Thesis
Sourcing nonlocal bighorn sheep using strontium isotope analysis, Homol'ovi Settlement Cluster, northeast Arizona
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2019
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102451
Abstract
Archaeological bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) have been recovered in high frequencies from the Homol’ovi Settlement Cluster (HSC), northeast Arizona. This is salient because these animals are non-endemic to the Middle Little Colorado River Valley, with the nearest source being the Grand Canyon approximately 160 km away. This study uses strontium isotope analysis to source bighorn sheep recovered from the HSC to four potential source locations where bighorn sheep have been historically documented in the region: the Grand Canyon, San Francisco Peaks, White Mountains, and Black Mesa. When HSC bighorn samples are compared to baseline ranges calculated for each of the areas, patterns emerge. More specifically, results of the strontium isotope analysis rule out the San Francisco Peaks and White Mountains. Bighorn may have been procured from Black Mesa, Grand Canyon, or could represent an extirpated population local to the HSC area. After the isotopic results are contextualized within existing cultural data, the most likely location of procurement is Black Mesa, north of the HSC. I argue that the long-distance procurement of bighorn from this area represents a desire to maintain social connections with the Hopi Mesas, where the founders of the HSC originated.
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Details
- Title
- Sourcing nonlocal bighorn sheep using strontium isotope analysis, Homol'ovi Settlement Cluster, northeast Arizona
- Creators
- Kimberly A. Sheets
- Contributors
- Andrew I. Duff (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Anthropology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525197901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis