Rare and Isolated Artifact Occurrences from the Caves of the El Malpais Lava Fields of New Mexico

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Multidisciplinary Approaches to the Subterranean" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

After more than a century of sustained looting, the lava tube caves of El Malpais have lost volumes from what was once an unparalleled record of cave use by Ancestral Pueblo people. Occasionally, artifacts stolen from the caves appear on public auction blocks, offering a brief glimpse of what used to be. In general, archaeologists seeking an understanding of the nature of ancient subterranean practices are left with the few materials overlooked by pothunters. Rare and isolated artifact occurrences in caves today may reflect greater frequencies in the past, and through interpretation of such items, we may open a window on past chthonic activities, both ceremonial and pragmatic. These items often have ethnographically described functions or analogs from surface contexts, which serve as invaluable aids to decipherment. Certain cave features are also unique. For example, only a single instance of parietal art is known from a cave dark zone at El Malpais. Nonetheless, this panel holds precious clues to Ancestral Pueblo beliefs concerning caves. In an exciting development, recent Park Service consultation with neighboring Pueblos has led to the disclosure of previously confidential information pertaining to artifacts cached in caves.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Multidisciplinary Approaches to the Subterranean   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 39767.0