Spatial and Temporal Limits of the Casas Grandes Tradition: A View from the Fronteras Valley

A new analysis of the Casas Grandes tradition, based on data from northeastern Sonora, challenges traditional narratives of its spatial and temporal limits. Unlike the widely accepted model of a dramatic collapse during the Medio period (AD 1200–1450/1500), this study reveals a pattern of cultural continuity in the Fronteras Valley, where sedentary farmers maintained occupation from the eleventh century through the colonial period. This suggests that immigrant groups introduced Casas Grandes traditions, which persisted unevenly across hinterland regions due to shared religious beliefs and practices. The findings offer an alternative scenario for understanding the resilience and adaptability of this tradition beyond its core area in northwest Chihuahua.

Carpenter, J. P., Sánchez, G., Cupa, E., Abrego-Rivas, A., López-Rivera, J. A., León-Romero, C. E., Krug, A. R., Davidson, J. T., Larrick, D., Lund, J. R., Cooley, D. S., & Pailes, M. C. (2022). Spatial and Temporal Limits of the Casas Grandes Tradition: A View from the Fronteras Valley. Latin American Antiquity, 34(2), 235–258. https://doi.org/10.1017/laq.2022.70