Exploring Patterns of Obsidian Conveyance in Baja California, Mexico

The X-ray fluorescence analysis of obsidian artifacts from four study areas in Baja California, Mexico, suggests regional and local patterning in the geological sources used by indigenous hunter-gatherers during the late prehistoric and colonial periods. Obsidian artifacts were typically made from materials from the closest geological source, creating a distinct north-south pattern of obsidian distribution. In the northern region of Baja California, this pattern appears to correspond to ethnographically-documented language boundaries. However, within each study area, particular sites exhibit higher degrees of obsidian source diversity than others—a pattern that may suggest chronological or social variation in access to particular obsidian sources. Unexpectedly, projectile points do not exhibit noticeably higher levels of source diversity when compared to an aggregate of all other obsidian artifacts. Together, these patterns offer a baseline of knowledge about regional obsidian distributions and point toward potential avenues for future research on obsidian availability and conveyance in Baja California

The Missions and Camino Real of Baja California: A Binational View

From the end of the seventeenth century through the early nineteenth century, missionaries from the Jesuit, Franciscan, and Dominican orders founded numerous missions in Baja California. In this article we introduce readers in Alta California to these missions, which along with El Camino Real de las Californias, were the most important institutions used by the Spanish Crown to colonize the Pacific coast of North America

A Shell Midden in the Upper Gulf of California: Challenging the Paradigms of Isolation and Marginalization?

The archaeological site known as “El Faro” is located in the upper Gulf of California region of the Baja California peninsula. Archaeological work within this area of Baja California has been limited, and the investigation presented in this article is the most extensive to date in the region. This research, combining surface reconnaissance with three eld seasons of excavation, has yielded data that allow for the reconstruction of the subsistence patterns of the site’s inhabitants through time. Additionally, we have been able to establish that the late occupation inhabitants of the El Faro site had a system of exchange with neighboring Yuman regions. The subsistence and trade evidence together allows us to comment on the proposed isolation and marginalization of the prehistoric groups in Baja California

A Shell Midden in the Upper Gulf of California: Challenging the Paradigms of Isolation and Marginalization?

The archaeological site known as “El Faro” is located in the upper Gulf of California region of the Baja California peninsula. Archaeological work within this area of Baja California has been limited, and the investigation presented in this article is the most extensive to date in the region. This research, combining surface reconnaissance with three eld seasons of excavation, has yielded data that allow for the reconstruction of the subsistence patterns of the site’s inhabitants through time. Additionally, we have been able to establish that the late occupation inhabitants of the El Faro site had a system of exchange with neighboring Yuman regions. The subsistence and trade evidence together allows us to comment on the proposed isolation and marginalization of the prehistoric groups in Baja California

Elementos arquitectónicos del Preclásico inferior del sitio Tezahuapa en Tixtla, Guerrero. 30. Arqueología

Couoh Hernández, Lourdes Rocío y Ma. Gabriela Hernández González 2002. Informe Final de los Restos Óseos Procedentes de laLínea de Transmisión Eléctrica Chilpancingo-Chilapa,Estado de Guerrero, México, Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia.Niederberger, Christine 1976. Zohapilco. Cinco Milenios de Ocupación Humana en un Sitio Lacustre de la Cuenca de México, México, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia-Secretaría de Educación Pública (Científica, 30).Porcayo Michelini, Antonio 2002. “Informe Final del Estudio Arqueológico de Factibilidad en la Línea de Transmisión Eléctrica Chilpancingo-Chilapa, Guerrero, Informe Final para el Consejo de Arqueología”, México, Dirección de Salvamento Arqueológico-Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia.2003. Salvamento Arqueológico en Chilpancingo, Tixtla y Chilapa, Región Centro de Guerrero, México, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, en prensa.Reyna Robles, Rosa Ma. 1996. Cerámica de Época Olmeca en Teopantecuanitlán, Guerrero, México, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (Científica, 316).2002. “De la Antigüedad de la Bóveda Corbelada en Guerrero”, en Ch. Niederberger y R. Robles (coords.), El Pasado Arqueológico de Guerrero, México, Gobierno del Estado de Guerrero, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, pp. 243-258.Reyna Robles, Rosa Ma. y Lauro González Quintero 1998. Rescate Arqueológico de un Espacio Funerario de Época Olmeca en Chilpancingo, Guerrero, México, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (Científica, 382).Ruvalcaba Sil, J.L. 2003. “Informe sobre un Estudio de Restos Óseos procedentes de Tixtla, Guerrero, Informe Técnico”, México, Instituto de Física, UNAM.Villanueva García, Gerardo 2002. “Proyecto Arqueológico Línea de Transmisión Eléctrica Chilpancingo-Chilapa, Guerrero. Reporte del Material Malacológico”, México, Dirección de Salvamento Arqueológico, mecanoescrito.Xelhuantzi López, Ma. Susana 2003. “Informe Sobre el Análisis de Restos Botánicos Encontrados en Sedimentos Obtenidos para el Estudio Arqueológico de Factibilidad de la Línea de Transmisión Eléctrica Chilpancingo- Chilapa”, México, Subdirección de Laboratorios y Apoyo Académico del Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia

Exploring Patterns of Obsidian Conveyance in Baja California, Mexico

The X-ray fluorescence analysis of obsidian artifacts from four study areas in Baja California, Mexico, suggests regional and local patterning in the geological sources used by indigenous hunter-gatherers during the late prehistoric and colonial periods. Obsidian artifacts were typically made from materials from the closest geological source, creating a distinct north-south pattern of obsidian distribution. In the northern region of Baja California, this pattern appears to correspond to ethnographically-documented language boundaries. However, within each study area, particular sites exhibit higher degrees of obsidian source diversity than others—a pattern that may suggest chronological or social variation in access to particular obsidian sources. Unexpectedly, projectile points do not exhibit noticeably higher levels of source diversity when compared to an aggregate of all other obsidian artifacts. Together, these patterns offer a baseline of knowledge about regional obsidian distributions and point toward potential avenues for future research on obsidian availability and conveyance in Baja California

A Reassessment of Archaeological Obsidian from Southern Alta California and Northern Baja California

This article offers a reassessment of the sources of archaeological obsidian found in southern California and northern Baja California based on new information regarding the geological availability of obsidian in Baja California, Mexico. In particular, we demonstrate that a previously unknown obsidian chemical group, referred to here as Tinajas obsidian, was for decades misidentified as San Felipe obsidian in regional archaeological analyses. In light of new data derived from geological surveys, geochemical analyses, and regional archaeological research, previous obsidian provenance reports from both sides of the border are reviewed. Our findings indicate that the archaeological distribution of the Tinajas obsidian group extends throughout northern Baja California and into southern California. In contrast, San Felipe obsidian appears to have had a more restricted geographical distribution than previously thought

Obsidian Sources of Northern Baja California: The Known and the Unknown

The obsidian sources of northern Baja California remain understudied even though archaeological work in the region has expanded in recent decades. In this article, we provide descriptions and geochemical characterizations for several known and as-yet unlocated sources of artifact quality obsidian in the northern region of Baja California. These data include two new sources recorded in the field, one additional unknown source identified in an archaeological assemblage, and one unknown source found only in secondary geological deposits. We also address the distribution of obsidian in secondary geological contexts. This article should serve as the basis for future provenance work as well as to further our understanding of indigenous trade networks and procurement strategies