Pre-Hispanic occupance in the valley of Sonora, Mexico: archaeological confirmations of early Spanish reports

97 Pages·1988·11.083 MB·English

by  Doolittle, William Emery

ANTHROPOLOGICAL PAPERS OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
NUMBER 48
Pre-Hispanic Occupance in
the Valley of Sonora, Mexico
Archaeological Confirmation of
Early Spanish Reports
William E. Doolittle
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA PRESS
TUCSON
1988
About the Author
WILLIAM E. OOOLITILE, a geographer, has conducted
field work in northern Mexico, especially in Sonora, and in
Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. His principal interest is
cultural ecology, particularly the analysis of prehistoric and
traditional present-day agricultural ecosystems, land use pat
terns, and settlements. He obtained Bachelor's degrees in
government and geography from Texas Christian University
(1974), a Master's degree from the University of Missouri
Columbia (1976), and his Doctor of Philosophy degree from
the University of Oklahoma (1979). Although his graduate
degrees are in geography, he received extensive training in
anthropology. He was Assistant Professor of Geology and
Geography at Mississippi State University for two years
prior to moving to the University of Texas at Austin in 1981,
where he is an Associate Professor of Geography. He has
published papers on prehistoric and traditional agriculture
and agricultural development theory.
Cover: Aerial view of the Valley of Sonora near the town of Banamichi. The
hilltop feature at center, Cerro Batonapa, is a cerro de trinchera site, Son
K:4:220U. (Photo by Edwin J. Surman B.)
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA PRESS
Copyright © 1988
The Arizona Board of Regents
All Rights Reserved
This book was set in 10/12 Linotype CRTronic Times Roman
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Doolittle, William Emery.
Pre-Hispanic occupance in the valley of Sonora, Mexico:
archaeological confirmation of early Spanish reports
(Anthropological papers of the University of Arizona: no. 48)
Bibliography p.
Includes index.
I. Indians of Mexico--Sonora River Valley-Antiquities.
2. Indians of Mexico--Sonora River Valley-Agriculture. 3. Land
settlement patterns, Prehistoric-Mexico-Sonora River Valley.
4. Sonora River Valley (Mexico}-Antiquities. 5. Mexico
Antiquities. I. TItle. II. Series.
FI219.I.S65D66 1988 972' .I7-dc19 87-30040
ISBN 0-8165-1010-5 (alk. paper)
British Library Cataloguing in Publication data are available.
In Memory
of
John F. Bobb
William M. Comer
Ronald L. Doolittle
Douglas G. Morton
David A. Pearson
and the other mates whom I saw fall,
and all the others . . .
up against "The Wall."

Contents
PREFACE vii 4. AGRICULTURE 44
1. EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN NORTHERN MEXICO Crops 44
The Archaeological Evidence Cropping Practices 45
The Ethnohistorical Evidence 2 Agricultural Ecosystems 46
The Role of Occupance Research 4 Agricultural Intensity 50
2. PHYSICAL ENVIRONS 6 5. DEMOGRAPHY 52
The Serrana 6 Population Size 52
The Valley of Sonora 7 Settlement Approach 52
Topography and Drainage 7 Agricultural Approach 53
Climate 10 Population Growth 54
Ecological Zones 10 Population Distribution 55
Arroyos 14 6. OCCUPANCE INTERPRETATIONS 57
Paleoenvironment 14 Agricultural Change 57
Ecological Factors of Agriculture 17 Development of "Statelets" 58
Ecological Factors of Settlement 20 Conclusion 60
3. SETTLEMENTS 23 APPENDIX A. PREHISTORIC HABITATION SITES 63
Structures 23 APPENDIX B. PREHISTORIC AGRICULTURAL
SITES AND SPECIAL SITES 67
Special Sites and Structures 29
APPENDIX C. DISTRIBUTION OF HABITATION
Communities 34
SITES, AGRICULTURAL SITES, AND SPECIAL
Classification 36 SITES IN THE VALLEY OF SONORA, MEXICO 69
Chronology 36 REFERENCES 75
Hierarchies 38 INDEX 85
Settlement Patterns 40 ABSTRACT 88
FIGURES
2.1. The serrana and the Valley of Sonora 6 2.6. Ecological zones 11
2.2. Topography of the Valley of Sonora 8 2.7. Profile of a Haplargid bajada soil 16
2.3. Aerial view of the Valley of Sonora 8 2.8. Floodplain irrigation 18
2.4. A shallow, hand-dug well used to obtain 2.9. Living fencerow 18
drinking water from an arroyo 9 2.10. Temporales fields 19
2.5. Dry season sources of water 9 2.11. A temporal diversion weir and canal 20
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vi Contents
2.12. Typical pre-Hispanic settlement location 21 3.23. Site Son K:4:22 au 35
2.13. Site Son K:8:34 au 21 3.24. Distribution of cerros de trincheras in the
Valley of Sonora 35
2.14. Slopes unsuitable for the placement of
permanent settlements 22 3.25. Site Son K:4: 105 au 35
3.1. Pre-Hispanic surface structure foundation 24 3.26. Comparative regional chronology 37
3.2. Site Son K:4:94 au 24 3.27. Pit-and-groove petroglyphs 37
3.3. Deteriorated adobe surface structure 25 3.28. A one-hand Cochise-type metate 37
3.4. Schematic of a typical surface structure 25 3.29. Early phase settlement sizes 38
3.5. Rectangular triple rows of rocks that are 3.30. Sites Son K:4:32 au and Son K:4: 110 au 38
typical surface evidence of probable
3.31. Late phase settlement sizes 39
multiple-story structures 26
3.32. Sites Son K:4:20 au and Son K:4: 120 au 39
3.6. Surface depression indicative of a
house-in-pit 27 3.33. Site Son G: 16:27 au 40
3.7. Site Son K:4:49 au 27 3.34. Distribution of early phase settlements in the
Valley of Sonora 40
3.8. Rock ring indicative of a house-in-pit 28
3.35. Distribution of late phase settlements in the
3.9. Site Son K:4: 130 au 28
Valley of Sonora 41
3.10. Schematic of a typical house-in-pit 28
4.1. Glyph map depicting a portion of a pre-Hispanic
3.11. Rock mound that may have served as a canal irrigation system in the Valley
house platform 29 of Sonora 46
3.12. Sites Son K:4:24 au and Son K:4:72 au 30 4.2. Comparison of the glyph map with a map of
the actual floodplain and irrigation systems
3.13. Mounded rubble forming one side of a
possible ballcourt (Son K:4:24 aU) 30 made from aerial photographs 47
4.3. Diversion weir for floodplain irrigation 47
3.14. Schematic of possible ball courts 30
4.4. Remnant channel-bottom weir terrace 48
3.15. Site Son K:4: 16 au 31
4.5. A series of channel-bottom weir terraces 49
3.16. Surface remains of a pre-Hispanic enclosure
(Son K:4: 16 aU) 31 5.1. Population growth 55
3.17. Site Son K:4: 127 au 31 6.1. Stepwise development of agriculture 58
c.!.
3.18. Schematic of pre-Hispanic enclosures 31 Sites near the present-day pueblo
of Banamichi 70
3.19. Possible pre-Hispanic signal site 32
C.2. Sites near the present-day pueblo of Huepac 71
3.20. Distribution of possible signal sites in the
Valley of Sonora 32 C.3. Sites near the present-day pueblo of Aconchi 72
3.21. Enclosure walls of a cerro de trinchera, C.4. Sites near the present-day pueblo
Cerro Batonapa 33 of Baviacora 73
3.22. Aerial view of Cerro Batonapa C.5. Sites near the present-day congregacion
(Son K:4:22 aU) 34 of La Cap ilia 74
TABLES
2.1. Common plants of major 4.1. Index of agricultural technology 50
economic value by
ecological zone 12 5.1. Population distribution 56
2.2. Profile of a Haplargid bajada soil 16 5.2. Land support units per household 56
Preface
We remain a part of the organic world, and as we inter gathered as part of the Rio Sonora Project. Many, however,
vene more and more decisively to change the balance have been obtained since the termination of that project.
and nature of life, we have also more need to know, by
Grants from the University Research Institute, The Univer
retrospective study, the responsibilities and hazards of
sity of Texas at Austin, facilitated collection and analyses of
our present and our prospects as lords of creation (Sauer
1969: 104). these data, as well as manuscript typing. Archaeological and
ethnohistorical data on agriculture are in some respects in
The Valley of Sonora is a region in which Carl Ortwin Sauer complete. Accordingly, ethnographic parallels based on pres
(1889-1975) and his students from Berkeley conducted a ent-day traditional agricultural practices in eastern Sonora
great deal of work over fifty years ago. With this study, my are used as analogs where necessary. This information was
intent was not to replicate the endeavors of my predecessors collected in 1980, 1981, and 1982 as parts of projects funded
but rather, with the benefit of five decades worth of addi by the Vice-President for Graduate Studies and Research and
tional materials, ideas, and methods, and the perspective the Biological and Physical Sciences Institute, both of Mis
that time offered, to reinvestigate items they studied previ sissippi State University; by the Andrew W Mellon Founda
ously. James J. Parsons, a prominent member of the Berke tion in conjunction with the Institute of Latin American
ley School, partially justified such action when he said: "It Studies of Tulane University; and by the National Science
pays to keep going back to an area, a people ... significant Foundation (SES-8200546).
phenomena or relationships continue to present themselves" Certain materials included here have been published else
(Parsons 1977: 14). I went to the Valley of Sonora, in part at where. For the right to republish I thank the Association of
least, to take another look for Mr. Sauer. American Geographers; the American Geographical Society;
The research on which this work originated was part of a Academic Press, Inc.; the Journal of Field Archaeology; and
National Science Foundation funded project entitled Eco the Trustees of Boston University.
nomic Networks: Mesoamerica and the American Southwest
(BNS 76-16818). The co-directors were Richard A. Pailes, Acknowledgments
Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, and
Beatriz Braniff C., then of the Instituto Nacional de Antro My work could not have been completed without the help of
pologia e Historia, Hermosillo, Sonora. The Rio Sonora numerous people. I am indebted, above all others, to B. L.
Project, as it is familiarly called, conducted archaeological Turner II for his supervision and to Richard A. Pailes for pro
surveys and excavations throughout eastern Sonora and espe viding the initial opportunity to carry out field work.
cially in the middle portion of the Rio Sonora Valley, the Val In Mexico my res",arch was facilitated through the help of
ley of Sonora. As the principal surveyor for this project dur personnel at the Centro Regional del Noroeste, Instituto Na
ing the summers of 1977 and 1978, I had the opportunity to cional de Antropologia e Historia, Hermosillo, Sonora, espe
examine in detail every mesa or terrace overlooking the cially Beatriz Braniff c., her husband and then director of
floodplain and most of the similar locales overlooking the the institute, Arturo Oliveras M., and current director
large arroyos in the Valley of Sonora. Numerous prehistoric Cynthia Radding de Murrieta. Guillermo Salas, former Pro
settlements were found. The field crew took notes, made a fesor de Geologia, Universidad de Sonora, and Edwin J. Sur
systematic surface collection of cultural materials, including man B., IFEX Internacional, S.A., Hermosillo, Sonora, pro
c~ramics and lithics, and drew a sketch map noting the loca vided geological maps and aerial photographs, respectively.
tion, size, and composition of the structures of each site. Ricardo and Jesus Loera and Francisco Herrera Romo of
Archaeological data collected during this survey constitute Baviacora provided local aid and support. Alfonso A. Daco,
the basis for this research. Numerous excavations by other Jefe de Exploracion, Cia. Minerales Sotula, S.A. de C. V.
members of the project provided essential information con (Campbell-Resources, Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada) of
cerning the identification and dating of relic features. Huepac, Sonora, helped with the geological assessment and
Although this work is based principally on archaeological was instrumental in locating many archaeological sites. I
data and ethnohistorical evidence, ethnographic analogs are thank all these people for both their courteous assistance and
also incorporated. Some of the ethnohistorical data were their friendship.
[vii]
Vlll Preface
Many people in this country also gave essential sugges I thank all the members of the Rio Sonora Project: botan
tions, assistance, and services during the completion of this ists James Vaughn and Suzy Gerlach; palynologist Adrianne
project. Campbell W. Pennington and Carroll L. Riley pro G. Rankin; and archaeologists Daniel T. Reff, Richard
vided cultural information about northwestern Mexico that Crump, Kent Buehler, Robert Nespor, Jeanne Simonelli,
only they possess. J. Charles Kelley and the late Donald D. Jeanne Vaughn, Pat Hardin, Stephen Gugler, Richard Wil
Brand offered suggestions about conducting archaeological son, Marsha Smith, Kathleen Roy, Victoria Dirst, Craig
surveys that proved to be most beneficial. Charles W. Polzer Gerlach, Charles Pyle, Monte Tidwell, Merle Hunsaker,
S. J. provided information about and assistance in the collec and Ruth Hunsaker. Linda Turner helped my wife and chil
tion of ethnohistorical data from the early Spanish era. Wood dren while I was in Mexico during the second field season.
row Borah and Gary Paul Nabhan shared insight on evalu Appreciation is expressed to my colleague and friend, Robert
ating the accuracy of Spanish records for reconstructing C. Balling, Jr., whose competitive spirit is always an inspira
demographics and traditional arid land agricultural ecosys tion, and to Paul W. English for his support and encour
tems, respectively. Frederick M. Wiseman offered sugges agement.
tions concerning ecological analysis. Thomas L. Bell and A number of individuals also contributed to the successful
Carole L. Crumley commented about the applicability of completion of this monograph by reading parts of various
spatial models to prehistoric settlement data. Karl W. Butzer drafts. Edward J. Malecki, James M. Goodman, William C.
offered cogent comments concerning the ecological basis for Johnson, Terry G. Jordan, James A. Neely, Richard E. W.
cultural development. T. H. Lee Williams provided assist Adams, Jack D. Elliott, Jr., and John O'Hear offered com
ance with remote sensing techniques. Thomas J. Wilbanks, ments on earlier drafts, and Carol A. Gifford edited the final
James R. Bohland, Stephen I. Thompson, and Beverly manuscript. I especially thank the Univeristy of Arizona
Beaty-Benadom provided valuable administrative aid that I Press, directed by Stephen F. Cox, for the fine production of
greatly appreciate. Johnnie Gentry supplied a plant press for this volume and for making this material available in mono
field use. Guy R. Muto and Lois E. Sanders provided soil graph form.
testing equipment. Clement W. Meighan and P. I. Vander Finally, I extend special gratitude to my parents and sister,
hoeven of the Obsidian Hydration Laboratory, Department Karen, for providing moral and financial support in times of
of Anthropology, University of California at Los Angeles need, and to my wife Diane, and sons William, David, and
provided obsidian hydration analyses. B. L. Turner of the John Galen for their love, patience, and sacrifices.
Plant Resources Center, The University of Texas at Austin,
identified some plant samples, and R. C. Koeppen, Center William E. Doolittle
for Wood Anatomy Research, Forest Products Laboratory,
Madison, Wisconsin, identified wood samples.
CHAPTER ONE
Early Settlements in Northern Mexico
The prehistory of nearly all of northern Mexico remains region was small and its culture rather simple (Johnson 1966:
poorly understood; it is the "terra incognita" between the 35). Recorded architecture was of limited variety and the
American Southwest and central Mexico (Sauer 1954: 554; settlements themselves were few, small, and showed no evi
Doyel 1979: 554). To a large extent the quantity and the qual dence of planning or design. Occupation was interpreted
ity of data collected to date are to blame for the problem. as dating late in pre-Hispanic times, because adobe sur
Basically, two kinds of data exist-archaeological and ethno face structures similar to pueblos dating to late periods in
historical. Although both kinds are extremely sparse and other parts of the Southwest were the principal structures
often contain numerous inconsistencies and discrepancies, discovered.
the single greatest problem is that they are often contra Perhaps the most graphic account of archaeological condi
dictory. tions came from Amsden (1928: 38, 39), who noted: "On a
broad level mesa . . . , where I expected from the appear
THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
ance of it to find a large site, there were a few scattered
Northern Mexico has long been perceived by archaeolo sherds, but I could locate no traces of houses." He went on
gists as a region inhabited during pre-Hispanic times by to say: "In the valley again, we soon passed an 'island' stand
small groups of "barbarians" (Di Peso 1979: 152-161). ing on the edge of the stream, upon which I rode to look for
Known collectively as the Chichimecs (Riley and Hedrick a ruin, but was disappointed. Farther upstream I climbed to
1978), these people are commonly thought to have been the top of a mesita and was again disappointed." Ekholm
dominated by the more advanced Casas Grandes culture in (1939: 8) echoed similar sentiments in saying: "sites are
the present-day state of Chihuahua (Di Peso 1974). This rather rare and difficult to find."
generalization is probably the result of disparities in the dis When encountered, settlements were often identified as lit
tribution and intensity of archaeological investigations to tle more than a scattering of houses "not placed in any very
date. Without doubt, the intensive excavations and surveys definite order," according to Amsden (1928: 47). Bandelier
by Di Peso at Casas Grandes constitute the most comprehen (1892: 487) noted that "villages" were comprised of houses
sive research carried out in the expansive Gran Chichimeca. "irregularly scattered" and "not connected together." Sauer
With the exception of one study recently complet~d in Rio and Brand (1931) stated in one place that the people of So
San Miguel Valley immediately west of the Valley of Sonora nora "did not have impressive individual towns ... , their
(Braniff C. 1984, 1985), archaeological research in eastern agricultural villages, here closely clustered, there sparsely
Sonora has consisted mainly of extensive regional surveys. strewn" (p. 72); in another citation, that "there were scat
Reconnaissance trips by Bandelier (1890, 1892), Lumholtz tered ruins of single houses or small clusters" (p. 102); and
(1902), Amsden (1928), Sauer and Brand (1931), Ekholm in yet another, that "in general they are irregular assemblages
(1939), Sauer and Haury (1946; West 1979: 124), Lehmer of small house clusters" (p. 114).
(1949), Noguera (1958), and Wasley (1967) were directed to Most frequently, houses were identified "by the rectangu
the discovery of large or special types of sites (for example, lar outlines of 'foundation' stones, called cimientos by the
early man and cerros de trincheras). Employing state of the Mexicans. Invariably the rooms were rectangular or square"
science methods during those days of limited funds and (Sauer and Brand 1931: 114; see also Ekholm 1939: 8). Ac
harsh travel conditions, these people surveyed several cording to Amsden (1928: 47): "rooms are always rectangu
kilometers each day with relatively few arbitrarily chosen lar, eight by ten or ten by twelve feet in size," and "mounds
locales selected for investigation. Indeed, Donald D. Brand of adobe. . . indicate that the use of that material for house
once recalled that the locations of many sites recorded during building was practiced." Bandelier (1892: 487) argued that
his and Sauer's three day journey in the Valley of Sonora cor the rock alignments visible on the surface were the founda
relate with places where the model-T Ford they were using tions of wattle and daub, jacal, or reed mat houses. However,
broke down. he provided no physical evidence to support that interpreta
The settlement data collected during such endeavors have tion. Sauer and Brand (1931: 114--115) felt that in some cases
led most archaeologists to believe that the population of the semi subterranean structures, known generically today as pit
[I]