The general architectural transition from semi-subterranean pithouses to surface pueblos that occurred across the prehistoric North American Southwest has been attributed to increased agricultural dependence. In this study macrobotanical ubiquity scores, percentages, diversity, and richness were compared between pithouse and pueblo assemblages from the NAN Ranch Ruin, Grant County, New Mexico, to assess whether or not the macrobotanical evidence supported a link between increased agricultural dependence and the pithouse to pueblo transition at the site. Rarely were differences between values of relative macrobotanical abundance from the two periods found to be significant. Ubiquity analyses provided some evidence for greater agricultural dependence in the pueblo period. Ubiquity scores declined between the pithouse and pueblo periods for all taxa recovered from both periods, except maize (Zea mays L.) and goosefoot (Chenopodium spp.), an aggressive agricultural weed, probably because the puebloan occupants of the NAN Ranch Ruin relied more on maize agriculture than did the pithouse occupants at the site. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was recovered only from pueblo deposits, perhaps indicating that this crop was not grown during the earlier pithouse period. Significant differences that were detected between pithouse and pueblo values of relative macrobotanical abundance were most likely due to the effect of variable sample sizes, when all samples were combined for analysis, regardless of their recovery contexts. Although the effect of variable sample volume was controlled by analysis of sub-samples representing five liters of excavated soil, the sub-samples varied in the number of specimens present. This finding illustrates the effect of variable numbers of specimens per sample on measures of relative abundance and the importance of comparing similar contexts in quantitative studies.

The general architectural transition from semi-subterranean pithouses to surface pueblos that occurred across the prehistoric North American Southwest has been attributed to increased agricultural dependence. In this study macrobotanical ubiquity scores, percentages, diversity, and richness were compared between pithouse and pueblo assemblages from the NAN Ranch Ruin, Grant County, New Mexico, to assess whether or not the macrobotanical evidence supported a link between increased agricultural dependence and the pithouse to pueblo transition at the site. Rarely were differences between values of relative macrobotanical abundance from the two periods found to be significant. Ubiquity analyses provided some evidence for greater agricultural dependence in the pueblo period. Ubiquity scores declined between the pithouse and pueblo periods for all taxa recovered from both periods, except maize (Zea mays L.) and goosefoot (Chenopodium spp.), an aggressive agricultural weed, probably because the puebloan occupants of the NAN Ranch Ruin relied more on maize agriculture than did the pithouse occupants at the site. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was recovered only from pueblo deposits, perhaps indicating that this crop was not grown during the earlier pithouse period. Significant differences that were detected between pithouse and pueblo values of relative macrobotanical abundance were most likely due to the effect of variable sample sizes, when all samples were combined for analysis, regardless of their recovery contexts. Although the effect of variable sample volume was controlled by analysis of sub-samples representing five liters of excavated soil, the sub-samples varied in the number of specimens present. This finding illustrates the effect of variable numbers of specimens per sample on measures of relative abundance and the importance of comparing similar contexts in quantitative studies.

The purpose of this thesis was to gain an insight into the macrobotanical subsistence practices of Nancy Patterson Village and see how those practices fit in with the practices of the general Mesa Verde region by analyzing the burnt macrobotanical remains found in processed flotation samples. Previous work done at Nancy Patterson Village showed a shift in the faunal subsistence practices to a greater reliance on domesticated turkey during the Pueblo III period. However, the macro botanical analysis showed a higher richness of wild plant taxa in the Pueblo III period when compared to Pueblo II. The change to a higher richness of plant taxa in the later period is attributed to the changes in social and environmental climates causing difficulties in sustaining the population. These difficulties pushed the inhabitants to expand their selection of plant types used for food. Despite the higher richness of plant taxa in Pueblo III, other sites from the Central Mesa Verde region had higher richness. However, Nancy Patterson Village used the smaller number of wild plants types more intensely than the other sites from the region. No explanation was found to explain this difference.

Ce mémoire porte sur l’étude des macrorestes végétaux provenant du site villageois Droulers occupé durant la 2e moitié du XVe siècle par une communauté iroquoienne du Saint-Laurent. Il vise à vérifier les pratiques de ces habitants en ce qui a trait à la part végétale de leur alimentation à moins d’un siècle avant la fin de la préhistoire. Des vestiges découlant de la pratique de l’agriculture et de la cueillette sont présents sur différents contextes du site. L’analyse de ces derniers permet d’établir l’importance de ces activités dans la vie quotidienne des habitants du site. Ainsi, il est possible de valider l’importance du maïs dans le mode de subsistance de ce groupe par l’ubiquité de cette espèce sur le site. Le maïs est effectivement l’espèce végétale la plus présente dans les différents contextes étudiés. La présence de cette espèce jumelée à celle du haricot en quantité considérable et à celle de la courge démontre la pratique de l’agriculture des Trois Soeurs au site Droulers, une pratique documentée historiquement par les premiers chroniqueurs. Les macrorestes de fruits et de noix sont relativement bien représentés sur le site ce qui suggère la place importante de la cueillette dans la diète des habitants de Droulers. L’étude comparative synchronique et diachronique de ces macrorestes avec ceux recueillis ailleurs en Iroquoisie aide à mieux situer le degré d’importance des activités mentionnées ci-haut au site Droulers par rapport à celui sur d’autres sites plus anciens, contemporains et plus récents du même grand groupe culturel. La majorité des fruits présents sur ce site étaient également cueillis par les groupes proto-iroquoiens Glen Meyer et Princess Point et par d’autres groupes iroquoiens (préhistoriques et historiques). Le degré d’utilisation des fruits sauvages sur le site Droulers est en continuité avec celui des groupes apparentés plus anciens et plus récents. L’utilisation des cultigènes et des noix par les occupants du site Droulers est comparable à celle d’autres groupes iroquoiens. / This thesis focuses on the study of the macrobotanical remains from the Droulers village site inhabited during the second half of the XVth century by a St. Lawrence Iroquoian community. The main goal is to verify the practices of its inhabitants regarding the botanical contribution to their diet less than a century before the end of prehistory. Remains resulting from the practice of agriculture and gathering from wild are present in different contexts of the site. The analysis of these remains demonstrates the importance of these activites in the daily life of the inhabitants of the site. Thus, it is possible to validate the importance of maize among the subsistence strategies by means of ubiquity analysis of that species on the site. Maize is indeed the most common species throughout the different contexts studied. The presence of that species coupled with that of bean and squash demonstrates the practice of the Three sisters mound system at the Droulers site, a practice documented historically by the first European chroniclers. The remains of fruits and nuts are relatively well represented on the site, which suggests the importance of gathering in the diet of the Droulers inhabitants. The synchronic and diachronic comparative study of those macrobotanical remains with those found elsewhere in Iroquoia helps to better situate the degree of importance of the activities mentioned above at the Droulers site in relation to that of other sites whether older, contemporary or younger. The majority of the fruits present on the site where also gathered by the Glen Meyer and Princess Point proto-iroquoians and by other iroquoian groups (prehistoric and historic). The degree of utilization of the wild fruits at the Droulers site is in continuity with that of older and younger related groups. The utilization of cultigens and nuts at the Droulers site is similar to that of other Iroquoian groups.

No description available.

This thesis is a case study using paleoethnobotanical analysis of Kilgii Gwaay, a 10,700-year-old wet site in southern Haida Gwaii to explore the use of plants by ancestral Haida. The research investigated questions of early Holocene wood artifact technologies and other plant use before the large-scale arrival of western redcedar (Thuja plicata), a cultural keystone species for Haida in more recent times. The project relied on small-scale excavations and sampling from two main areas of the site: a hearth complex and an activity area at the edge of a paleopond. The archaeobotanical assemblage from these two areas yielded 23 plant taxa representing 14 families in the form of wood, charcoal, seeds, and additional plant macrofossils. A salmonberry and elderberry processing area suggests a seasonal summer occupation. Hemlock wedges and split spruce wood and roots show evidence for wood-splitting technology. The assemblage demonstrates potential for site interpretation based on archaeobotanical remains for the Northwest Coast of North America and highlights the importance of these otherwise relatively unknown plant resources from this early time period. / Graduate / cohenjenny2@gmail.com