Evidence for Virgin Anasazi Presence in the Las Vegas Valley and Adjacent Areas
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UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2002 Evidence for Virgin Anasazi presence in the Las Vegas Valley and adjacent areas Susanne Janine Rowe University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Rowe, Susanne Janine, "Evidence for Virgin Anasazi presence in the Las Vegas Valley and adjacent areas" (2002). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 1442. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/g2pw-9n5f 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. 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EVIDENCE FOR VIRGIN ANASAZI PRESENCE IN THE LAS VEGAS VALLEY AND ADJACENT AREAS by Susanne Janine Rowe Bachelor of Arts University of California, Davis 1979 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the M aster of Arts Degree Department of Anthropology College of Liberal Arts Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 2002 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number; 1413495 UMI' UMI Microform 1413495 Copyright 2003 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. 00X1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thesis Approval UNiy The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas November 25 02 The Thesis prepared by Susanne Janine Rowe Entitled Evidence for Virgin Anasazi Presence in the Las Vegas Valley and Adjacent Areas is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts - Anthropology HcuA Examination Committee ) ! o f the Graduate College Examination Committee Member Examination Committee Member ^ <r- J GraduateÏ fZollege Faculty Representative 1017-53 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Evidence for Virgin Anasazi Presence in the Las Vegas Valley and Adjacent Areas by Susanne Janine Rowe Dr. Karen Harry, Examination Committee Chair Professor of Anthropology University of Nevada, Las Vegas Olivine-tempered ceramics are a characteristic artifact of Virgin Anasazi culture. The ceramics are found in the Las Vegas area, more than 70 km west of permanent Anasazi settlements in the Moapa Valley. Little is known regarding Anasazi utilization of this area, since most investigators have focused on the permanent settlements. I examined 25 ceramic assemblages from the Las Vegas vicinity, calculated the frequencies of olivine-tempered sherds in each, and noted the geographical distribution of the wares. The evidence does not support down-the-line exchange, but shows concentrations of olivine-tempered wares in the north Las Vegas Valley, Paradise Valley, and further west in the Spring Mountains and Pahrump Valley. The number of sherds recovered does not indicate long-term habitation by people who consistently utilized pottery. The low frequency (6.5-percent) of decorated olivine-tempered wares provides support for the hypothesis that exchange of utilitarian wares brought olivine-tempered ceramics into the area. 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TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................................................................................................. v CHAPTER I THE VIRGIN ANASAZI IN THE WESTERN PERIPHERY ..................................1 CHAPTER 2 RESOURCES IN THE LAS VEGAS VALLEY AND ADJACENT AREAS 7 CHAPTER 3 THE VIRGIN ANASAZI IN SOUTHERN NEVADA..............................................14 Virgin Anasazi Chronology..................................................................................................................... 18 Ceramic Evidence for Cultural Interactions .........................................................................................26 CHAPTER 4 RESEARCH ORIENTATION AND METHODOLOGY........................................ 28 CHAPTER 5 VIRGIN ANASAZI IN THE STUDY AREA—THE DATA AND CONCLUSIONS........................................................................................................................................ 32 The Ceramic Evidence ..............................................................................................................................36 North Las Vegas Valley........................................................................................................................... 36 South Las Vegas Valley........................................................................................................................... 38 Spring Mountains and Bird Range .........................................................................................................41 The Valleys Beyond.................................................................................................................................. 42 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................. 43 APPENDIX—DATA .......................................................................................................................................51 BIBLIOGRAPHY .............................................................................................................................................96 VITA .................................................................................................................................................................. 105 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am forever grateful for the inspiration and encouragement of Drs. Margaret Lyneis, Ted Goebel, and Jerald J. Johnson. Dr. Margaret Lyneis has played a pivotal role in the study of the Virgin Anasazi in Southern Nevada. Her efforts toward understanding cultures on "the western periphery” have provided much of the groundwork for this study. This thesis is dedicated to her. For providing assistance and friendship I thank Sali Underwood, Becky Boulton, Robbie Keely, and Jennifer Riddle. In Las Vegas at the Harry Reid Center, I thank Lynda Blair, Director of Cultural Resources; Susan Murphy, archaeological archivist; and Diane L. Winslow, archaeologist. All three provided plenty of suggestions, reports, and sherds to examine. At the Nevada State Museum in Carson City, Dr. Alanah Woody, collections manager, and curatorial assistant Rachel Delovio were very gracious and accommodating in facilitating my research. Greg Seymour, Las Vegas Valley Water District (LW W D) Archaeologist-Program Manager, was more than generous with his time, knowledge of the valley’s archaeology, and lab. His descriptions of many of the surface sites in this study filled in when field notes could not be found. Thanks also to Hal Rager, LW W D archaeologist, and Jake Hickerson, intern archaeologist. Kathleen Sprowl, United States Forest Service (USFS) Heritage Resources Program Manager, was also giving of her time, suggestions, and assistance in the office and field. Amy Sprunger-Allworth, Fish and Wildlife Service, Desert