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Flaked Stone and Social Interaction in the Casas Grandes Region, Chihuahua, Mexico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Todd L. VanPool ,
Christine S. VanPool ,
Rafael Cruz Antillón ,
Robert D. Leonard  and
Marcel J. Harmon
Todd L. VanPool
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
Christine S. VanPool
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
Rafael Cruz Antillón
Affiliation:
Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Centro Regional, Chihuahua, Mexico
Robert D. Leonard
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
Marcel J. Harmon
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
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Abstract

This analysis uses flaked stone artifacts to gain insight into the social and economic structure of the Casas Grandes region, northern Chihuahua, Mexico. It begins by considering the intrasite variation in flaked stone reduction at Galeana, a large site near the modern town of Galeana. The analysis of debitage and cores from Galeana indicates that the assemblage is primarily the product of hard hammer, generalized reduction of locally available materials. Differences within the assemblage indicate the presence of spatially distinct reduction areas, with initial core reduction occurring in open areas, and then continuing in room blocks. We then compare the Galeana assemblage with the flaked stone assemblage from the site of Paquimé (Casas Grandes), Chihuahua. The analysis indicates that the reduction technique employed at both sites is similar, but that the Paquimé assemblage is characterized by a greater proportion of cryptocrystaline silicates and obsidian than the Galeana assemblage. Furthermore, much of the raw material from Paquimé does not appear to be locally available. We conclude that the prehistoric inhabitants of Paquimé had greater access to cryptocrystaline silicates and obsidian acquired through trade than did the inhabitants of Galeana. This evidence indicates that the economic pattern evident at Paquimé did not extend to Galeana and supports the idea that Paquimé's economic and political influence over other Casas Grandes sites was limited beyond a 30-km radius.

Resumen

Resumen

En este trabajo se presenta un estudio de los artefactos tallados por percusión, que sirve de base para avanzar en el conocimiento de la estructura económica y social de la región de Casas Grandes (norte de Chihuaha, México). Para ello, presentamos una serie de datos relacionados con la variación interna existente en las fases de reducción lítica del conjunto recuperado en Galeana, un gran sitio arqueológico cercano a la actual localidad homónima. En el caso de los desechos de talla hemos analizado las siguientes variables: tipo de desecho involucrado, peso, largo, ancho, materia prima, tipo de plataforma y porcentaje de cortex presente en la cara dorsal. En el caso específico de los núcleos, analizamos el tipo de materia prima, peso, largo, ancho y porcentaje de cortex. El análisis de estos datos nos permitió inferir que el conjunto presente en Galeana fue conformado por episodios de reducción generalizada con reducción bifacial limitada y uso de percutores duros. También hemos registrado algunas diferencias dentro de dicho conjunto que indican la presencia de áreas de reducción espacialmente diferenciadas. La reducción inicial de los núcleos tuvo lugar en zonas abiertas. Luego, el trabajo se continuó en los conjuntos habitacionales. Las materias primas empleadas son mayoritariamente locales. Se trata de rocas ígneas de grano grueso, disponibles en la cuenca de drenaje del Río de Santa María. Este conjunto fue comparado con él procedente de Paquimé (Casas Grandes), también en Chihuahua, pero situado a 44 km de Galeana. Paquimé es uno de los sitios mas grandes del norte de México y del Suroeste norteamericano. Se supone que funcionó como centro de un sistema regional a gran escala. La técnica de reducción lítica utilizada en ambos sitios es similar. Sin embargo, el conjunto de Paquimé presenta una mayor propoción de silicatos criptocristalinos y obsidianas. Es más, la mayor parte de las materias primas presentes en Paquimé no están disponibles en la localidad. Por ello, pensamos que los habitantes precolombinos de Paquimé, posiblemente gracias al comercio, tenían mayores posibilidades de acceso a dichas rocas que los habitantes de Galeana. Esta evidencia apoya la propuesta de Minnis y Whalen, quienes sostienen que la influencia económica y política de Paquimé sobre la region de Casas Grandes estaba limitada a un radio de 30 km y que el patrón económico presente en Paquimé no puede extenderse a Galeana.

Type
Reports
Information
Latin American Antiquity , Volume 11 , Issue 2 , June 2000 , pp. 163 - 174
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 2000

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