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Early Irrigation on the Colorado Plateau near Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Jonathan E. Damp ,
Stephen A. Hall  and
Susan J. Smith
Jonathan E. Damp
Affiliation:
Zuni Cultural Resource Enterprise, P.O. Box 1149, Zuni, NM 87327 (damp@nm.net)
Stephen A. Hall
Affiliation:
Red Rock Geological Enterprises, 17 Esquina Road, Santa Fe, NM 87508 (shall@mail.utexas.edu)
Susan J. Smith
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Paleoecology, Bilby Research Center, P.O. Box 6013, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-06013 (Susan.Smith@nau.edu)
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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 1,000 years ago. Associated features 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 agricultural landscape and the cultivation of maize.

Résumé

Résumé

La introducción del cultivo de maíz en el sudoeste de los Estados Unidos y en el altiplano de Colorado fue acompañada por técnicas de riego. El fechamiento de los canales de riego es establecido por 26 fechas de radiocarbono en dos sitios, K'yana Chabina y K'yawa:na'a Deyatchinanne, en el área del Pueblo de Zuni hace 3000 a 1000 años. La presencia adyacente de sitios de habitación y rasgos asociados confirman independientemente la cronología de construcción de canales. El examen de la geomorfología del paisaje de Zuni y la morfología de las canales indican la construcción por seres humanos. La evidencia de polen implica un paisaje agrícola y el cultivo de maíz.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 67 , Issue 4 , October 2002 , pp. 665 - 676
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2002

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