Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction of the Northern Frontier of Mesoamerica: Stable Isotopic Analysis of Lagomorphs from La Ferrería, Durango, Mexico

Summary

Central to understanding the social and economic dynamics of past societies is the reconstruction of the environment in which they developed. The marginal environmental region of Northwest Mexico, in particular, has been a focus of debate concerning the importance of environmental change in the rise and decline of complex societies in the region. This study analyzes 49 Leporid (rabbit and hare) bones from the settlement of La Ferrería in modern Durango, Mexico for stable isotope ratios of d13Capatite, d180apatite, d13Ccollagen, and d15Ncollagen. Ratios of these elements reflect different aspects of the diet and environment in which the animals lived. Results of this study demonstrate significant changes in isotope ratios across the occupational history of the settlement, indicating environmental changes through time. When considered in combination with the material culture from the site, it is possible to make inferences about social-environmental dynamics at La Ferrería. This study contributes towards a more comprehensive understanding of the culture history of La Ferrería and increases our understanding of the relationship between society and the environment in pre-Hispanic Mexico.

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Cite this Record

Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction of the Northern Frontier of Mesoamerica: Stable Isotopic Analysis of Lagomorphs from La Ferrería, Durango, Mexico. Sean Lee, Andrew D. Somerville, Margaret J. Schoeninger. Presented at The 80th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, San Francisco, California. 2015 ( tDAR id: 397957)

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Spatial Coverage

min long: -107.271; min lat: 12.383 ; max long: -86.353; max lat: 23.08 ;