Welcome to the
The American Archaic
University of Minnesota Duluth
Ancient Middle America
Tim Roufs ©2009-2014
Mexico
(7th ed)
Page 244
Mexico (5th ed.). Michael D. Coe and Rex Koontz. NY: Thames and Hudson, 2008, p. 236.
Text: Mexico, page 236
www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth3618/mastages_handout.html
Mexico, Ch. 3, “The Archaic Period”
www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth3618/mastages_handout.html
The Maya, Ch. 2, “The Earliest Maya”
www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth3618/mastages_handout.html
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth3618/ma_timeline.html#lithic
Ancient Middle America
Archaic
Archaic
“Period of Incipient Agriculture”
“Early Gathering Cultures”
http://weber.ucsd.edu/~dkjordan/arch/mexchron.html#Archaic
Six Important Points
for the Archaic Stage
After Willey and Phillips, Method and Theory in American
Archaeology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1970.
Archaic Stage
1. Archaic:
includes numerous
historical cultures whose
origins and connections
have not been, or cannot be
traced . . .
Archaic Stage
. . . in Mexico, however, there
appear to be connections with
early cultures in the
Southwest U.S.A. and in Texas
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/reference_maps/north_america.html
http://www4.hmc.edu:8001/humanities/basin/tribes.gif
Archaic Stage
2. Natural Context:
there is a continuation of
hunting and gathering cultures
into environmental conditions
approximating those of the
present
Archaic Stage
3. There is a dependence on
smaller and perhaps more
varied game than in the Lithic
stage . . .
and, in many places, an
increase in gathering
Archaic Stage
4. Stone implements and utensils
used in the preparation of wild
vegetable foods first appear in
this stage . . .
Many of these were shaped by
use rather than design . . .
Tehuacán,
Puebla
up-to-date information
is always available on
The class web site
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth3618/matehuac.html#title
Archaic Stage
. . . although in many Archaic
stage cultures, techniques of
stone-grinding and
stone-polishing were known
Archaic Stage
5. Domesticated plants are
found in some Archaic
contexts . . .
including maize
Tehuacán,
Puebla
Richard S. Mac Neish, Scientific American, 1964.
= 100%
“seriation”
Richard S. Mac Neish, Scientific American, 1964.
Archaic Stage
. . . but the presence of these
food plants is not evidence for
agriculture in the full sense of
that term
Archaic Stage
. . . as near as the
archaeologist is able to tell,
the Archaic cultures in
question had only slight
economic dependence upon
early domesticates
Archaic Stage
. . . where domestic plants
seem to occur, for some reason
societies seem to have been
composed of smaller
populations than the other
Archaic cultures
Archaic Stage
6. Finally, it is difficult to set
meaningful date limits to
the Archaic stage . . .
7000 – 1800 / 1600 B.C. ?
5000 – 1800 / 1600 B.C. ?
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth3618/ma_timeline.html#lithic
Archaic Stage
. . . at the earlier end of the range
there is obvious overlap between
Archaic cultures and those whose
technical inventory and
environmental context is of a Lithic
Stage type
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth3618/ma_timeline.html#lithic
Tehuacán,
Puebla
Archaic Stage
. . . thus, some Archaic cultures
seem to antedate 7000 B.C.
(which is the very approximate and
arbitrary
upper limit for the Lithic Stage)
Archaic Stage
at the “Conquest”
(A.D. 1520)
many cultures still existed at
the Archaic stage
• this does not, however, impute to
them “backwardness”
Archaic Stage
after 7000 B.C. several
changes mark a shift to a way
of life similar to the
“Desert Culture” in western
North America
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth3618/ma_timeline.html#lithic
http://www4.hmc.edu:8001/humanities/basin/tribes.gif
Archaic Stage
several essential economic
and social changes marked the
shift to a “Desert Culture” way
of life . . .
Archaic Stage
the “Desert Culture” way of life
includes the migratory hunting and
gathering cultures which continue
into environmental conditions
approximating those
of the present time
Archaic Stage
• dependence is on smaller
and more varied fauna in
place of the large animals . . .
• there is also an apparent
increase in gathering
Archaic Stage
sites begin to yield large
numbers of stone implements
and utensils that are probably
connected with the preparation
of wild vegetable foods
• but these are usually shaped by use rather
than by design, and are not therefore in the
same category of ground and polished stone
Tehuacán,
Puebla
Archaic Stage
these specialized techniques of
gathering and preparing wild
foods suggest a time in which
early experimentation in plant
domestication could take place
• especially in areas where collected plants
consisted mainly of hard-shelled seeded
forms
Archaic Stage
as a result,
some of the first indications of
New World agriculture
are found in the Archaic Stage
Tehuacán,
Puebla
Archaic Stage
but the mere presence of agriculture
is not of primary significance from a
more abstract developmental point of
view
• even though agriculture is of enormous importance
prehistorically in terms of the growth of particular
American patterns of culture
Archaic Stage
agriculture became important
only when . . .
• it can be seen as dominant in the
economy and . . .
• it is integrated socially to produce
stable settlement patterns
(which become the basis of the Preclassic Stage)
Archaic Stage
the high quality of chipped stone
tools produced by many of the
Lithic cultures are not maintained
by most of the Archaic peoples
• older forms, however, persist -- especially in
the chopper and scraper categories
Archaic Stage
articles of bone, tooth, horn, and ivory
were present in the Lithic, but they were
not abundant
• they do, however, assume a major importance
in assemblages of the Archaic
• for the first time they vie with stone as
materials for many implements and
ornaments
• points, knives, scrapers, tubes, beads, and
pendants
Archaic Stage
articles of bone, tooth, horn, and ivory
were present in the Lithic, but they were
not abundant
• they do, however, assume a major importance
in assemblages of the Archaic
• for the first time they vie with stone as
materials for many implements and
ornaments
• points, knives, scrapers, tubes, beads, and
pendants
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/harrell/artifacts.html
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/harrell/artifacts.html
Archaic Stage
articles of bone, tooth, horn, and
ivory . . .
• in general were used for objects which
had no counterpart in stone
• awls, perforators, and needles
• indicative of basketry and skin working
Archaic Stage
new tools . . .
• the drill makes its appearance
• the increased variety of forms is
matched by an increase in the
variety of materials used
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/harrell/artifacts.html
Archaic Stage
articles of bone, tooth, horn,
and ivory are sometimes
known as the
“osteodontokeratic” culture
Glossary
osteodontokeratic
osteo
= "bone"
donto
= "tooth"
keratic
= "horn"
Glossary
osteodontokeratic
osteo
= "bone"
donto
= "tooth"
keratic
= "horn"
A spatulate tool with beveled edges, made from a bison or deer rib.
The Harrell Site, Texas
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/harrell/artifacts.html
Flint knapping tools made of antler and bone.
The Harrell Site, Texas
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/harrell/artifacts.html
Glossary
osteodontokeratic
osteo
= "bone"
donto
= "tooth"
keratic
= "horn"
http://www2.sfu.ca/archaeology/museum/ask/a6.htm
Glossary
osteodontokeratic
osteo
= "bone"
donto
= "tooth"
keratic
= "horn"
http://www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/ANTHRO/rwpark/ArcticArchStuff/TLArts.html
Archaic Stage
a large number of tools
indicate that fishing was
important to Archaic peoples
• including fishhooks and
harpoons
Unfinished bone fishhook.
The Harrell Site, Texas
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/harrell/artifacts.html
Archaic Stage
shells make their first
appearance as a used material
• mostly for articles of personal
adornment
• especially in beads and pendants
An array of beads and ornaments
made of different materials,
including an Olivella shell bead.
The Harrell Site, Texas
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/harrell/artifacts.html
A large mussel shell with heavy edge wear and polish
likely was used as a tool, possibly a hoe.
The Harrell Site, Texas
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/harrell/artifacts.html
Archaic Stage
burials
first appear on this level
• flexed burial in round graves
• partial cremation
• and the use of red ocher in burial
rites have a wide distribution on this
levels
http://www.eaststeubenville.com/people.html
Archaic Stage
burials
first appear on this level
• this does not mean that the people of the
Lithic had no formalized modes of disposing
of their dead . . .
• but simply that it is only in the Archaic and
later stages that we can say what they were
Archaic Stage
habitations change from
nomadic to semi-nomadic
• people made greater use of
caves and rock shelters
Tehuacán
http://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/english/zonas_arqueologicas_y_museos/oriente/detalle.cfm?idsec=46&idsub=0&idpag=1774
Archaic Stage
habitations change from
nomadic to semi-nomadic
• accumulations of refuse from
(probably) brief and intermittent
occupations suggest a degree of
stability and continuity that may
or may not be accurate
Archaic Stage
habitations change from
nomadic to semi-nomadic
• houses of sufficient durability to
leave permanent traces in the ground
are generally lacking
• generally there are no storage pits
• but Cuello has both
Cuello
Cuello, Belize
Archaic Stage
settlements are characteristically
small in extent
• but frequently they were used
for considerable time
• i.e., at least some Archaics are living
differently than the earlier nomadic
hunting peoples of the Lithic
Archaic Stage
of doubtful status as artifacts
but characteristic of Archaic
sites in the Americas are
masses of fire-cracked stones
• used in pit roasting and stone boiling
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/pecos/archeology.html
Archaic Stage
hunting techniques and tools
were adapted to exploit the
smaller fauna that replaced
the big game animals
• thus projectile points were eventually
made smaller and broader
Tehuacán,
Puebla
Archaic Stage
people lived in extended
family groups who were
engaged in cyclical wandering
in search of food
• probably numbered no more than 25 – 30
• but they were not truly nomadic
Archaic Stage
they needed few material
possessions
• but remains of basketry and
milling stones appear
http://www.desertusa.com/ind1/ind_new/ind2.html
Tehuacán,
Puebla
Archaic Sites include:
Nogales phase
–
Tamaulipas
La Perra phase
–
Tamaulipas
Diablo phase
–
Tamaulipas
Ocampo phase
–
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth3618/ma_timeline.html#lithic
Archaic Sites include:
Tepexpán
•?
Tepexpán
Tepexpán
Minnesota “woman”
(Pelican Rapids, MN)
ca. 10,000 or ??? B.C.
Tepexpán “woman”
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/reference_maps/north_america.html
Minnesota “Man”
www.co.otter-tail.mn.us/history/countyhistory_mnwoman.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Woman
Archaic Sites include:
Tehuacán Valley – Coxcatlán Cave
Tehuacán
Tehuacán
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth3618/ma_timeline.html#lithic
Archaic Sites include:
Cuello
Cuello
Maya Trade Routes
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth3618/ma_timeline.html#lithic
Archaic Sites include:
Yanhuitlán
Yanhuitlán
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth3618/ma_timeline.html#lithic
Archaic Sites include:
Santa Marta Rock Shelter (Chiapas)
• important for agriculture
Sta. Marta Rock Shelter
http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth3618/ma_timeline.html#lithic
What happens next?
And after that?
Time line of “New World Civilizations.”
Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., p. 479.