Indigenous Use of Mesquite Exudates in Arizona

Summary

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

The mesquite tree (Prosopis spp.), endemic to the desert regions of the American Southwest, has been utilized by indigenous peoples for centuries. The anthropological literature often cites the use of the mesquite gum in the material culture of the O’odham as a paint, adhesive and dye, and also notes its medicinal applications. Most described is the use of mesquite gum as a black paint on red wares. However, mesquite trees actually produce two chemically distinct exudates: a polysaccharide gum and a polyphenolic termed a "kino". In this study raw materials and artifacts in collections were analyzed, including mesquite "gum" collected by Frank Russell (1868-1903), an anthropologist who did fieldwork in Gila River. Results show that in most instances it is the kino, not the gum, that is used in material culture. This talk will cover the difference in chemistry and physical properties of these exudates, and discuss their uses in light of historic descriptions. Based on these accounts, it is evident the O’odham distinguished between these two exudates and used them selectively.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

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

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Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 24634