REEVALUATING THE MIMBRES COLLAPSE AT THE BLACK MOUNTAIN SITE

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1 REEVALUATING THE MIMBRES COLLAPSE AT THE BLACK MOUNTAIN SITE Kathryn J. Putsavage Southwestern New Mexico is famous for its pottery, the remarkable black-on-white bowls of the Mimbres phase (A.D ) which highlight anthropomorphic figures and complex geometric designs. Around 1150 A.D., the Mimbres black-on-white bowls were no longer made and pueblos were constructed with adobe as opposed to the cobble stone masonry seen in earlier periods. Archaeologists used to call this the Mimbres collapse, because it seemed like whole region was suddenly abandoned. The Black Mountain phase (A.D ) was named as the period after the Mimbres. While there was social and economic reorganization, recent research highlights that the area was not abandoned. Until recently, few researchers had excavated Black Mountain phase sites. The Mimbres Foundation excavated two sites during their survey in the 1970s. More recently, archaeologists at the University of Texas, Austin, have focused on the Black Mountain phase component at Old Town. From 2010 to 2012, the University of Colorado, Boulder conducted survey and excavation at the Black Mountain phase type-site (LA 49). The Black Mountain site sits in the upper reaches of the Chihuahuan Desert and below a volcanic peak that gave the site its name. The site has been looted since the early 1900s. In the 1970, the adobe architecture was mechanically graded, leveling adobe architecture. Three seasons of survey and excavation have shown that intact archaeological deposits remain at LA 49 and is helping to further refine the transition from the Mimbres period to the Black Mountain phase. LA 49 has three temporal components: two clusters of Late Pithouse period (A.D. 750 to 1000) dwellings, a large Black Mountain phase (A.D. late 1100s-1250/1300) roomblock, and a large Cliff phase (A.D ) pueblo. The Cliff phase pueblo appears to be built over earlier, possibly Black Mountain phase structures. Recent research at the Black Mountain site addresses questions about (1) the extent of architecture and population size; (2) the chronology of the site; and (3) if the Black Mountain site represents an abrupt abandonment of the Mimbres region followed by an immigration of new populations, a continuous occupation accompanied by social reorganization, or some combination of these scenarios. The picture that is emerging from this research highlights the complexity of the periods after 1150 in the Mimbres region. There is strong evidence at other sites, such as Old Town Ruin, that the Mimbres region was not completely depopulated after Tree-ring and radiocarbon data are helping to refine the Black Mountain phase occupation at LA 49. Sourcing analyses of ceramics and obsidian from the Black Mountain site are providing evidence that exchange networks in the Mimbres region expanded during the Black Mountain phase. Additionally, these sourcing studies are providing preliminary evidence that, at LA 49, populations were composed of both residents from the Mimbres Valley as well as small groups of migrant populations. Our view of the Mimbres collapse has drastically changed and archaeological research is helping to refine the complicated social processes behind the changes seen in material culture in the Mimbres Valley around 1150 A.D. Kathryn J. Putsavage, Eastern New Mexico University, putkat@gmail.com Stephen H. Lekson, University of Colorado, Boulder Keywords: Mimbres, Social Transformation, Black Mountain site Permanent URI: Bounding coordinates (decimal degrees): West: North: East: South: Citation Example: Kathryn J. Putsavage (2015) Reevaluating the Mimbres Collapse at the Black Mountain site. SAA Current Research 230, accessed (current date) Current Research Online No: 230:1

2 2012 Crew excavating units in the Cliff phase pueblo with a view of the Black Mountain. Current Research Online No: 230:2

3 Steve Lekson, Cathy Cameron, Katy Putsavage, and John Schue examining the exterior wall and a floor in the Cliff phase component. Current Research Online No: 230:3

4 Obsidian projectile point from the Black Mountain site. Current Research Online No: 230:4

5 Playas Red ware vessel from the Black Mountain site. Current Research Online No: 230:5 Powered by TCPDF (