Aztec at the Crossroads and in the Crosshairs: 101 years of Research in One Convenient Symposium
Part of: Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)
A century (and a bit) of research has been conducted at Aztec Ruins and it is time for a new synthesis. This symposium fuses data both old and new to situate Aztec as the preeminent Southwest site of the 13th century. A multi-scalar approach with data from excavation, artifact analyses and legacy data investigations are presented with an eye toward addressing gaps in our understanding and are situated in the 21st debate of Chaco (What Came After, and How Aztec Fits?). With our dramatically improved understanding of Aztec’s role in Pueblo History, these papers will evaluate the current state of Aztec archaeology, update on recently completed field, laboratory, archive work, and evaluate the prospect of future research.
Other Keywords
Aztec Ruins •
Chaco •
Aztec •
bioarchaeology •
Pottery •
Textiles •
Sandals •
Perishables •
Baskets •
Southwest
Geographic Keywords
New Mexico (State / Territory) •
Arizona (State / Territory) •
United States of America (Country) •
Colorado (State / Territory) •
Utah (State / Territory) •
North America (Continent) •
North America - Southwest •
USA (Country)
Resources Inside This Collection (Viewing 1-7 of 7)
- Documents (7)
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The Archaeology of Aztec North (2017)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
Our paper reports on our recent archaeological testing at the previously unexcavated Aztec North great house at Aztec Ruins National Monument. Standing on the river terrace behind and above the better-known valley great houses, Aztec North is out of sight of those great houses but tightly bound to them as part of the formalized cultural landscape of Aztec Ruins. It is a crucial site for understanding the development of Chaco Canyon’s outliers, as it was likely the earliest great house built in...
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Aztec at the End of Days: Great House to Crossroads (2017)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
New investigations of primary source material reveal that the final days of Aztec were extensively recorded (but not published) by Earl Morris. This paper will present analyses of burial, feature, architectural and artifactual data that indicate a chaotic and tumultuous end at Aztec preceded by behaviors that differed drastically from Chaco Canyon or in other 12th century great house sites. These practices are seen in mortuary data, in room remodeling the increased frequency of habitation of...
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Aztec’s Textiles, Baskets, and Other Perishable Traditions: Contributions of Recent Perishables Research to a New Understanding of the West Ruin (2017)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
Earl Morris recovered more than 1500 perishable artifacts from the West Ruin of Aztec, but his publications provide only a glimpse of the diversity, richness, and strong research potential of this relatively well-preserved and well-provenienced perishable collection. In this paper, we discuss our recent re-analyses of these assemblages and present new insights related to Chaco-Aztec relations and the organization of ritual practice, society, and craft production at Aztec. We also highlight...
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Closing the Gap at Aztec Ruins: Refining the Dating Sequence Using Corn and Pottery (2017)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
Excavation of a recent test unit at Aztec West revealed stratigraphic deposits yielding corn samples that were well distributed throughout. The primary research objective was to use Accelerator Mass Spectometry (AMS) Radiocarbon dating to date charred corn from the test unit and compare the results with date ranges for pottery from the same levels. A tree-ring date of AD 1130 was also obtained from charred wood in a pit feature below the levels yielding corn, suggesting that the deposits, corn,...
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The Late Bonito Phase at Aztec North and West Ruins: Interpreting the Ceramic Data (2017)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
Pottery from Earl Morris’ excavations in Late Bonito phase contexts at Aztec West Ruin and recent surface collections at Aztec North Ruin are examined to shed further light on Chacoan period developments at these two great houses. Morris’ early 20th century excavations focused specifically on West Ruin, but the North and East Ruins filled out the triad of great houses comprising a substantial complex within the modern boundary of Aztec Ruins National Monument. Several researchers have suggested...
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Living and Dying a Bioarchaeological Analysis of Human Remains Recovered by Earl Morris at Aztec Ruins (2017)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
Aztec Ruins, an Ancestral Pueblo site in northern New Mexico, is recognized as a large and socially complex site. Aztec Ruins is typically considered in relation to the Chaco Phenomenon, although connections to Mesa Verde have also been made. Combined these relationships suggest close ties to other temporally occupied sites. Excavations of Aztec Ruins were undertaken between 1916 and 1923 by southwestern archaeologist Earl Morris. Among his many finds he reported excavating 186 sets of human...
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Sandals from the Center Place, Footprints on the Pots: Continuity and Change in Twined Sandal Tread Designs from Chaco, Aztec, and Beyond (2017)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
Twined sandals were important components of Ancestral Pueblo ritual paraphernalia for a millennium. They were expensive and time consuming to make and many had patterns of raised knots woven into their treads that stamped footprints with complex geometric designs on the ground when worn. Scholars have postulated that twined sandals were likely used in communal rituals, dance performances, and even foot races. During the Pueblo II period, their use appears to have been connected with communal...