Casas Grandes: A Fallen Trading Center of the Gran Chichimeca, Volume 8, Stone and Metal Bone, Perishables, Commerce, Subsistence, and Burials

Summary

During the course of excavations a total of 885 bone artifacts was recovered. Four (0.5%) of these were in Viejo Period association, 877 (99.1%) belonged to the Medio Period, and four (0.5%) to the San Antonio Phase of the Espafioles Period.

All of the Viejo Period specimens were utilitarian implements and included a plaiting tool, a coarse coil basketry awl, and two other awls with broken tips. These were simply made, undecorated items- three were splinter tools and one was a split grooved tool. Two of them were made of the bones of the popular Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus), which presently inhabits the local mountains.

As was true for other artifact categories, the vast majority and greatest variety of bone artifacts belonged to the Medio Period. There were some 25 classes of artifacts including utilitarian stone-working tools and weaving implements; nonutilitarian items of personal adornment, like hair ornaments, beads, and a finger ring; socioreligious paraphernalia ranging from the simple sucking tube of the shaman to such esoteric priestly goods as human trophy skulls, wands, and a trove of over a hundred long bones; and finally, the remnants of various bones in the process of manufacture into finished objects. Both bird and mammal bones were used, and bone identifications included two classes, two orders, one subfamily, three genera, 14 species, and five subspecies. Among the more interesting materials were 20 artifacts of human bone and 132 of carnivores, including Black Bear (Ursus americanus), Grizzly Bear (Ursus nelson,), and Mountain Lion ( Felis concolor). The sources for the raw material ranged from the mountain habitat of the Mule Deer and bears to the open plains of the Pronghorn Antelope (Antilocapra americana) and American Bison(Bison bison). Of some interest, too, was the presence of Beaver ( Castor canadensis), for its present-day occurrence in northern Mexico represents the "extreme fringe» of its range (Leopold, 1959, p. 381).

With the diversity of artifact forms represented, it was not surprising that the techniques of manufacture were so much more varied. Still present, though very few in number, were splinter tools, while other artifacts were highly and cleverly worked (see Figs. 8-10- 8) and polished to a high gloss. In addition, not a few were decorated by incising, carving, painting, or the addition of pseudo-cloisonne or turquoise mosaic work.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Digital Archive of Huhugam Archaeology (DAHA)   •
• Amerind DAHA Resources

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Amerind Museum

Principal Investigator(s): Charles C. Di Peso

Prepared By(s): The Amerind Foundation, Inc.

Record Identifiers

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number(s): 74-82018

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