Utilization of Quartz Crystal Lithics During the El Paso Phase Jornada Mogollon

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Recent Research at Jornada Mogollon Sites in South-Central New Mexico" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Over the past several years, the Office of Contract Archeology has conducted fieldwork in the southern Tularosa Basin on White Sands Missile Range. This project has resulted in the documentation and testing of more than 36 sites ranging from the Paleoindian through Jornada Mogollon periods. Lithic raw materials utilized on all of these sites were dominated by local materials. Interestingly, a high proportion of these were found to be crystal quartz, a material not often associated with lithic tool production in the American Southwest. Due to the unusual nature of this material utilization for this region, a more detailed examination was undertaken to better understand the implications. The data indicate an intensification of use for crystal quartz in the Jornada Mogollon period, particularly as groups agglomerated into larger roomblock-complex villages during the El Paso Phase. Potential causes for this are thought to include toolstone availability, and possible ritual functions.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Recent Research at Jornada Mogollon Sites in South-Central New Mexico   •
• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 23699