Searching for Sustainability: Ancient Impacts and Resource Management in the Southwest
Native people in the US Southwest have been able to thrive under challenging conditions for millennia thanks to flexible ways of farming and foraging well suited to this environment. The archaeological record is filled with interesting examples of how people changed the landscapes around their villages. Karen Schollmeyer offers archaeological examples from Arizona and New Mexico that illustrate how ancient ways of managing resources were sustainable or unsustainable at different scales, and how people successfully dealt with a range of environmental challenges in the past.
Every End Is a New Beginning: Migration, Culture Change, and “Abandonment” in the Southwest
Moving residences from one place to another was an important strategy that let people thrive in the ancient Southwest. The archaeological record has many interesting examples of people moving: short distances for seasonal activities, longer distances to respond to changing needs and changing environments, and sometimes long distance migrations to new residences far from home. Karen Schollmeyer shares archaeological case studies from Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico that illuminate some of the many ways ancient people used movement as a strategy to adapt to changing conditions.
The Archaeology of Animals in the US Southwest
How did ancient people in the Southwest use animals? Archaeological studies of animal bones tell us more than just what people ate. They also show how people in the past managed their impacts on resources and landscapes, patterns that have implications for managing wild animal populations today. Where and how animal bones were disposed of and how people depicted animals on pottery and other items provide insights into how people used animals, and even how people thought about other species centuries ago. Zooarchaeologist Karen Schollmeyer explains.