Abstract
Ecological aspects of colonialism and the Columbian Exchange impacted societies and landscapes across the Americas. Livestock, in particular, had the capacity to transform local ecology and economies. This article explores colonial resource use related to introduced livestock in the Pimería Alta, the northernmost part of what is today Sonora and southern Arizona. This paper examines oxygen and carbon isotope ratios from archaeological caprine and cattle tooth enamel using bulk and serial sampling. We compare these results to precipitation and local water samples and find evidence that animals consumed evaporated, stored water. These results are consistent with previous research and demonstrate continuity of Native water management practices from prehistoric into colonial periods. Further, carbon isotope ratios among caprines and cattle suggest partitioning of desert grazing by these ungulates. By identifying grazing partitioning and adding data from military forts in addition to mission contexts, we present a broader view of resource use on the colonial landscape and pinpoint which resources were the most heavily exploited for livestock production. These findings contribute to discussions of colonist adaptation and indigenous shifts in labor following the introduction of domesticated livestock in arid regions.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 101919 |
| Journal | Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports |
| Volume | 27 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 1 2019 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Archaeology
- Archaeology
Cite this
Applying indigenous knowledge to colonial livestock : Isotopic patterns in water and range resources in the desert landscapes of the Pimería Alta. / Mathwich, Nicole M.; Pavao-Zuckerman, Barnet; Ruff, Alexander.
In: Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Vol. 27, 101919, 01.10.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Applying indigenous knowledge to colonial livestock
T2 - Isotopic patterns in water and range resources in the desert landscapes of the Pimería Alta
AU - Mathwich, Nicole M.
AU - Pavao-Zuckerman, Barnet
AU - Ruff, Alexander
PY - 2019/10/1
Y1 - 2019/10/1
N2 - Ecological aspects of colonialism and the Columbian Exchange impacted societies and landscapes across the Americas. Livestock, in particular, had the capacity to transform local ecology and economies. This article explores colonial resource use related to introduced livestock in the Pimería Alta, the northernmost part of what is today Sonora and southern Arizona. This paper examines oxygen and carbon isotope ratios from archaeological caprine and cattle tooth enamel using bulk and serial sampling. We compare these results to precipitation and local water samples and find evidence that animals consumed evaporated, stored water. These results are consistent with previous research and demonstrate continuity of Native water management practices from prehistoric into colonial periods. Further, carbon isotope ratios among caprines and cattle suggest partitioning of desert grazing by these ungulates. By identifying grazing partitioning and adding data from military forts in addition to mission contexts, we present a broader view of resource use on the colonial landscape and pinpoint which resources were the most heavily exploited for livestock production. These findings contribute to discussions of colonist adaptation and indigenous shifts in labor following the introduction of domesticated livestock in arid regions.
AB - Ecological aspects of colonialism and the Columbian Exchange impacted societies and landscapes across the Americas. Livestock, in particular, had the capacity to transform local ecology and economies. This article explores colonial resource use related to introduced livestock in the Pimería Alta, the northernmost part of what is today Sonora and southern Arizona. This paper examines oxygen and carbon isotope ratios from archaeological caprine and cattle tooth enamel using bulk and serial sampling. We compare these results to precipitation and local water samples and find evidence that animals consumed evaporated, stored water. These results are consistent with previous research and demonstrate continuity of Native water management practices from prehistoric into colonial periods. Further, carbon isotope ratios among caprines and cattle suggest partitioning of desert grazing by these ungulates. By identifying grazing partitioning and adding data from military forts in addition to mission contexts, we present a broader view of resource use on the colonial landscape and pinpoint which resources were the most heavily exploited for livestock production. These findings contribute to discussions of colonist adaptation and indigenous shifts in labor following the introduction of domesticated livestock in arid regions.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.101919
DO - 10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.101919
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85068608033
VL - 27
JO - Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
JF - Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
SN - 2352-409X
M1 - 101919
ER -