Similarities and Differences Between Upper Gila and Mimbres Valley Ceramics in Southwestern New Mexico

Summary

Although both the Mimbres and the Gila valleys are within the Mimbres region and are not far apart, they seem to have rather major differences in the numbers of rooms per room block, the numbers of room blocks per site, and the designs painted on Mimbres black-on-white pottery. In this poster, we report similarities and differences between Mimbres Valley (MV) and upper Gila/western Mimbres (UGWM) pottery designs. We start by defining and quantifying style elements seemingly more common in the UGWM—herringbone lines, triangular faces with white circle eyes, rim triangles, square scrolls, rim band number, and absence of figures. To determine if these elements truly are more common on UVGM pottery, we analyzed bowl data in several ways. First, we examined every documented bowl excavated from UGWM sites to measure element frequency. Then, we observed the presence/absence of these elements on bowls sourced to the UGWM through NAA, regardless of where they were excavated. Finally, we analyzed a sample of bowls excavated and sourced to the MV to determine if these elements appear at the same frequency as on UGWM bowls. Ultimately, we hope this study will illuminate why these differences between valleys might have occurred and their significance.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

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

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 20050