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<p>While the archaeological record of the Wupatki—Anaasází bikin region of northern Arizona by the Northern Sinagua people during the 9th to fourteenth centuries is becoming clearer, little is known about the palaeoecological context of the landscape in which they settled and thrived. To investigate, we analysed pollen and charcoal assemblages from dated sediments of two small basins—North Box Canyon and Hulls Canyon—to study vegetation change over the last 3,500–4,500&#xa0;years. Our palaeoenvironmental record suggests the area has remained a relatively open landscape during the Late Holocene. <i>Pinus</i> (pine) pollen dominated prior to ~1,700–1,500&#xa0;years ago (250–450 <span>ce</span>), but with little evidence that pine trees were present locally in a mixed grassland / desert scrubland. <i>Atriplex</i> (saltbush) and <i>Juniperus</i> (juniper) subsequently increased forming a saltbush/sagebrush scrubland, which largely persisted to historical times. A minimum of pine with a maximum of saltbush occurred during Sinagua occupation times (~700–1390 <span>ce</span>), but interpretation is complicated by a major local eruption of nearby Sunset Crater at ~1085 <span>ce</span>. Although the Sinagua were an agricultural society, no pollen of cultivars was recovered. Charcoal recovery was low for Sinagua-age sediments, but may reflect frequent burning, as recorded in other sites. Along with little evidence of the sites being wetlands, we conclude that the North Box Canyon and Hulls Canyon sites were not intensively utilized within the Sinagua periphery. The historic period witnesses increased juniper and development of woodland, also noted in repeat photography of the area.</p>

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Late Holocene palaeoenvironments within northern Arizona’s Wupatki - Anaasází bikin region, in relation to northern Sinagua occupation

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月2日

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  • R. Scott Anderson,
  • Damara Kautz Strong,
  • Paul Whitefield

摘要

While the archaeological record of the Wupatki—Anaasází bikin region of northern Arizona by the Northern Sinagua people during the 9th to fourteenth centuries is becoming clearer, little is known about the palaeoecological context of the landscape in which they settled and thrived. To investigate, we analysed pollen and charcoal assemblages from dated sediments of two small basins—North Box Canyon and Hulls Canyon—to study vegetation change over the last 3,500–4,500 years. Our palaeoenvironmental record suggests the area has remained a relatively open landscape during the Late Holocene. Pinus (pine) pollen dominated prior to ~1,700–1,500 years ago (250–450 ce), but with little evidence that pine trees were present locally in a mixed grassland / desert scrubland. Atriplex (saltbush) and Juniperus (juniper) subsequently increased forming a saltbush/sagebrush scrubland, which largely persisted to historical times. A minimum of pine with a maximum of saltbush occurred during Sinagua occupation times (~700–1390 ce), but interpretation is complicated by a major local eruption of nearby Sunset Crater at ~1085 ce. Although the Sinagua were an agricultural society, no pollen of cultivars was recovered. Charcoal recovery was low for Sinagua-age sediments, but may reflect frequent burning, as recorded in other sites. Along with little evidence of the sites being wetlands, we conclude that the North Box Canyon and Hulls Canyon sites were not intensively utilized within the Sinagua periphery. The historic period witnesses increased juniper and development of woodland, also noted in repeat photography of the area.