Another possible source of archeological maize found in Chaco Canyon, NM: The Tohatchi Flats area, NM, USA

Authors

Deanna Grimstead, The Ohio State UniversityFollow
Sharon M. Buck, The Ohio State University
Bradley J. Vierra, Statistical Research Inc., Albuquerque, NM
Larry V. Benson, University of Colorado at BoulderFollow

Date of this Version

2015

Citation

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 3 (2015) 181–187; doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2015.06.003

Abstract

Understanding the linkage and relationship between Chaco Canyon and its residents to surrounding communities has been a primary research question for several decades. This research has focused on identifying the Chacoan road systems, similar architectural designs, and the sourcing of economic and non-economic goods to outlier communities of origin. Extensive fieldwork has been completed to identify potential source regions of Chacoan corncobs, but the San Juan Basin and surrounding regions are vast and many potential agricultural features remain uninvestigated. One such region is the Tohatchi Flats, located near modern day Gallup, New Mexico. This paper uses ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios from synthetic soil waters, rabbit brush, and modern maize to investigate if this region is consistent with ratios obtained from archeological cobs from Chacoan great houses. Data results demonstrate that Tohatchi flats ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are consistent with ratios from Pueblo Bonito cobs prior to AD 1130 but not after. Additionally, this study demonstrates that rabbit brush can serve as a modern proxy for maize, despite a small ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio offset, which this study concludes requires additional biogeochemical modeling and investigation to understand.