Moving Forward in Casas Grandes Archaeology

Forty years ago, Charles Di Peso's ideas regarding the Casas Grandes Medio period were published in one of the most comprehensive, synthetic works in Southwestern archaeology. His interpretations were initially met with skepticism by Southwestern archaeologists, and were largely rejected. Since that time, archaeologists in the area have focused on increasing our empirical knowledge of the Medio period archaeological record. Our knowledge has grown to the point that region wide cultural historical syntheses are again being considered. Much of this research has prompted scholars to reevaluate many of Di Peso's ideas that seem to fit our improved knowledge, while also providing the basis to provide better arguments in many contexts. This session builds on this work, allowing participants using diverse theoretical perspectives and different data sources to explore the Medio period's social dynamics and chronology using recent field and laboratory analyses. Through these discussions, archaeologists working in the area can both illustrate the intense interest that has strengthened archaeological knowledge of Casas Grandes prehistory, and continue facilitating the alternative interpretations necessary to build upon Di Peso's initial work.