Download Archaeology Notes #276

277 Pages·2003·13.15 MB·English

THE ANGUS SITE:
A LATE PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT
ALONG THE RIO BONITO,
LINCOLN COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
DOROTHY A. ZAMORA
YVONNE R. OAKES
MUSEUM OF NEW MEXICO
OFFICE OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES
ARCHAEOLOGY NOTES 276 2000
MUSEUM OF NEW MEXICO
OFFICE OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES
THE ANGUS SITE:
A LATE PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT
ALONG THE RIO BONITO, LINCOLN COUNTY, NEW
MEXICO
by Dorothy A. Zamora and Yvonne R. Oakes
Contributions by
Nancy J. Akins Susan Moga
Phil Alldritt James Quaranta
David V. Hill Mollie S. Toll
Richard G. Holloway Sonya O. Urban
Pamela J. McBride C. Dean Wilson
Submitted by
Timothy D. Maxwell
Principal Investigator
ARCHAEOLOGY NOTES 276
SANTA FE 2000 NEW MEXICO
ADMINISTRATIVE SUMMARY
This report details the results of excavations carried out on two sites located in the Sierra Blanca
region of south-central New Mexico. Both sites are within NMSHTD right-of-way acquired from
privates sources. The Angus site (LA 3334) was partially excavated in 1956 by Stewart Peckham
of the Laboratory of Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico, because of road construction activities
at the intersection of NM 37 and 48 at Angus, near Ruidoso, in Lincoln County, New Mexico. In
1997, proposed reconstruction of the bridge over NM 48 was the impetus for further testing at the
site because the existing right-of-way had not been fully excavated in 1956. The testing program
(Zamora 1998) revealed evidence of buried cultural deposits and several utilized surfaces.
The Little Creek site (LA 111747) seemed to represent a small lithic and ceramic scatter. The
site was tested and also contained subsurface artifacts but no cultural features were located.
Subsequent excavations revealed a lack of features. Based on the ceramics from the site, it dates to
the mid-Glencoe phase at ca. A.D. 1100-1200. However, most of the site was found to lie under a
commercial development, the extent of which indicates that it was once probably a moderate-sized
community.
Data recovery plans for the Angus site called for reopening the square kiva dug by Peckham in
1956 and locating any other cultural features. Besides the kiva, Office of Archaeological Studies
(OAS) excavations uncovered five cobble-walled surface rooms, two shallow pit structures, an
outside work area with a ramada, a large storage pit, and two areas of heavy trash deposits. One pit
structure may date somewhat earlier than the kiva and associated rooms at ca. A.D. 1015. The other
pit structure may date to ca. A.D. 1265. The main occupation of the site produced 15 radiocarbon
dates with a mean date of A.D. 1310, placing it late in the prehistoric sequence for the Sierra Blanca
region of New Mexico. Ceramics and architectural styles correlate with several of the phase
designations used for the region. A minor Athabaskan occupation may also be present on the site
as indicated by several Athabaskan Utility sherds and 14C dates in the 1400s. A wide variety of
projectile points and grinding implements indicate that the subsistence economy was diversified.
This report examines the implications of this diversity in terms of adaptations within the settlement
system.
MNM Project: 41.671
NMSHTD Project: TMP-BR-0048(16) CN 1245
Permit: State of New Mexico Archaeological Permit SE-138, expires Dec. 29, 1999
Submitted in Fulfillment of Statewide Archaeological Services Contract CO3783 between the New
Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department and the Museum of New Mexico.
CONTENTS
ADMINISTRATIVE SUMMARY ................................................. ii
LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................... vii
LIST OF TABLES ............................................................. ix
INTRODUCTION ............................................................1
ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING by Phil Alldritt ...................................3
Introduction ...............................................................3
Geology ..................................................................3
Soils .....................................................................3
Plant and Animal Life .......................................................4
Climate ...................................................................5
CULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS IN THE SIERRA BLANCA REGION
by Yvonne R. Oakes .....................................................7
Introduction ...............................................................7
Paleoindian Period ..........................................................7
Archaic Period .............................................................7
Ceramic Period............................................................10
Evaluation of Sierra Blanca Cultural Sequences ......................... .........15
Conclusions ...............................................................28
Previous Work in The Area by Dorothy A. Zamora ...............................28
THE ANGUS SITE (LA 3334) by Dorothy A. Zamora and Yvonne R. Oakes ............31
Introduction ..............................................................31
Site Setting ...............................................................31
Research Objectives ........................................................31
Field Methods ............................................................35
Kiva (Area 100) ...........................................................36
Large Storage Pit (Area 300) .................................................41
Area 1000 ................................................................42
Area 2000 ................................................................47
Area 3000 ................................................................49
Area 4000 ................................................................54
Area 5000 ................................................................55
Roomblock (Area 7000) ....................................................59
Room 2 ..................................................................64
Room 3 ..................................................................71
Surface Room 5 ...........................................................79
Possible Jacal Area (Area 7500) ..............................................83
Area 8000 ............................................................... 83
Table of Contents iii
THE LITTLE CREEK SITE (LA 111747) by Yvonne R. Oakes .....................91
Introduction ..............................................................91
Site Setting ...............................................................91
Research Objectives ........................................................91
Field Methods ............................................................91
Artifacts .................................................................91
CHRONOLOGICAL PLACEMENT OF SIERRA BLANCA SITES
by Yvonne R. Oakes ....................................................95
Introduction ..............................................................95
Dating of the Angus Sites ...................................................95
Dating of Other Sierra Blanca Sites ... .........................................97
ANGUS CERAMIC ANALYSIS by C. Dean Wilson ..............................101
Introduction .............................................................101
Descriptive Attributes .....................................................101
Ceramic Types ...........................................................118
Examination of Ceramic Patterns ............................................129
Dating of Sites ...........................................................129
Ceramic Trends ..........................................................132
Functional Trends ........................................................134
PETROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF SELECTED CERAMICS by David V. Hill .......135
Introduction .............................................................135
Methodology ............................................................135
Description of the Ceramics ........ ........................................135
Discussion ..............................................................137
LITHIC ARTIFACT ANALYSIS by James Quaranta and Phil Alldritt ................141
Introduction .............................................................141
Methodology ............................................................141
Lithic Debitage Analysis of LA 3334 .........................................141
Lithic Debitage Analysis of LA 111747 .......................................147
Conclusions .............................................................149
PROJECTILE POINT ANALYSIS by Phil Alldritt and Yvonne R. Oakes .............151
Projectile Point Distributions ................................................151
Projectile Point Material Types ..............................................151
Projectile Point Breakage Patterns ............................................151
Projectile Point Types .....................................................152
Conclusions .............................................................157
THE GROUND STONE FROM THE ANGUS SITE by Dorothy A. Zamora ..........159
Introduction .............................................................159
Method .................................................................159
Artifact Descriptions ......................................................159
Ground Stone Distribution ..................................................168
iv Table of Contents
Temporal Issues ..........................................................170
Mano Size and Corn Dependency ............................................172
Conclusions .............................................................172
MISCELLANEOUS ARTIFACT ANALYSIS by Sonya O. Urban ...................175
Introduction .............................................................175
Methods ................................................................175
Artifact Summary .........................................................175
Ornaments and More of the Jornada Mogollon ........................... .......181
The Data: A Summary .....................................................183
Discussion ..............................................................183
Regional Exchange and Trade ...............................................184
Conclusions .............................................................185
ANGUS FAUNA by Susan Moga and Nancy J. Akins ..............................187
Introduction .............................................................187
Methods ................................................................187
Taxa Recovered from LA 3334 ..............................................187
LA 3334 Proveniences .....................................................192
Taphonomy .............................................................192
Processing ..............................................................197
Bone Tools ..............................................................199
LA 111747 ..............................................................200
Discussion ..............................................................200
ANGUS HUMAN REMAINS by Nancy J. Akins .................................203
Demographic Characteristics ................................................203
General Indications of Health ...............................................203
Trauma .................................................................208
Developmental Anomalies ..................................................209
Postmortem Modification ..................................................209
Comparisons with Other Populations .........................................212
FOOD AND FUEL AT THE ANGUS SITE by Mollie S. Toll and Pamela J. McBride ...213
Introduction .............................................................213
Methods ................................................................213
Results .................................................................214
Discussion ..............................................................220
Summary ...............................................................223
POLLEN ANALYSIS OF SOIL SAMPLES AND POLLEN WASHES FROM LA 3334
by Richard G. Holloway ................................................227
Introduction .............................................................227
Methods and Materials .....................................................227
Results .................................................................230
Discussion ..............................................................235
Conclusions .............................................................237
Table of Contents v
CONCLUSIONS by Yvonne R. Oakes and Dorothy A. Zamora ......................239
Introduction .............................................................239
Chronometric Placement of Sites.............................................239
Site Function and Type ....................................................240
Subsistence Adaptations ...................................................240
Conclusions .............................................................245
REFERENCES CITED ......................................................247
Appendix 1. Study Area 7.5" Quadrangles ........................................265
Appendix 2. Recorded Archaic Sites .............................................267
Appendix 3. Burial Information ...... ...........................................269
Appendix 4. Burial Tables .....................................................271
Appendix 5. Site Location Map (removed from copies in general circulation) ............277
vi Table of Contents
FIGURES
1. Project vicinity map ........................................................2
2. The Rio Bonito Valley ......................................................4
3. Archaic sites of the Sierra Blanca Region .......................................8
4. Geographic distribution of the Sierra Blanca phases ...............................9
5. Type I sites with Jornada Brown only .........................................17
6. Type II sites with the addition of Mimbres Wares, Red Mesa Black-on-white, and
Chupadero Black-on-white .................................................18
7. Type III sites with the addition of El Paso Polychrome, Gila Polychrome, and Three Rivers
Red-on-terracotta ........................................................20
8. Type IV sites with the addition of Ramos Polychrome, Playas Red Incised, St. Johns
Polychrome, Mesa Verde Black-on-white, Galisteo Black-on-white, Santa Fe
Black-on-white, and Corona Corrugated ......................................21
9. Type V sites with the addition of Heshotauthla Glaze Polychrome and Lincoln
Black-on-red ............................................................22
10. Type VI sites with the addition of Rio Grande Glaze I ............................23
11. Jornada Brown Ware sites ..................................................25
12. El Paso Polychrome and Corona Corrugated sites ................................26
13. Sites with upright slabs .....................................................27
14. LA 3334 site map .........................................................32
15. Location of LA 3334 with NM 37 between fence lines ............................33
16. Trench 3 placed along the eastern edge of LA 3334 ..............................36
17. Cultural features at LA 3334 ................................................37
18. 1956 excavations of the kiva ................................................39
19. Reexcavation of the kiva ....................................................39
20. Plan of kiva ..............................................................40
21. Area 200 ................................................................40
22. D-shaped storage pit .......................................................42
23. Profile of large D-shaped storage pit ..........................................42
24. Plan of Area 1000 .........................................................44
25. Excavation of Area 1000 with possible wall remnant .............................44
26. Areas 2000, 3000-5000, and 4000 ............................................47
27. Utilized surface in Area 3000 with Trenches 3 and 4 ..............................50
28. Burial pit in Area 5000 .....................................................56
29. Pit structure in Area 5000 ...................................................56
30. Room 1 plan, profile, and wall profile .........................................60
31. Room 2, plan and profile ...................................................64
32. Room 2 with floor features ..................................................66
33. Adobe-collared hearth in Room 2 .............................................66
34. Stone-lined ash pit ........................................................67
35. Burial pit in Room 2 .......................................................67
36. Room 3, plan and profile ...................................................71
37. Large El Paso Polychrome broken vessel .......................................72
38. Room 3, floor features .....................................................73
39. Surface Room 5, plan ......................................................79
Table of Contents vii
40. Room 5 in foreground with Rooms 1-3 in the background .........................80
41. Room 5, floor features .....................................................80
42. Remodeled hearth in Room 5 ................................................81
43. Plan view of Area 8000.....................................................84
44. View of Area 8000 with hearths and postholes ..................................84
45. Pit structure in Area 8000 ...................................................85
46. Plan view and profile of pit structure, Area 8000 .................................85
47. LA 111747 site map .......................................................92
48. Radiocarbon dates for LA 3334 ..............................................96
49. Sierra Blanca sites dated by ceramic types ......................................98
50. Plain brown ware ........................................................119
51. Corona Corrugated .......................................................120
52. Corona Corrugated .......................................................120
53. Broadline or San Andres Red-on-terracotta ....................................122
54. Three Rivers Red-on-terracotta .............................................122
55. Lincoln Black-on-red .....................................................123
56. Lincoln Black-on-red. .....................................................123
57. Lincoln Black-on-red. .....................................................124
58. Chupadero Black-on-white, indeterminate design ...............................125
59. Chupadero Black-on-white, solid design ......................................125
60. Chupadero Black-on-white, hatchured design ..................................125
61. El Paso Polychrome ......................................................126
62. El Paso Polychrome ......................................................126
63. Agua Fria Glaze-on-red and Mogollon Brown wares ............................127
64. Gila Polychrome .........................................................128
65. Ramos Polychrome .......................................................129
66. Projectile point concentrations at LA 3334 ....................................151
67. Probable Archaic dart points ................................................153
68. Scallorn points ..........................................................154
69. Fresno and Harrell points ..................................................155
70. Desert Side-Notched points ................................................155
71. Post-1400s points ........................................................156
72. Unusual projectile points ..................................................156
73. Unidentifiable projectile points .............................................157
74. Large loaf mano from Area 7000 ............................................162
75. Unmodified two-hand mano used on trough metate ..............................162
76. Slab metate .............................................................162
77. Trough metate from the Angus site ..........................................163
78. Polishing stones .........................................................163
79. Shaft straighteners from the Angus site .......................................164
80. Abrading stone, probably used for hide-working ................................164
81. Three-quarter grooved axe from outside surface in Area 300 ......................165
82. Portable sipapu from Room 2 ...............................................165
83. Ground stone distribution ..................................................168
84. Stacked manos next to pit structure in Area 5000 ...............................169
85. Mano and metate set found on floor of Room 3 .................................169
86. Trough metate from Area 8000 ..............................................170
viii Table of Contents
87. Shell morphology terms ...................................................175
88. Chrysocolla found in Room 2 ...............................................176
89. Stone ring found in fill of Pit Structure in Area 5000 ............................177
90. Modified crystal from Area 1000 ............................................177
91. Unfinished shell ornament from Area 5000 ....................................179
92. Shell ornaments ..........................................................179
93. Ornament debris .........................................................180
94. Shell ornament from pit structure, Area 5000 ..................................180
95. Shell pendants ..........................................................180
96. Shell pendants ..........................................................181
97. Fish effigy pendant from fill of pit structure, Area 5000 ..........................181
98. Burial 1, scapula .........................................................210
99. Burial 6, distal femur .....................................................211
100. Ranking of sites by faunal dependency .......................................245
TABLES
1. Floral species found archaeologically at the Angus sites ............................5
2. Faunal species from the Angus sites ............................................5
3. Weather statistics from nearby stations .........................................5
4. Chronological ordering of ceramic types .......................................16
5. Recorded sites and quadrangles ..............................................29
6. Recovered artifacts from LA 3334 ............................................34
7. Assigned feature areas at the Angus site .......................................35
8. Wall length measurements from the kiva at the Angus site .........................38
9. Wall height measurements from the kiva ............................ ...........38
10. Ceramics recovered from the kiva ............................................40
11. Ground stone artifacts from large storage pit and surrounding area ..................43
12. Fauna from Area 300 ......................................................43
13. Ceramics recovered from Area 1000 ..........................................45
14. Analyzed lithic artifacts for Area 1000 ........................................46
15. Ground stone from Area 1000 ...............................................47
16. Ceramics recovered from Area 2000 ..........................................48
17. Lithic artifacts recovered from Area 2000 ......................................49
18. Ceramics recovered from Area 3000 ..........................................51
19. Lithic artifacts recovered from Area 3000 ......................................52
20. Ground stone recovered from Area 3000........................... ............53
21. Fauna recovered from Area 3000 ............................................54
22. Ceramics from Area 5000 ..................................................57
23. Lithic artifacts recovered from Area 5000 ......................................58
24. Fauna recovered from Area 5000 ............................................59
25. Ceramics recovered from Room 1 ............................................61
26. Lithic artifacts recovered from Room 1 ........................................63
27. Fauna from Room 1 .......................................................63
28. Pollen washes from artifacts in Room 1 .......................................64
Table of Contents ix