A Mimbres Mogollon Sacred Landscape as Seen from an Early Classic Period Communal Structure at City of Rocks State Park, Southwestern New Mexico

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2021: General Sessions" session, at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

In this paper, we discuss elements of what we argue were components of a sacred landscape imbued with meaning as seen from a Mimbres Mogollon communal structure at City of Rocks State Park in southwestern New Mexico. The structure dates to the early Classic period and falls into the poorly understood period of time marking the evolution of Mimbres communal spaces from the burning of Late Pithouse period great kivas (A.D. 950) to the use of oversized surface rooms and plazas at pueblos after A.D. 1050. We explore why this rare isolated communal structure is where it is and what its role may have been with regard to the adoption of elements of Mesoamerican mythology during the early Classic period. The dramatic near and far landscape elements that encircle the site create a unique viewshed that we argue have clear connections to elements of Mesoamerican mythology and iconography, such as Mimbres-style depictions of the feathered/horned serpent and naturally occurring fertility/ regeneration imagery. We suggest that this early adoption and synchretization of elements of Mesoamerican mythology set the stage for the subsequent Mimbres use of the Hero Twins mythology previously discussed by others (e.g., Patricia Gilman and Marc Thompson).

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 86th Annual Meeting, Online (2021)   •
• SAA 2021: General Sessions

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 33114