Archaeological Zone of Paquimé, Casas Grandes

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Archaeological Zone of Paquimé, Casas Grandes from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• 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.

  Mathiowetz, M. D. (2025). The Keepers of Tradition: Clown Societies in the Casas Grandes and Puebloan Worlds. Kiva, 91(2), 147–179. https://doi.org/10.1080/00231940.2025.2461803

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• 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.

  Snow, M., Searcy, M. T., Summers, R., Blohm, T., Hazelwood, L., McDonald, H., Jensen, S. J., & Punzo-Díaz, J. L. (2025). A reanalysis of population dynamics in the Casas Grandes region of Northern Mexico using mitochondrial DNA. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(38). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2506162122

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• 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.

  Thibodeau, A. M., Kurota, A., Kale, A., & Maxwell, T. D. (2025). Isotopic Evidence Linking the Southern Jornada Mogollon to Turquoise Mines in the Orogrande Mining District, Jarilla Mountains, Otero County, New Mexico. Kiva, 91(4), 482–501. https://doi.org/10.1080/00231940.2025.2594251

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• 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.

  Waller, K. D. (2025). Bioarchaeology of the Casas Grandes Region, Chihuahua, Mexico. Bioarchaeology of the Southwest, 178–202. https://doi.org/10.5744/florida/9781683405160.003.0007

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• 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.

  Sedig, J., Snow, M., Searcy, M., Punzo Diaz, J. L., LeBlanc, S., Ramos, F., Eccles, L., & Reich, D. (2024). High levels of consanguinity in a child from Paquimé, Chihuahua, Mexico. Antiquity, 98(400), 1023–1039. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2024.94

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• 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.

  Douglas, J. E., & Brown, L. J. (2023). Reevaluating the Suma Occupation in the Casas Grandes Valley, Chihuahua, Mexico. American Antiquity, 88(2), 125–143. https://doi.org/10.1017/aaq.2022.105

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• 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

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