Rabbits, Pronghorn, Oh Deer! Oh My! Part II: A Complete Faunal Analysis of Utility Indices at Wupatki National Monument, Northern Arizona

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2019: General Sessions" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Wupatki National Monument, a Puebloan site located in the Sinagua region of Northern Arizona, yielded an assortment of wildlife available to past populations. Analyzing faunal remains from archaeological sites on the Colorado Plateau develops a holistic understanding of the prehistoric lifeways of Southwest communities. Through the determination of taxa present, minimum number of individuals, animal portions utilized, cultural modifications such as butchering and pot polish, and natural taphonomic signatures, our research provides a thorough investigation of animal use through time at the site. Further, we examine utility indices such as MGUI and FUI, and discuss the relative frequencies of Artiodactyls and Lagomorphs in the community’s diet. Our research highlights the importance of understanding the role of animals in the Southwest diet, and provides discourse on animal resources in an arid environment.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 24506