ASM Occasional Electronic Papers No. 1: Homol'ovi IV

Chapter Twelve:
Charred Plant Remains, cont.

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Middens

All the structures, plus the plaza, overlay layers of midden or general trash deposited during the occupation of Homol'ovi IV. Samples from four separate midden strata in the Plaza give a good view of regularly discarded plant parts (Table 12.2). The stratum 4 sample labeled "trashy fill" preserved a wide variety of reproductive parts, including resources representing early (Descurainia, Stipa) and later portions of the growing season. The charcoal types were equally diverse, representing local mesic habitats (Forestiera, Populus/Salix), and long distance transport (Pseudotsuga, Juglans, Acer). The other strata preserved fewer taxa. A final sample from fill between the floor of structure 201 and Plaza surface 4 preserved only evidence of fuel use.

The Plaza

Plant remains were examined from four separate Plaza features that were likely areas where fires were built. A circular, slab feature retained no reproductive parts, but did preserve a diverse record of charcoal types of local and possibly distant (Pseudotsuga) habitats. One roasting/fire pit gave no clue to any preparation of plants there, and only preserved Populus/Salix charcoal. A second roasting pit contained maize cob parts and Populus/Salix charcoal, both likely fuels, along with grass stem fragments. The only possible food materials preserved there were two charred Stipa grains. Finally, another possible raosting pit contained maize cob parts, a few burned kernel fragments, and five different kinds of charred wood. The general record of thermal features in the Plaza suggests fires to keep warm or for light, rather than places where food was routinely processed.

One last location within the Plaza was quite unique, in that it contained a massive deposit of reconstructible vessels and numerous ritual-like objects. A single flotation sample preserved the only Cucurbita evidence reported here, and a small number of charred maize kernels. The fuel record included maize cob parts, grass stems, and six charcoal types. Other than possible processing of domesticated foods, the plant record sheds little light into the activities in this particular specialized area of Homol'ovi IV.

Discussion

The record of domesticates in Homol'ovi IV deposits slightly alters a recent archaeobotanical summary for the region. Limited recovery of Cucurbita and Gossypium remains now places these resources in the area prior to A.D. 1280, as previously reported (Adams 1996). The wild plant record at Homol'ovi IV is generally similar to that of a contemporary site (J:14:36) in the area, though the Homol'ovi IV record emphasizes use of bugseeds, along with other frequently recovered resources such as a variety of grass grains, cheno-am seeds, winged pigweed seeds and purslane seeds. Regarding fuelwood use, the same wide diversity of types occurred in Homol'ovi IV as in another well-sampled late Pueblo III site (J:14:36) from this area (Adams 1996). The Homol'ovi IV study documented use of Rhus and Pseudotsuga somewhat earlier than previously known (Adams 1996), and added Acer and Monocotyledon tissue to the list of charcoal types recovered. The wood types represent local upland environments, riparian habitats, and long-distance transport of upper elevation species as driftwood (Adams 1996).

Seasonality expressed by plant remains suggests people occupied the Homol'ovi IV community minimally from late spring through the fall harvest and processing of agricultural products. Likely they were in the area in early spring to prepare fields for planting, and then to harvest such cool season resources as ricegrass and tansy mustard. Most of the wild resources recovered mature during summer and fall, when crops would also need attention.

The common presence of weedy plant taxa (bugseed, cheno-ams, winged pigweed, purslane) suggests the occupants of Homol'ovi IV routinely had access to disturbed land. Agricultural fields and frequently used pathways, along with smaller side-canyon drainages, would provide such habitat. The presence of large numbers of people would increase the amount of available disturbed land. The environment surrounding Homolo'vi IV was apparently heavily used, though perennials such as ricegrass and broad-leaf yucca were still available.

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