article

Early irrigation on the Colorado Plateau near Zuni Pueblo

American antiquity67 (4) • Published In 2002 • Pages: 665-676

By: Damp, Jonathan, Hall, Stephen A., Smith, Susan J..

Abstract
The introduction of maize agriculture into the Southwest and onto the Colorado Plateau was accompanied by irrigation techniques. Twenty-six radiocarbon dates at two sites, K'yana Chabina and K'yawa:Na'a Deyatchinanne, in the Zuni area of New Mexico, establish the use of irrigation canals to between 3,000 and 1,000years ago. Associated feature and the presence of nearby habitation sites independently corroborate the chronology of canal building. The geomorphology of the Zuni landscape and the morphology of the irrigation canals are consistent with the artificial construction of the canals. Pollen evidence points to an agricultral landscape and the cultivation of maize (p. 665).
Subjects
Water supply
Cereal agriculture
Cultural stratigraphy
Laboratory analysis of materials other than dating methods in archaeology
Dating methods in archaeology
Post depositional processes in archaeological sites
Chronologies and culture sequences
Soil
culture
Zuni
HRAF PubDate
2009
Region
North America
Sub Region
Southwest and Basin
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Archaeologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle; 2007
Field Date
no date
Coverage Date
1000 BC-1255 AD
Coverage Place
K'yana Chabina and K'yawa:Na'a Deyatchinanne, Colorado Platerau, New Mexico, United States
Notes
Jonathan E. Damp, Stephen A. Hall, and Susan J. Smith
Includes bibliographical references (p.675-676)
LCCN
46036122
LCSH
Zuni Indians