Fremont Architecture: Examining Evidence for Regional Consistency in Structure Function Despite Variability in Structure Forms

Summary

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

During the Fremont period (ca. AD 300 to 1400), individuals in the eastern Great Basin aggregated into larger and more permanent settlements, and these settlements clustered together across the landscape. Within many settlement clusters, sites exist containing structures that, on the surface, appear both architecturally and functionally distinct from typical residences. To date, analysis of these unusual structures has been conducted utilizing information from a small sample of sites that was not systematically collected; this project represents an opportuntiy to assess conclusions regarding Fremont architecture utilizing a wholistic and systematically collected database of information regarding Fremont architecture. I argue that while Fremont architectural characteristics vary, the use (or function) of Fremont structures is shared across the region. Within Fremont communities, activities taking place either in or in association with unusual structures (central structures and oversized pit structures) as well as the architecture of some homes (surface houses) suggest the presence of leaders, ritual practitioners, and other individuals of elevated importance within the community.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 53960