Culture and Ecology of Chaco Canyon and the San Juan Basin
Culture and Ecology of Chaco Canyon and the San Juan Basin
Culture and Ecology of Chaco Canyon and the San Juan Basin
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The Florescence 141on-white, <strong>and</strong> Gallup Black-on-white sherds suggeststhat <strong>the</strong> site was ab<strong>and</strong>oned sometime between A.D.1000 <strong>and</strong> 1030. Limited use occurred between A.D.1100 <strong>and</strong> 1150, when a kiva (Pithouse 1) was builtover Pithouse 2, Room 1 was added, <strong>and</strong> Plaza Firepit5 <strong>and</strong> Bin 1 were in use, which Windes postulatedmay be related to events at nearby 29SJ630.Recovery <strong>of</strong> predominantly Red Mesa Black-onwhiteceramics covers 150 years <strong>of</strong> use <strong>of</strong> 29SJ629.Both <strong>the</strong> transition from Kiatuthlanna Black-on-whiteto Red Mesa Black-on-white <strong>and</strong> from Red MesaBlack-on-white to Gaiiup Biack-on-white represent <strong>the</strong>continuum <strong>of</strong> black-on-white ceramic development in<strong>the</strong> area (H. Toll <strong>and</strong> McKenna 1993). There wassome change in design elements between <strong>the</strong> early <strong>and</strong>late Red Mesa Black-on-white ceramic period.U sing temper to determine sources <strong>of</strong> ceramicvessels made outside <strong>of</strong> <strong>Chaco</strong> <strong>Canyon</strong>, H. Toll <strong>and</strong>McKenna (1993) deduced that at this site white-wareimports may have declined through time while graywareimports more than doubled. The decrease inwhite-ware imports is not straightforward, however,because <strong>the</strong>re was an Anasazi-wide decrease in s<strong>and</strong>stonegrain size in temper through time. Because finegraineds<strong>and</strong>stone is dominant in <strong>Chaco</strong> <strong>Canyon</strong>, butpresent in o<strong>the</strong>r areas as well, some ceramics with thistemper type could have been imports as well. Alongwith <strong>the</strong>se changes, H. Toll <strong>and</strong> McKenna documentedincreased st<strong>and</strong>ardization in ceramic production,which included a gradual sophistication in white-wareproduction <strong>and</strong> more formalized or specialized graywarevessels. Based on <strong>the</strong> recovery <strong>of</strong> several nonfiredceramic pieces, Windes (1993:396) suggestedthat special ceramic items were made on <strong>the</strong> site.Debris from turquoise ornament manufacturingrecovered in Pithouse 2, as well as in <strong>the</strong> Plaza Grid9 floor <strong>and</strong> associated pits, indicates that much timewas spent in <strong>the</strong> preparation <strong>of</strong> beads <strong>and</strong> pendants,probably representing part-time craft specialization(Mathien 1984, 1993b, 2001b; Windes 1993).Because most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> turquoise recovered representsunfinished pieces or workshop debris, <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong>finished items probably occurred elsewhere.Windes (1993) noted similarities in <strong>and</strong> differencesbetween contemporary small sites. 29SJ629 ismuch smaller than 29SJ627; yet <strong>the</strong> presence <strong>of</strong>multiple mealing bins <strong>and</strong>/or catchments suggests thatconsiderable grinding activity took place at both sites.Windes proposed that <strong>the</strong> large number <strong>of</strong> grinding<strong>and</strong> food processing tools suggest heavy dependenceon horticulture. This increase in mealing areas is alsoseen at 29SJ1360, which, like 29SJ629, has evidencefor turquoise jewelry production <strong>and</strong> ceramic production.Although Windes (1993) considered 29SJ1360to be part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> larger Fajada Gap community, heplaced it within a different subgroup <strong>of</strong> sites from29SJ629. Thus, <strong>the</strong>re is some suggestion <strong>of</strong> differencesamong small sites within <strong>the</strong> larger Fajada Gaparea, as well as within Marcia's Rincon.29SJ633The only excavated site in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Chaco</strong> Projectsample representing <strong>the</strong> late A.D. 1000s to early1100s is 29SJ633. Truell (1979, 1981, 1986; <strong>and</strong>Mathien 1991a) indicated that small sites assigned tothis period demonstrate greater organizationaldifferences than had been recognized previously. Hergoals, <strong>the</strong>refore, were to compare data from this sitewith earlier sites in Marcia's Rincon to determinewhe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>re was continuity or difference inconstruction techniques <strong>and</strong> to compare 29SJ633 withgreat houses to determine <strong>the</strong> degree <strong>of</strong> continuitybetween inhabitants <strong>of</strong> large <strong>and</strong> small house sites.Room 7 (a living room) <strong>and</strong> Room 8 (a storagefacility), which are located in <strong>the</strong> central room block(Figure 5.7), were examined.Architecture was attributed to <strong>the</strong> late A.D.lO00s to early 1100s, but most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> artifacts wereassigned to later reuse. Gray clay foundations <strong>and</strong>associated heating pits, plus <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fset placement <strong>of</strong>some walls from <strong>the</strong> foundations, indicate preplanning.Combined with unusually large room size, <strong>the</strong>setraits suggest continuity in construction techniquesbetween great house <strong>and</strong> small house sites. The wallmasonry, however, is unlike <strong>the</strong> styles documentedei<strong>the</strong>r by Hawley (1938) or Judd (1964). At 29SJ633,<strong>the</strong> masonry is heterogeneous; <strong>the</strong>re was much reuse<strong>of</strong> ground stone artifacts <strong>and</strong> locally available s<strong>of</strong>t,friable s<strong>and</strong>stone. These irregularities led Truell tosuggest expedient wall construction over <strong>the</strong> preplannedfoundations.