Yuzanu 36, a Late Archaic Site in the Mixteca Alta

Summary

We report the discovery and excavation of a site radiocarbon-dated to 3000 BC near the village of Yanhuitlan in Oaxaca. The site is buried under alluvium at a depth of 5m. At the time of its occupation it was situated on the floodplain of a large seasonal stream. The excavation of 30m2 revealed several superimposed features, including hearths, small refuse pits, and a bell-shaped pit. Debitage of different varieties of chert is ubiquituous, as is heat-spalled rock of different lithologies. Several observations suggest that the site was repeatedly occupied by large groups of people performing multiple activities. In the course of its existence, the function of the excavated area of the site seems to have changed from primarily residential to one that involved the periodic burning of the floodplain vegetation and churning of the soil, most likely in preparation for the planting of crops. Exposures of the same palaeosol at other nearby locales suggest that the site spans several hectares. In contrast to the majority of excavated Archaic sites in Mesoamerica, which seem to represent short-term occupations focused on very specific activities, Yuzanu 36 is a good candidate for a multi-purpose riverine basecamp occupied during several months of the year.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 18765