Water uncertainty, ritual predictability and agricultural canals at Chaco Canyon, New Mexico

Vernon L. Scarborough; Samantha G. Fladd; Nicholas P. Dunning; Stephen Plog; Lewis A. Owen; Christopher Carr; Kenneth B. Tankersley; Jon Paul McCool; Adam S. Watson; Elizabeth A. Haussner; Brooke Crowley; Katelyn J. Bishop; David L. Lentz; R. Gwinn Vivian

doi:10.15184/aqy.2018.114

Water uncertainty, ritual predictability and agricultural canals at Chaco Canyon, New Mexico

Vernon L. Scarborough, Samantha G. Fladd, Nicholas P. Dunning, Stephen Plog, Lewis A. Owen, Christopher Carr, Kenneth B. Tankersley, Jon Paul McCool, Adam S. Watson, Elizabeth A. Haussner, Brooke Crowley, Katelyn J. Bishop, David L. Lentz, R. Gwinn Vivian

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The Pueblo population of Chaco Canyon during the Bonito Phase (AD 800-1130) employed agricultural strategies and water-management systems to enhance food cultivation in this unpredictable environment. Scepticism concerning the timing and effectiveness of this system, however, remains common. Using optically stimulated luminescence dating of sediments and LiDAR imaging, the authors located Bonito Phase canal features at the far west end of the canyon. Additional ED-XRF and strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) analyses confirm the diversion of waters from multiple sources during Chaco's occupation. The extent of this water-management system raises new questions about social organisation and the role of ritual in facilitating responses to environmental unpredictability.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	870-889
Number of pages	20
Journal	Antiquity
Volume	92
Issue number	364
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2018.114
State	Published - Aug 1 2018
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

87Sr/86Sr
Bonito Phase
Chaco Canyon
EDXRF
LiDAR
OSL dating
Water management

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Archaeology
General Arts and Humanities

Online availability

10.15184/aqy.2018.114

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Scarborough, V. L., Fladd, S. G., Dunning, N. P., Plog, S., Owen, L. A., Carr, C., Tankersley, K. B., McCool, J. P., Watson, A. S., Haussner, E. A., Crowley, B., Bishop, K. J., Lentz, D. L., & Vivian, R. G. (2018). Water uncertainty, ritual predictability and agricultural canals at Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. Antiquity, 92(364), 870-889. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2018.114

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abstract = "The Pueblo population of Chaco Canyon during the Bonito Phase (AD 800-1130) employed agricultural strategies and water-management systems to enhance food cultivation in this unpredictable environment. Scepticism concerning the timing and effectiveness of this system, however, remains common. Using optically stimulated luminescence dating of sediments and LiDAR imaging, the authors located Bonito Phase canal features at the far west end of the canyon. Additional ED-XRF and strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) analyses confirm the diversion of waters from multiple sources during Chaco's occupation. The extent of this water-management system raises new questions about social organisation and the role of ritual in facilitating responses to environmental unpredictability.",

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author = "Scarborough, {Vernon L.} and Fladd, {Samantha G.} and Dunning, {Nicholas P.} and Stephen Plog and Owen, {Lewis A.} and Christopher Carr and Tankersley, {Kenneth B.} and McCool, {Jon Paul} and Watson, {Adam S.} and Haussner, {Elizabeth A.} and Brooke Crowley and Bishop, {Katelyn J.} and Lentz, {David L.} and Vivian, {R. Gwinn}",

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doi = "10.15184/aqy.2018.114",

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AU - Scarborough, Vernon L.

AU - Fladd, Samantha G.

AU - Dunning, Nicholas P.

AU - Plog, Stephen

AU - Owen, Lewis A.

AU - Carr, Christopher

AU - Tankersley, Kenneth B.

AU - McCool, Jon Paul

AU - Watson, Adam S.

AU - Haussner, Elizabeth A.

AU - Crowley, Brooke

AU - Bishop, Katelyn J.

AU - Lentz, David L.

AU - Vivian, R. Gwinn

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Antiquity Publications Ltd, 2018.

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Y1 - 2018/8/1

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AB - The Pueblo population of Chaco Canyon during the Bonito Phase (AD 800-1130) employed agricultural strategies and water-management systems to enhance food cultivation in this unpredictable environment. Scepticism concerning the timing and effectiveness of this system, however, remains common. Using optically stimulated luminescence dating of sediments and LiDAR imaging, the authors located Bonito Phase canal features at the far west end of the canyon. Additional ED-XRF and strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) analyses confirm the diversion of waters from multiple sources during Chaco's occupation. The extent of this water-management system raises new questions about social organisation and the role of ritual in facilitating responses to environmental unpredictability.

KW - 87Sr/86Sr

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KW - EDXRF

KW - LiDAR

KW - OSL dating

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Water uncertainty, ritual predictability and agricultural canals at Chaco Canyon, New Mexico

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