Can Pueblo Corn Save Ethiopian Farms? Deploying 1400 Years of Agricultural Knowledge in Service of the Future

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1 The Mission of the Hisatsinom Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society is to further the education, opportunities and experiences of its members, students and the general public by partnering with and serving the archaeological, avocational archaeological, and related scientific communities of the Montezuma Valley, the Four Corners area and the State of Colorado. VOLUME 27 AUGUST 2015 ISSUE 8 August Meeting 7pm Tuesday, August 4 At the Sunflower Theatre, NE corner of Main and Market in Cortez doors open at 6:30! Kyle Bocinsky will discuss his work, Can Pueblo Corn Save Ethiopian Farms? Deploying 1400 Years of Agricultural Knowledge in Service of the Future Twenty-five years ago, Carla Van West published the first high-resolution spatial reconstruction of ancient corn productivity for the Central Mesa Verde region, concluding that although the "Great Drought" in the late AD 1200s was substantial, the region and Ancestral Puebloan agronomic knowledge could still have supported a population numbering in the thousands. And although the Pueblo people left the Central Mesa Verde region, their descendants and corn lived on, as they do to this day. Recent advances in paleoclimate modeling, agricultural crop modeling, and our understanding of the genetics and growing needs of traditional maize varieties have expanded Van West's insights, and enabled us to better appreciate the agronomic achievements of the Puebloans. Traditional Pueblo corn varieties are far more drought, heat, and cold tolerant than modern genetic hybrids, and because of that they are

2 better able to weather environmental insults. It is just this sort of environmental variability that is predicted to be in store for subsistence farmers worldwide due to global climate change. In this presentation, Dr. Bocinsky will discuss how a deep-time approach to crop science is revealing the incredible adaptedness of Pueblo agricultural practice, and why Pueblo corn along with traditional varieties of many other crops are likely to be essential in preventing the worst impacts of global climate change Kyle Bocinsky received his BA in anthropology from the University of Notre Dame in 2008, and his MA and PhD from Washington State University in 2011 and Kyle's research focuses on the ways in which human societies interacted with and were influenced by changing environments; much of his recent work has been on theories of domestication in small-scale agrarian societies. For the past seven years, Kyle has been part of the Village Ecodynamics Project, participating in fieldwork in Mesa Verde National Park and helping program the VEP computer simulation. Other research interests include warfare and defensiveness, inferring visual and other communication networks in the past, and foraging strategies among huntergatherers. Dr. Bocinsky is currently a postdoctoral researcher with the SKOPE project Synthesized Knowledge Of Past Environments at WSU and Arizona State University, where he is working to make paleoenvironmental data broadly available to researchers and the interested public. When he's not behind a computer, Kyle enjoys musical theater, tennis, and downhill skiing. He lives in Pullman, Washington. Upcoming Meetings August 29, Saturday 4-7pm - Chapter picnic NO MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 1 September 22, Tuesday 7pm - David Lee, Closer Than We Know: Comparing the Rock-Art of Australia and Western North America (This presentation is part of the 2015 Four Corners Lecture Series and will be at the Sunflower Theatre in downtown Cortez) New Members Kristie Arrington - Aztec Kathy Fine-Dare - Durango David Kill - Cortez THE TROWEL AND THE GAVEL A view from the President s Bench By Larry R. Keller, JD August, 2015 Greetings friends and fellow archaeology enthusiasts: I wish to take the opportunity this month to thank some very committed and dedicated members of our Chapter. I put out the call last month for volunteers to help make the Third Quarterly Meeting of the State CAS Board of Directors, which we sponsored at the Anasazi Heritage Center on Saturday July 25, a very special one. To be honest, I wanted to show the other

3 Chapters how capable and proud our Chapter is; and to be clear that our Chapter is a strong supporter of the Colorado Archaeological Society. I have been attending the CAS Quarterly Meetings around the state for the past two years, and I saw that we had an opportunity to make this one something special for the delegates. The feedback I received told me we accomplished that goal well beyond what we had hoped. Some 28 delegates attended both the morning committee sessions and afternoon business meeting as CAS representatives and Presidents of the 11 Chapters throughout the state. At least 18 of our Hisatsinom members either volunteered or attended the business meeting for some period of time. The newly appointed State Archaeologist, Dr. Holly Norton, attended, and I had the honor of introducing her, as well as State CAS President Jack Warner, to Marietta Eaton, Manager of the Anasazi Heritage Center, and Bridget Ambler, AHC s Supervisory Curator. It was the first opportunity for all of us to meet Dr. Norton, as she just began the job on July 1 of this year. On Saturday afternoon, I introduced our Chapter Board of Directors to the delegates attending the meeting. I was told it was a nice touch ; and several delegates were glad to see and hear about the quality of volunteers we have serving as the officers of our local Board. My appreciation goes out to each of them for attending and showing the support we all have for the state CAS organization. Most stayed to monitor and participate in the business meeting. Marietta Eaton, BLM Manager of the Anasazi Heritage Center, gave the delegates a welcome and introduction to the AHC and the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument at the beginning of the afternoon session. Bridget Ambler, Supervisory Curator for the AHC, gave all 28 delegates a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum. A Mesa Verde Park Ranger, chapter member Jill Blumenthal, and Mesa Verde Archaeologist Tim Hovezak guided a rarely-given tour of Yucca House for the delegates on Sunday, July 26. The tour was attended by 19 delegates with me as Field Trip Leader. Chapter member David Dove, at the request of several state delegates who have dug with him in the past, led a tour of Mitchell Springs for five delegates. Many thanks to Mary Gallagher for acting as Field Trip Leader on that trip. We reserved a wing of the newly-renovated Destination Grill for a dinner (self-pay) for the delegates on Saturday evening, which 26 of them attended. The best part of the weekend however, was the smooth running of the operation, thanks to the dedicated volunteers I mentioned at the beginning of this column. I would like to single them out now, but I realize I do so at the peril of forgetting someone. If I do, I ll make up for it next month. First and foremost is longtime Chapter Newsletter Editor and all-around responsible person who keeps the trains running on time in our Chapter, Nancy Evans. Despite being at a Crow Canyon workshop for the week leading up to the Saturday meeting, Nancy has worked tirelessly for weeks to carry out my every wish, and give me advice, and to obtain the others necessary to do the needed volunteer work. We all in our Chapter owe Nancy our gratitude for many reasons, and this is just the latest. Nancy was at the Saturday meeting much of the day making sure things ran smoothly after weeks of working on the details. Thank you, Nancy. I wish to thank Donna Keller for her willingness to make breakfast treats and coffee and tea for the morning of the meeting. What can I say? I love her dearly, and especially for the way she has volunteered her time and effort to help our Chapter with drinks and refreshments for our regular meetings, as well as this special meeting. I m glad the CAS delegates from around the state had a chance to sample her homemade cuisine. They were very complimentary.

4 Tom Pittenger and his wife Sissy (Ellen) Seeley were ready and willing to volunteer when asked early on. Tom and Sissy helped us set up on the Friday before the meeting; and Sissy obtained lunch from a local deli and complimented it with her own homemade salads. The great lunch was waiting for the delegates as they returned from the curation tour. Despite the busy schedule Tom and Sissy keep, they were there to volunteer when we needed them. Delegates told me they really enjoyed the lunch, and especially Sissy s homemade Asian salad. Thank you Tom and Sissy. Terry Woodrow made a welcome banner and two beautiful signs which were prominently displayed in and about the Lowry Room at the AHC and which had our new logo on them done in pastels surrounded by rock art figures. Marietta Eaton told me she thought the warmth of the signs and banner was very welcoming. Terry did this all while working full-time. We thank her very much. Terri Helm and Mike Woodrow were at the Greeting Table. They were the first to officially welcome our delegates, have them sign Field Trip waivers and etiquette forms, and collect lunch money, among other duties. (see photo below) We appreciate their efforts on behalf of our Chapter very much. Terri has served as our Chapter President two or three times in the past, and many times as a volunteer. Mike is always there to help when we need him. Patricia Lacey, who continues to volunteer and prepare our Chapter Quarterly Reports to the State CAS Board despite the fact that it is not her job, was the first Chapter member at the AHC early Saturday morning and helped to assist in numerous ways, including as photographer. Patricia stayed all day through cleanup. Patricia is at least a two-time past President of our Chapter (maybe more - you know how modest she is)and has always been there for our Chapter when needed. Thank you Patricia. Your friendship and advice has kept our Chapter functioning in a professional manner. Sharon Hansen assisted us early on in obtaining special rates at three different motels in town for CAS delegates. (Nancy helped in this area as well). Barbara Stagg provided nametags and markers and filled in when Nancy was unavailable. We appreciate you both very much. A special thanks goes out to Chapter member and BLM employee David Kill, our contact person at the AHC who opened doors early and helped us with setup. His smiling face was always there when we needed him. Thanks Dave. We welcome you and your family to our Chapter. I would like you all to know that I received many, many compliments directed to our Chapter. Kevin Black, Asst. State Archaeologist, and someone almost all of you know as the man who teaches the PAAC classes, said our Chapter had raised a high bar for the conduct of State Quarterly Meetings in the future. The new State Archaeologist was very complimentary; we received the solid appreciation of State CAS President Jack Warner and the entire Board of Directors. I never heard a single negative or questioning word about how we ran the operation. I hope all Chapter members will help me thank these wonderful volunteers for helping us to showcase our Chapter to the State CAS Board of Directors and the State Archaeologist s Office. I am glad those of you who attended the business meeting had the rare opportunity to see a State CAS Board Meeting in operation. The State Board did decide that the Annual Meeting for 2018 will be held in Cortez and Montezuma County. Another great chance for us all to volunteer and welcome again archaeology enthusiasts from all over our state! I have never been prouder to be President of our Chapter. Thank you all for your support. Larry R. Keller, President, Hisatsinom Chapter, Colorado Archaeological Society

5 From left: Mike Woodrow, Terri Helm, and Larry Keller; Terry Woodrow s chapter sign above (photo thanks to P. Lacey) From left: State Archaeologist Dr. Holly Norton, State CAS President Jack Warner, Hisatsinom Chapter President Larry Keller (photo thanks to P. Lacey)

6 FOUR CORNERS LECTURE SERIES (August events) August 4 Tuesday, 7pm Kyle Bocinsky - Supplying Light: The Western Colorado Power Company in the San Juan Mountains Sunflower Theatre, Cortez August 5 Wednesday, 1:30pm Ann Butler Bury My Heart at Boot Hill: Death in Southwest Colorado from pre-hispanic through Victorian Times Center of Southwest Studies 120, Fort Lewis College August 13 Thursday, 7pm Lillian Wakeley Preponderance of Evidence: The Intersection of Geology, NAGPRA, and Kennewick Man Far View Lodge, Mesa Verde National Park August 19 Wednesday, 1:30pm Syl Allred Blackjacks and Yellowbellies: Walking in Western Ponderosa Pine Forests Center of Southwest Studies 120, Fort Lewis College August 20 Thursday, 7pm Chris Rasmussen - Ecology of Southwestern Rivers: Form and Function, Restoration and Resilience Crow Canyon Archaeological Center August 22 Saturday, 2pm Sally Cole Birds in Ancestral Pueblo Rock Art and Culture Edge of the Cedars Museum, Blanding <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Canyon Chronicles Thursday, August 6 at 8:30am on KSJD The August 6 edition of Canyon Chronicles will feature the history of Mitchell Springs, beginning with the early settlers and community and continuing on to the present day. Our guest will be Dave Dove, archaeologist and head of all Mitchell Springs archaeology and preservation activities. Mitchell Springs is a very important group of prehistoric sites. Dave Dove will share with us the current research and techniques at Mitchell Springs; he will describe current discoveries and the societal development of these prehistoric communities over their 500 years of continuous occupation. We will also learn how people changed during this period as seen from the archaeology in the ground Dave has conducted an archaeological field school at Mitchell Springs for six seasons, recently in partnership with the Verde Valley Archaeological Center of Camp Verde, AZ. Please join us as we learn about the fascinating and illuminating archaeology and human history located right under our feet. - Mike Woodrow, host of Canyon Chronicles To access any and all of previous Canyon Chronicles episodes, go to

7 HELP WANTED Hisatsinom chapter secretary; part-time position starting January 1, Primary duty is to record the minutes of chapter meetings and any board meetings held in November, December, January, February, March, and April. Six months vacation: May thru October Call or any board member listed at the end of this newsletter. Chapter Land Survey Report Some of the heat has passed, and the current survey will resume the end of July. Interested newcomers may contact Bob McBride at or Bob McBride The series on Getting to Know Your Hisatsinom Board Members continues: Following is a (very) short biography of Vice-President Kari Schleher. Kari writes: Hi, I m Kari Schleher, the Vice-President of the Hisatsinom chapter. I moved to Cortez in 2011 to take a job at Crow Canyon Archaeological Center. I m currently the Laboratory Manager at Crow Canyon, where I teach artifact analysis to students and adults in Crow Canyon programs, develop and implement new artifact analysis, and write grants and reports. My specialty is the analysis and interpretation of Pueblo pottery; I am particularly interested in production technology and what pottery can tell us about connections between different groups of people who lived in the past. Before coming to Crow Canyon, I was the lab director for the University of New Mexico s Chaco Stratigraphy Project at Chaco Culture National Historical Park in 2006; I also served as an Adjunct Professor of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico and was the principal investigator for archaeological ceramic analysis projects through Schleher Archaeological Consultants in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I received my BA from the University of Arizona and my Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of New Mexico in I also enjoy traveling, especially to learn about cultures around the world, and I have worked on archaeological projects all over the American Southwest and in Peru. In my spare time, I like to hike, make jewelry, and see live music. July Meeting Minutes July 7, 2015 Larry Keller called the meeting to order at 7:01 and welcomed everyone. He announced that this was the last meeting at the church until December. The August 4, September 22, October 6, and November 3 meetings will all be held in the Sunflower Theatre. He also announced that the CAS quarterly meeting would be held on July 25 at the Anasazi Heritage Center. All are

8 welcomed and encouraged to attend the open meeting starting at 1pm. He next introduced Kari Schleher, who introduced the speaker, James Davenport. Davenport's talk was entitled "Literal Providers of Food and Drink: the Inka Empire, Feasts, and Control". The main point of his talk was to use a study of pottery composition from the site of Pachacamac to demonstrate how the Inka were able to establish control over their very large and diverse empire. From about CE, the Wari were in control of central Peru. However, a twelve-year drought around 1000CE caused their empire to fall apart. The Inka then moved into the vacuum, and from the 12th century to the 14th they consolidated control over the central Cuzco basin. The rest of the area was exceedingly Balkanized however. The Inka then decided to expand their empire but had to justify it and also wanted to accomplish it more cooperatively than by using force alone. Their strategy was to use a kind of ideological control, linking state and religion. They promoted their main god, the sun god, as the dominant supreme being. Because the Inka were direct descendants of the sun god, they were more prestigious people than everyone else and had the right to rule. They held big ceremonies honoring the sun god, and they provided copious quantities of food and drink for everyone, but these ritual feasts were also symbolic of their hegemonic control. As they sought to incorporate new peoples into their empire, they would offer them the benefits of the Inka state. If people chose to become part of their empire, the Inka would ritually bestow membership on the indigenous elite, thus incorporating them into their group. These co-opted intermediate elites were then responsible for promoting the sun god religion as well as collecting the tribute that the Inka state relied on. Throughout their empire, from Columbia in the north to Santiago in the south, the Inka promulgated a canonical set of pottery and textiles: there were set forms and designs. These were the ones that had to be used in order for the rituals to be "authentic". Moreover, they had to occur in special places: fifty temples were built in other places following the design of the main sun temple in Cuzco. Pachacamac is a site about 30 miles south of Lima in a dry coastal desert. It was a major pilgrimage center and oracle as early as 600 CE. When the Inka took over in the 15th century, they kept it as a religious center but built on and expanded it to include a large dominant sun temple. Even Inka leaders came here to worship and consult the oracle. The Inka pottery from here adhered to the canon but was produced locally as part of the labor obligation of everyone to the Inka. Patterns on the plates were largely geometric (the Inka canon) though a few pieces had bird heads stuck on them, part of the previous animal-replete styles. In some areas of the Inca empire, the local pottery that was produced, melded together the Inka and previous styles, but in Pachacamac that hardly occured. Why? In the 1940s, Strong and Willey excavated at Pachacamac. Strong was particularly interested in seriation, so he dug a 9-meter deep trench, recovered 36,000 sherds, and took them to New York. There, they stayed in bags until Davenport came to study them. He chose a sample of 150 sherds, mainly from serving and storage pieces, and subjected them to Neutron Activation Analysis. Clays have different composition and thus a combination of different rare earth elements. By grouping sherds based on amounts of rare earth elements, it is often possible to learn origins and movements in space of vessels. In the case of sherds from Pachacamac, Davenport was able to place them into four groups, though there was a lot of overlap between groups 2 and 4. Group 2 had some non-inka sherds, some Inka, and some other - all indicative of Inka ceramics being produced locally. Group 3 sherds were all Inka and highly standardized, showing importation from another center and being used to reinforce the ritual Inka bond. Group 1 were all sherds from one type of storage vessel (Aribalos) which was used to store certain comestibles. The similarity showed that they came from outside and were imported to get exactly those foods for the ritual feasts. Davenport next used a different technique

9 (LAICPMS) to examine the pigments on the ceramics. Looking at the black pigment, he found two different types of pre-inka pigments. There was only one Inka black pigment, but vessels from three different production centers had this same pigment, showing remarkable uniformity. Inka control over ritual form and content was thus incredibly far-reaching, demonstrating symbolically their state hegemony. Davenport took several audience questions. Larry announced that there were two raffle sales at a table by the door: one for the Alice Hamilton Scholarship sponsored by CAS, and one sponsored by Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance. There were 59 people in attendance. Respectfully submitted, Mary Gallagher, Recording Secretary P.A.A.C. The full PAAC schedule through June is on the chapter website click on Chapters, click on Hisatsinom Contact Terry Woodrow regarding PAAC classes: or terrywoodrow@gmail.com Membership information is on the chapter website click on Chapters, click on Hisatsinom To read the CAS state newsletter, THE SURVEYOR, go to and click on NEWSLETTER ---- THE SURVEYOR is also available as a print copy at the Cortez Public Library. It is in a folder labeled CAS SURVEYOR, lying flat on a shelf in the archaeology section, the 930s. It s not for checkout; you may read it there. Treasurer's Report as of 7/15/15 Finances 6/15/15 Balance: Expenses: Income: 0 $ Meeting space - $30 7/15/15 Balance: Speaker expenses - $115 $ Sunflower Theatre deposit (4 months) - $ Executive Board President Larry Keller keller29@msn.com

10 Vice President Kari Schleher Recording Secretary Mary Gallagher Treasurer Lillian Wakeley P.A.A.C Coordinator Terry Woodrow Field Trip Coordinator Richard Robinson Newsletter Editor Nancy Evans CAS Representative Copy for the newsletter should reach the editor by the 20 th of each month. Submissions are welcome. Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month at 7pm at the First United Methodist Church in Cortez. Contact us: or write P.O. Box 1524, Cortez CO Our website: click on Chapters, click on Hisatsinom