An Archaeological Survey of the Onavas Valley, Sonora, Mexico: A Landscape of Interactions During the Late Prehispanic Period

Traditionally, the Onavas Valley located in the middle Ri­o Yaqui, has been identified as part of the Rio Sonora archaeological tradition. However, no archaeological research has taken place in this region to verify this cultural model. This work presents new data from the Onavas Valley Archaeological Project (OVAP), conducted in the summer of 2003 and 2004, which provide basic data to solidify our understanding of an archaeologically poorly researched area, examine its role in interactions with the neighboring archaeological areas, and contrast the Ri­o Sonora tradition model. The methodology used combine archaeological survey, artifact analysis, and ethnohistorical research. A full-coverage systematic pedestrian survey, at the center of the Onavas Valley, was conducted covering an area of 67 km² and recorded 122 new sites. Three research approaches where set to discern and define the archaeological tradition within the Onavas Valley and then examine extra-regional interactions with neighboring archaeological areas. Those are 1) building a local chronology and a diagnostic inventory of material culture; 2) establishing the landscape structure (settlement pattern and ritual landscape) of the area; and 3) collecting and analyzing evidence for the manufacture, use, and exchange of trade goods. At the end of the material analysis, the OVAP conclude that the Onavas Valley had more cultural relation with the Huatabampo archaeological tradition than to the Rio Sonora archaeological tradition. Finally a comparison of the cultural landscape of the Onavas Valley with those of the Marana, Cerro de Trincheras, and Paquime traditions was made, to see different cultural developments in similar geographical condition using same methodological and analytical framework

La pirita y su manufactura: análisis de cuatro contextos mesoamericanos

Several pyrite inlays that shaped Prehispanic mosaic mirrors have been recovered in many Mesoamerican sites. Recent researches on these objects have been focused on their symbolic meaning, morphology, trade and use, with few studies that address their manufacturing techniques and production organization. In this paper we present the technological analysis we applied to different pyrite inlays from four Mesoamerican sites, supported by experimental archaeology and technological instruments such as scanning electron microscope. In this way it has been possible to identify quite precisely the type of tools used in its manufacture, enabling us to distinguish different technological styles.En muchos sitios de Mesoamérica han sido recuperadas incrustaciones de pirita que dan forma a los espejos prehispánicos de mosaico. La mayoría de los estudios sobre estos objetos se han enfocado en su significado simbólico, morfología, comercio y uso, siendo escasos los trabajos que abordan las técnicas de manufactura y organización de la producción de dichos objetos. En este trabajo presentaremos los análisis tecnológicos que hemos aplicado a distintas incrustaciones de pirita de cuatro sitios mesoamericanos, apoyados en la arqueología experimental y en la aplicación del microscopio electrónico de barrido. De esta manera se han podido identificar con bastante precisión las herramientas empleadas en su elaboración que permitirán distinguir diferentes estilos tecnológicos

Prehispanic use of chili peppers in Chiapas, Mexico.

The genus Capsicum is New World in origin and represents a complex of a wide variety of both wild and domesticated taxa. Peppers or fruits of Capsicum species rarely have been identified in the paleoethnobotanical record in either Meso- or South America. We report here confirmation of Capsicum sp. residues from pottery samples excavated at Chiapa de Corzo in southern Mexico dated from Middle to Late Preclassic periods (400 BCE to 300 CE). Residues from 13 different pottery types were collected and extracted using standard techniques. Presence of Capsicum was confirmed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)/MS-MS Analysis. Five pottery types exhibited chemical peaks for Capsicum when compared to the standard (dihydrocapsaicin). No peaks were observed in the remaining eight samples. Results of the chemical extractions provide conclusive evidence for Capsicum use at Chiapas de Corzo during a 700 year period (400 BCE-300 CE). Presence of Capsicum in different types of culinary-associated pottery raises questions how chili pepper could have been used during this early time period. As Pre-Columbian cacao products sometimes were flavored using Capsicum, the same pottery sample set was tested for evidence of cacao using a theobromine marker: these results were negative. As each vessel that tested positive for Capsicum had a culinary use we suggest here the possibility that chili residues from the Chiapas de Corzo pottery samples reflect either paste or beverage preparations for religious, festival, or every day culinary use. Alternatively, some vessels that tested positive merely could have been used to store peppers. Most interesting from an archaeological context was the presence of Capsicum residue obtained from a spouted jar, a pottery type previously thought only to be used for pouring liquids

Image of the ceramic vessels from Chiapa de Corzo that were sampled for analysis (Photo by Roberto Lopez and Emiliano Gallaga Murrieta).

<p>Image of the ceramic vessels from Chiapa de Corzo that were sampled for analysis (Photo by Roberto Lopez and Emiliano Gallaga Murrieta).</p

UPLC/MS-MS chromatograms illustrating (a) Standard dihydrocapsaicin (b) Blank (c) Representative Corza sample confirming the presence of dihydrocapsaicin.

<p>Insets: MS/MS spectra of standard dihydrocapsaicin (A) and from sample extract (B). Samples were extracted and analyzed as described in methods.</p

UPLC/MS-MS chromatograms illustrating (a) Standard 3,4-dihydrobenzylamine (b) Blank (c) Representative Corza sample confirming the presence of 3,4-dihydrobenzylamine.

<p>Insets: MS/MS spectra of standard 3,4-dihydrobenzylamine (A) and from sample extract (B). Samples were extracted and analyzed as described in methods.</p

Site map of Chiapa de Corzo by CE 500 showing principle structures mentioned in text (Drawing by Ayax Moreno based on original map by Gareth W. Lowe).

<p>Site map of Chiapa de Corzo by CE 500 showing principle structures mentioned in text (Drawing by Ayax Moreno based on original map by Gareth W. Lowe).</p

MRM method parameters used in chilli analysis.

<p>MRM method parameters used in chilli analysis.</p

UPLC-MS/MS analysis of pottery samples.

<p>+ = identified, t = traces.</p