I've just started "Collapse", Jared Diamond's latest ingenious synthesis of archaeological data that sort of disses archaeology. In it, Diamond identifies 5 factors contributing to cultural collapses: environmental change, anthropogenic damage to the environment, a decline in support from friendly neighbors, hostile neighbors, and cultural responses to the above (link).
As I was reading, it occurred to me that with the Fremont, we are clearly dealing with a collapse. It further occurred to me that I know almost nothing about the Eastern Great Basin paleo-environment. Is this because there actually is nothing known, or if I'm just ignorant of it. I know that Madsen has done a bunch of pollen work, but I guess I always figured that it was early and not late. Anybody know about this?
If there has been little work done on this, maybe we should start thinking about it. Can we assume things about the Fremont area pale-climate from the extensive work on the Colorado Plateau? How does the collapse of the Fremont relate to other Southwestern collapses? Can we catch up the tree-ring record in the Eastern GB to address some of these issues? Is Range Creek the Answer?
This is just a research direction I hadn't really considered before. In examining intra- and extra-Fremont relations, I have been inadvertently examining a large part of the Fremont collapse, but the environmental factors should also be considered.
9 comments:
If I remember correctly, Don Juan told me that he found that during the Basketmaker era, at least in Montezuma Canyon, there were several wet years according to the tree-ring data. As you mention though, this is more Colo. Plat. than the eastern great basin. I wonder how much of a difference there really is between the two? Today they seem very similar in climate, but back in the day things may have been totally different. Either way, Matheny makes a very big deal about climate influences and uses that arguement i believe, in his discussions of El Mirador. Just some thoughts from a hack...
Scott,
When you say "Don Juan" do you mean Joel? In the past when we have referred to "Don Juan" it has been in reference to Don Forsyth. More recently, we have used "Juan" to refer to John Clark. Just wondering.
I figured he meant Forsyth, didn't he do his MA there?
I knew that Don had done stuff in Montezuma Canyon, so I assumed Scott was correct.I was just making sure I understood who he was talking about.
There are a number of "Dons" and "Juans" associated with BYU Archaeology. It's a little creepy actually...
I was actually referring to Don Montoya...though its getting more creepy now that I think about it...
Anyone heard how Montoya is handling the winter down there in Boulder? Can anyone imagine actually living down there?
No idea, but back in November, I saw Montoya at Cabella's. He is growing a pony tail. Getting in touch with the old ways...I guess.
Madsen has done a bunch of environmental reconstruction stuff but as far as I know its all Late Pleistocene and Early and Mid Holocene. Grayson and Fowler have both done some too but I think its also been early. I can't think of anyone off the top of my head who have looked at environmental reconstruction for the Formative in the eastern Great Basin. Although the U guys would know for sure if some one has. Environmental factors being one of their big things. Is Chris coming over to the dark side?
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