Regional Engagement, Identity, and Exchange Across an Indigenous Borderland: An Investigation of Ceramic Artifacts in the International Four Corners Area of the American Southwest/Mexican Northwest

Abstract

Archaeologists traditionally assess the archaeological record of the International Four Corners area through a perspective focused on external cultural traditions and processes. In particular, prior interpretations view the history of this portion of the American Southwest/Mexican Northwest as either the northern periphery of the Casas Grandes culture or the southern extent of the Salado culture. However, there are few systematic investigations of excavated sites and individual site excavation reports that offer competing views of a highly connected frontier or a weakly integrated, independent series of residential sites. To better understand the dynamics of the region, I analyzed ca. 80,000 ceramic artifacts from 11 sites and compared the assemblages. Results demonstrate that sites in the area have dynamic internal histories that do not readily fit within existing models for peripheral zones. I interpret the collective assemblages as indicative of a borderlands zone wherein mixed identities, exchange networks, and ethnicities abounded.

Los arqueólogos tradicionalmente ven el área de International Four Corners a través de una perspectiva externa que enfatiza otras tradiciones culturales. En particular, las interpretaciones previas lo ven como la periferia norte de la cultura Casas Grandes o la extensión sur de la cultura Salado. Sin embargo, a pesar de esto, existe poca investigación sistemática de los sitios excavados, y los informes de excavaciones en sitios individuales surgen de visiones opuestas de una frontera altamente conectada o una serie de sitios residenciales independientes poco integrados. Para comprender mejor la dinámica de la región, analicé ca. 80.000 artefactos cerámicos de 11 sitios y conjuntos comparados. Los resultados muestran que los sitios del área tienen dinámicas internas que no encajan fácilmente en los modelos existentes para áreas periféricas. Interpreto los ensamblajes colectivos como indicativos de una zona fronteriza donde abundan las identidades mixtas, las redes de intercambio y las etnias.

KEYWORDS:

• Casas Grandes
• Salado
• ceramic analysis
• international four corners
• borderlands
• frontiers
• identity
• migration

Acknowledgments

This research is the product of numerous individuals and collaborations with several organizations. I thank them for providing access to archival records, reports, and artifacts. Specific to this article, I thank Cochise College, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, the University of Minnesota Department of Anthropology, and the University of New Mexico Department of Anthropology. I thank Laura Costello, Megan Moungey, Rebecca Orozco, and Katherine Satriano for facilitating access and support. I thank my dissertation committee composed of Emily L. Jones as chair and Frances Hayashida, Hannah Mattson, Patricia A. Gilman, Paul E. Minnis, and Samuel Truett as members, all of whom reviewed and authored supportive comments that shaped the argument. I thank Heather Seltzer-Rogers for her constant support of my research.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Financial Support Statement

Funding for this research includes a Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (BCS Award #21-02817) from the National Science Foundation, two Center for Regional Studies Doctoral Research Fellowships (2020, 2022) from the University of New Mexico, a Frank C. Hibben Doctoral Research Fellowship from the Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico (2021), a Carryl B. Martin Research Award (2020) and two Research Grants (2020) from the Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society, two Research Scholarships (2019, 2020) from the Archaeological Society of New Mexico, a Graduate Research Scholarship (2019) from the PaleoWest Foundation, a Research Grant (2019) from the New Mexico Archeological Council, a Nancy Coinman Research Grant (2021) from the Grant County Archaeological Society, two Sarah and Harvey Moore Research Grants (2019, 2021) from the Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, a Rogers Research Award (2020) from the University of New Mexico, and a New Mexico Research Grant (2020) from the Graduate and Professional Student Association, University of New Mexico.

Data Availability Statement

Data used in this research are available in a supplemental file on file at the University of New Mexico. Sensitive archaeological site location information are partially obscured for protection.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences: [Grant Number 21-0817]; Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico; New Mexico Archeological Council; University of New; Archaeological Society of New Mexico; PaleoWest Foundation; Grant County Archaeological Society; Center for Regional Studies; Arizona Archaeological & Historical Society.