While the archaeology of the Northern Frontier of Mesoamerica is poorly understood, Pedro Armillas' hypothesis that climatically induced environmental change was the limiting factor for cultural change has become the ruling theory. In order to test this hypothesis original lacustrine pollen profiles were compared with a detailed inspection of the known archaeological record and the previously published paleoecological record. The archaeological evidence suggests that there was a dense human occupation in the northern reaches of Mesoamerica between about AD 600-900. The first indications of human settlements are related to the Chupicuaro culture that reached its apogee about 2000 years ago located along the Rio Lerma. A rustic variant of the Chupicuaro culture spread north and is associated with scattered hamlets. About AD 600 the sedentary population expanded considerably in conjunction with the development of regional centers and the Coyotlatelco red-on-buff ceramic tradition. This expansion can be seen all along the Northern Frontier of Mesoamerica from Alta Vista south to Tula. Between AD 900-1000 there was a dramatic change in settlement patterns and by about AD 1000 most of the northern reaches of Mesoamerica were once again under the control of semi-nomadic hunters and gatherers. A suite of four cores was collected in a transect that crosses the Northern Frontier of Mesoamerica. The goal of selecting sites that minimized human impact was not altogether successful since these cores identify the impact of agriculture. Within the limits of the dating and material available, the pollen profiles from these cores suggest an environmental change between AD 1000 and 1500. From the data available it is not clear if this change, or changes, was the result of changes in human settlement patterns or climatic change. As such Armillas' hypothesis remains unproven.

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This thesis describes the excavations conducted at the Hatzic Rock site (DgRn-23) during 1990 and 1991 and describes the analysis of structural remains and artifacts. The site is located in the Fraser River valley and contains three occupation zones al l dating to the Charles Culture (ca. 4500-4700 BP). Structural remains were shown to possess similarities with ethnohistoric shed-roof and pithouse dwellings from the area. The structure was also found to possess similarities with a Charles Culture structure from the Maurer site (DhRk8) and a proto-historic structure from the McCallum site (DhRk-2). The observed similarities suggest continuity in structure design from the Charles Culture to the ethnohistoric period, however, a lack of clarity in the Hatzic data and poor comparative data detracts from this hypothesis. The analysis of artifacts from the Hatzic Rock site indicated differences between the three occupation zones were minor with the exception of occupation zone III. Occupation zone III contains a high proportion of stemmed projectile point classes and pebble tools. Anvil stones are absent in occupation zone III and pebble flake tool proportions are lower than in occupation zones I and II. The comparison of the Hatzic Rock site artifact assemblage to other Charles Culture assemblages indicates core and pebble tool proportions are much higher at the Hatzic Rock site. Similarly, the Hatzic Rock site artifact assemblage contains a high proportion of utilized flakes in relation to other Charles Culture sites. Retouched flake tools and formed unifaces were shown to be proportionately less represented at the Hatzic Rock site than at other Charles Culture sites. Differences in site function, location and age are thought to account for the differences between artifact assemblages.

Two previous archaeological surveys were conducted in Union County, Indiana. The sites reported by these surveys were investigated. Many previously unreported sites were also located. The finds from the newly discovered sites were analyzed in terms of developmental stages and also lithic technology. The results of this analysis were then compared to other sites and stages in surrounding regions particularly in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. Further an attempt was made to describe patterns of life for prehistoric groups through the functional analysis of artifacts.

This thesis describes the excavations conducted at the Hatzic Rock site (DgRn-23) during 1990 and 1991 and describes the analysis of structural remains and artifacts. The site is located in the Fraser River valley and contains three occupation zones al l dating to the Charles Culture (ca. 4500-4700 BP). Structural remains were shown to possess similarities with ethnohistoric shed-roof and pithouse dwellings from the area. The structure was also found to possess similarities with a Charles Culture structure from the Maurer site (DhRk8) and a proto-historic structure from the McCallum site (DhRk-2). The observed similarities suggest continuity in structure design from the Charles Culture to the ethnohistoric period, however, a lack of clarity in the Hatzic data and poor comparative data detracts from this hypothesis. The analysis of artifacts from the Hatzic Rock site indicated differences between the three occupation zones were minor with the exception of occupation zone III. Occupation zone III contains a high proportion of stemmed projectile point classes and pebble tools. Anvil stones are absent in occupation zone III and pebble flake tool proportions are lower than in occupation zones I and II. The comparison of the Hatzic Rock site artifact assemblage to other Charles Culture assemblages indicates core and pebble tool proportions are much higher at the Hatzic Rock site. Similarly, the Hatzic Rock site artifact assemblage contains a high proportion of utilized flakes in relation to other Charles Culture sites. Retouched flake tools and formed unifaces were shown to be proportionately less represented at the Hatzic Rock site than at other Charles Culture sites. Differences in site function, location and age are thought to account for the differences between artifact assemblages. / Arts, Faculty of / Anthropology, Department of / Graduate

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