanical equipment miles) survey by the Office of Archaeological Studies and 254,694 artifacts were recovered. Dating of the sites (OAS), Museum of New Mexico, along U.S. 180 from was possible through ceramic cross-dating, and 182 the Pine Lawn Valley north to Luna, within the Mogollon radiocarbon or archaeomagnetic assays were supple- Highlands in Catron County, New Mexico. As a result mented by several obsidian hydration samples. of this and subsequent surveys in the area, 25 archaeo- The broad temporal variability in sites allowed for logical sites were recommended for excavation prior to many avenues of comparison. Subtle changes in subsis- road-widening of U.S. 180 and NM 12 by the New tence availability and exploitation, ground stone and lith- Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department ic artifact form and function, and ceramic styles and their (NMSHTD). Work was completed in four separate phas- trade were monitored and compared with results from es concomitant with the various NMSHTD projects, end- other excavated sites within the Mogollon Highlands. ing in December 1995. Most excavations were on land The large data base amassed by the OAS excavations and administered by the Gila National Forest; only three studies has created an unprecedented opportunity to sites were partially on private land. Yvonne R. Oakes, examine settlement dynamics on a regional scale within assisted by Dorothy A. Zamora, served as project direc- this particular area of the Southwest. Population ebb and tor. David A. Phillips, Jr., former director of OAS, and flow has been documented for the different Mogollon Timothy D. Maxwell, current director, were principal periods, and site growth through time can now be chart- investigators. ed, leading to a more synthetic understanding of land-use The 25 excavated sites include 6 Archaic compo- patterns by prehistoric peoples of the region. nents (LA 37917 [AR-03-06-06-00824], LA 43766 [AR- 03-06-06-00828], LA 45508, LA 70188 [AR-03-06-03- MNM Projects: 41.453; 41.492; 41.538; 41.541. 00056], LA 78439 [AR-03-06-06-00835], and LA 89846 NMSHTD Projects: SP-OF-O13-2(210; F-031-2(4); 88- [AR-03-06-03-03723]), 4 Early Pithouse period compo- 134(NM 12); TPA-180-1(6). nents (LA 39972, LA 39975 [AR-03-06-06-00372], LA CN 1858, CN 1491, CN 10015, CN 2352 45508, and LA 70201 [AR-03-06-06-00833]), 6 Late Pithouse period components (LA 3563 [AR-03-06-06- Permits 00277], LA 43786 [AR-03-06-06-00416], LA 45507, 1. Gila National Forest, Special Use Permits: LA 45510 [AR-03-06-03-00056], LA 70196 [AR-03-06- a. Issued November 15, 1990, Expires December 06-00832], and LA 70201 [AR-03-06-06-00833]), 5 31, 1999 Early Pueblo period components (LA 39969 [AR-03-06- b. Issued May 6, 1993, Expired December 31, 1997 06-00828], LA 39972, LA 43766, LA 70189 [AR-03-06- 2. State Land Permit: Excavation Permit SE-70. 06-00830], and LA 75792 [AR-03-06-06-00286]), 6 Late Pueblo period components (LA 3279 [AR-03-06- Submitted in fulfillment of Joint Powers Agreement 03-00159], LA 39968 [AR-03-06-06-00827], LA 70185 DO3773 between the New Mexico State Highway and [AR-03-06-03-00285], LA 75791 [AR-03-06-06- Transportation Department and the Museum of New 00834], LA 78439 [AR-03-06-06-00835], and LA 89846 Mexico. [AR-03-06-03-03723]), 6 probable Athabaskan compo- nents (LA 37917 [AR-03-06-06-00825], LA 37919 [AR- 03-06-06-00826], LA 70188 [AR-03-06-06-00830], LA 70189 [AR-03-06-06-00442], LA 75791 [AR-03-06-06- 00834], and LA 89846 [AR-03-06-03-03723]), and 3 of unknown affiliation from redeposited sites (LA 9721 AR-03-06-06-00824], LA 70191 [AR-03-06-06-00831], and LA 89847 [AR-03-06-03-03724]). Excavated sites range from the several downslope redepositions to 10 rooms and a great kiva at a large Late Tularosa phase pueblo, LA 3279 [AR-03-06-03-00159], dating A.D. 1275-1325. A total of 2,581 cu m of dirt was removed iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In 1989, when we undertook the initial cultural resource critical. And especially to the folks of Reserve and Luna, survey along U.S. 180, I had no idea that nine years and we all thank you for your hospitality, friendship, and 25 sites later, we would be in the throes of producing a interest in our work. We lived among you, off and on, for comprehensive, six-volume report on the archaeology of five years and it often felt like that this area was more the Mogollon Highlands. It has been a challenging, but "home" than home. We were probably highly visible exciting, nine years. The mountains of west-central New with our sometimes "far-out" clothes and hair styles, but Mexico are outstandingly beautiful and provided an we like to think we were adding flavor to the great mix inspiring background for our field work. Most of the of folks. To our many landlords over the years, we found sites were what archaeologists call "fun" to dig, except all of you to be "the best." Our last day in the field was for the few that had that awful, sticky "gumbo" clay. The certainly memorable. Thank you Luna residents for turn- sites were widely varied and provided the crew with an ing out in mass for our farewell luncheon and party. Your unusual opportunity to excavate a broad range of cultur- pictures are on our wall! al phenomenon. Analysis and interpretation of the ever- To the many, many people who worked on this proj- expanding data base took longer than anticipated, but ect, either in the field or the laboratory, I personally owe seeing the patterns develop and the identical conclusions a large debt of thanks. Crew members changed over the arrived at by independent analysts was extremely satis- years and yet the project stayed on track through the fying. cooperative efforts of many. Volunteers were all great to Most of the field work was conducted on land work with and eased our load immeasurably. To all of the administered by the Gila National Forest. Our first following people who contributed hard work and expert- expression of appreciation goes to the staff of this agency ise to the project—thank you! who were outstanding in their cooperation with us. Their guidance in many matters was greatly appreciated. We FIELD STAFF would like to particularly thank Bob Schiowitz, the for- mer Forest Archaeologist, and the more recent Forest Joy Beasley Lewis Kimmelman Archaeologist, Powys Gadd, for their attention to the Jennie Noble Heather Bixler project and for their cooperation. Personnel from the Daisy Levine Rod North Reserve and Luna Ranger Districts, within which we Lynn Drake Vernon Lujan worked, could not have been more helpful. Mike William Saracino Robert Emerson Gardiner, District Ranger at Reserve, listened many Anthony Martinez Pat Severts times to our requests for procedural changes and the var- Joan Gaunt Sibel Melik ious Reserve archaeologists, Richard Newton, Powys Chris Sterling David Hayden Gadd, and Bruce Ellis, were most cooperative. We also Kalay Melloy Laurel Wallace appreciated the assistance of Pat Morrison on selecting Deborah Johnson Lloyd Moiola areas for survey for potential NMSHTD waste disposal. Dorothy Zamora At Luna, Ranger Jerry Hibbits was a pleasure to work with, as well as the archaeologists, Cathy Dodt-Ellis and LABORATORY STAFF Gloria Curry, who oversaw our work and shared ideas with us. We considered all of the above Forest Service Tema Bennett Jim Moore personnel to be our friends and we thoroughly enjoyed Sara Swedlund Carolyn Count working with them. Linda Mick-O'Hara Mollie Toll A very special thanks also goes to the crew of the Pam McBride Joyce Snodgrass District 6 Highway Patrol Station at Reserve. Mike Sonya Urban Kristin Mier Peralta and his staff were most helpful on numerous Marcy Snow Dean Wilson occasions. They provided needed gates in right-of-way Susan Moga fences, informed us of any changes to sites due to weath- er or vandalism, moved several backdirt piles, and assist- All of the above field staff also were part of the lab crew. ed in the mechanical excavation of a portion of the great kiva at LA 3279 (AR-03-06-03-00159) when time was v LOCAL WORKERS Carol Price Arlena Boggs Cindy Johnson George Price Dolly Baca Gloria Curry Gilda Brown Whitney Kirk Carrie Knight David Birchfield John Runner Howard Brown Vince Duff Chad Laney Chuck Miday Larry Sitney Rosalie Birchfield Johnny Fletcher Erin Curry Faye Myrick Adolfo Mendoza Antonio Torres Ryan Williams Steve Clevenger Pete Jaramillo Jack Schornick Chris Cordova Elena Johnson I also wish to express my thanks to the OAS production staff who undertook the lengthy task of putting these vol- umes together.