The Chaco-topes Database: Presenting an Integrated, Interactive Stable Isotope Database of Chaco Canyon Research

Author(s): Marian Hamilton

Year: 2025

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

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Chaco Canyon was an epicenter of ancestral Puebloan activity between AD 850 and 1250. One of the most powerful ways of understanding the past comes from stable isotope analysis, which has provided insights into the ecology, mobility, resource utilization, and landscape management of Chaco Canyon for decades. Over the last five years, numerous regional archeological communities have harnessed the power of ‘big data’ by amassing databases of published studies within their domains. The Chaco-topes project presents a curated database of Chaco-related stable isotopes studies ( D<sup>13</sup>C, D<sup>18</sup>O, D<sup>15</sup>N, <sup>87</sup>Sr/<sup>86</sup>Sr, DD, <sup>206/204</sup>Pb, <sup>207/204</sup>Pb, <sup>208/204</sup>Pb, <sup>207/206</sup>Pb) from multiple sample types (soil, geologic samples, hair, bone, enamel, water) representing archeological and modern materials. We account for differences in fractionation between tissue types, material ages, and preparation methods to increase the ease of pulling large, comparable datasets related to the Canyon and the surrounding San Juan basin. All samples are accessioned with original references, geospatial data, and sample material details. There are over 5500 unique entries illustrated through an interactive, open-access user interface and downloadable as .csv files. We intend that this work will facilitate more large-scale analyses of Chaco Canyon and lead to a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the people and place.

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Cite this Record

The Chaco-topes Database: Presenting an Integrated, Interactive Stable Isotope Database of Chaco Canyon Research. Marian Hamilton. Presented at The 90th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. 2025 ( tDAR id: 511334)

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Keywords

General
Landscape Archaeology • North America: Southwest United States • Subsistence and Foodways • Water Management and Irrigation

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 53944