Publications
A reanalysis of population dynamics in the Casas Grandes region of Northern Mexico using mitochondrial DNA
A reanalysis of mitochondrial DNA from 114 individuals interred at Casas Grandes sites reveals that low levels of migration occurred diachronically, challenging the long-standing assumption that large-scale population replacement drove the rise of Paquimé in the 13th century A.D. While these findings suggest limited widescale migration, they may still explain hybridized cultural practices observed in the region. The study compares full mitogenomes from earlier (A.D. 700-1200) and later (A.D. 1200-1450) time periods to test migration hypotheses, providing new insights into population dynamics in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bioarchaeology of the Casas Grandes Region, Chihuahua, Mexico
Research on the Archaeological Zone of Paquimé, Casas Grandes, reveals significant gene flow and political interactions between Paquimé and neighboring Mimbres and West Mexican populations. Analysis of paleodemographics, biodistance, isotopes, and genomics indicates that while Paquimé absorbed local groups, high-status individuals were predominantly born within the region, with immigrants rarely achieving elite status. The study also identifies ritual violence and human sacrifice as part of public ceremonies, likely performed by elites to assert political power. Inhabitants experienced physiological stress and were smaller than their Southwestern counterparts, with mortuary practices reflecting social stratification and health disparities.
Isotopic Evidence Linking the Southern Jornada Mogollon to Turquoise Mines in the Orogrande Mining District, Jarilla Mountains, Otero County, New Mexico
A groundbreaking isotopic analysis reveals that turquoise artifacts from the Southern Jornada Mogollon region, particularly those linked to Doña Ana and El Paso-phase sites near New Mexico's Jarilla Mountains, overwhelmingly originate from the Orogrande mining district. This finding confirms that precontact miners sourced turquoise exclusively from this region, the only significant source in the area. Modern geological samples from Orogrande exhibit isotope signatures that align with prehistoric materials, solidifying their provenance. Additionally, evidence suggests that turquoise from this region circulated beyond the Jornada Mogollon territory, notably reaching the Mimbres region. The study underscores the importance of future research to trace turquoise distribution and exchange across broader Mogollon regions, including the Casas Grandes area.
The Keepers of Tradition: Clown Societies in the Casas Grandes and Puebloan Worlds
Clown societies among the Casas Grandes culture, centered in Chihuahua, Mexico, played a significant role during the Medio Period (AD 1200–1450), with potential influence on the development of Puebloan clown societies. These clowns, often seen as avatars of Sun Youth, were integral to governance, katsina ritualism, medicine societies, and the agricultural cycle. The study combines archaeological, ethnohistorical, and ethnological data from the U.S. Southwest and northwest Mexico to uncover their complex roles and societal significance.
High levels of consanguinity in a child from Paquimé, Chihuahua, Mexico
A child burial at Paquimé, Chihuahua, Mexico—a multicultural center from the 13th–14th centuries AD—reveals high levels of consanguinity between parents, suggesting elite social practices. Ancient DNA analysis of Burial 23-8, placed under a central post in an important room, indicates that this child's genetic relationship with its parents was likely due to close relatives, reinforcing the role of aggrandizement among Paquimé’s ruling class. The study sheds light on the social dynamics of this pivotal archaeological site, bridging Mesoamerican and Ancestral Puebloan influences.
Reevaluating the Suma Occupation in the Casas Grandes Valley, Chihuahua, Mexico
A reevaluation of the Suma occupation in the Casas Grandes Valley challenges long-standing assumptions about their relationship to the ancient Paquimé civilization. Contrary to previous interpretations, evidence suggests the Suma were likely long-term residents with cultural ties to Paquimé, organized into horticulture villages and exhibiting sophisticated practices. This conclusion emerges from a dual approach: contextualizing historical accounts within contemporary frameworks and comparing material culture data from the 1958–1961 Joint Casas Grandes Expedition. The study not only critiques earlier narratives about Suma origins but also broadens the understanding of Native American responses to colonial settings, offering new insights into the resilience and continuity of indigenous societies in the face of significant cultural shifts.
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.
Diet and Dietary Variation at Prehistoric Casas Grandes, Mexico
A study of stable isotopes from collagen and tooth enamel at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Paquimé, Casas Grandes, Mexico, reveals that while diets were generally consistent across social groups during the Medio period (1200-1450 CE), significant variations existed in water use practices and early-life nutrition. The research found no isotopic differences between local and non-local individuals, cultural periods, age categories, or sex, but detected distinct stable hydrogen isotope values between the Viejo and Medio periods, likely due to changes in irrigation. Additionally, dietary shifts during infancy and early childhood were identified through carbon isotope ratios from teeth. Notably, while high-status burials did not show isotopic differences, specific burial units linked to ritual activities exhibited variations, suggesting nuanced dietary practices tied to social and ceremonial contexts.
First Full Vector Archeomagnetic Data From Northern Mexico
Archeomagnetic data from nine pottery kilns at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Paquimé, Casas Grandes, provide the first full vector determinations for Northern Mexico. This study challenges the existing Mexican secular variation curve by showing that geomagnetic field behavior in this region aligns more closely with the Western North American curve and the global SHAWQ2k model. The findings suggest that the previously modeled peak in inclination around 1200–1300 CE does not occur, offering new insights into regional geomagnetic history. Researchers used rock magnetic experiments to identify a Ti-poor titanomagnetite phase and applied alternating field/thermal demagnetization and the Thellier-Thellier protocol to estimate characteristic directions and archeointensities, correcting for anisotropy and cooling effects.
Recent Research in the Sahuaripa Region of Sonora, Mexico
Recent research in the Sahuaripa and Bacanora valleys of Sonora, Mexico, reveals significant demographic growth post-1000 AD, contrasting with other regions in Northwest/Southwest (NW/SW) Mexico. Radiocarbon dating supports this finding, indicating substantial population increases during a period marked by notable demographic shifts elsewhere. Material culture analysis, including polychrome ceramics and obsidian artifacts, demonstrates extensive local and regional connections, particularly with neighboring Río Sonora groups and Huatabampo. These artifacts also suggest long-distance trade networks linking the Sahuaripa Valley to Casas Grandes and potentially West Mexico, implying a corridor of exchange that influenced macro-scale interaction patterns in late-precolonial NW/SW Mexico. The study integrates radiocarbon dating, material culture analysis, and spatial data to reconstruct demographic trends and interaction networks.
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