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Prehistoric Settlement Patterns and Optimal Maize Field Location in the Mt. Trumbull Region NW Arizona USA

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Human Environment Interactions - Volume 2

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Earth System Sciences ((BRIEFSEARTHSYST))

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Abstract

Optimal maize field locations possibly used by prehistoric agriculturalists ~A.D. 1100 in Mt. Trumbull area of northwest Arizona were modeled using remotely sensed data and ground based observations. Models were created by developing GIS “layers” using radiant surface temperature from satellite (ASTER, the Advanced Spacebourne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer), digital orthophoto quad data, 10 m DEM data, and NRCS soil maps. Near surface air temperature and soil moisture were collected on the ground. Two distinct crop/habitation models are constructed: a “restrictive” model and a “fuzzy logic” model. The proximity of the optimal field locations is compared with the distribution of archaeological sites, specifically investigating whether one or two room structures with sparse artifact scatters (so called “field houses”) are indeed preferentially associated with optimal field locations as some have suggested. Results indicate that “field houses” are not preferentially associated with the most optimal field locations. Rather the larger habitations sites consisting of multi-room or larger C shaped habitations are significantly more likely to be found within 200 m of an optimal field location. Common “field houses” may in fact have served other purposes, or could reflect more intensive use of sub-optimal locations later in the prehistoric sequence nearer the eventual abandonment of the area in late Pueblo II or early Pueblo III times. Better chronological control of occupations of all these sites will be useful in explaining this pattern.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Desert Research Institute, 755 E Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV, 89119, USA

    Paul E. Buck

  2. Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV, 89512, USA

    Donald E. Sabol

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  1. Paul E. Buck
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Correspondence to Paul E. Buck .

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Buck, P.E., Sabol, D.E. (2014). Prehistoric Settlement Patterns and Optimal Maize Field Location in the Mt. Trumbull Region NW Arizona USA. In: Human Environment Interactions - Volume 2. SpringerBriefs in Earth System Sciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36880-6_3

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