In response to Jenny:
I think I did a pretty good job of starting to deconstruct the concept of Fremont foragers in my thesis. Essentially, the only "evidence" for a Fremont foraging strategy is found in the west desert and Great Salt Lake Marshes, unless you count Madsen's cattail extravaganza at Backhoe (and I for one don't, I'd bet the farm that there were mats on those pithouse floors).
In my thesis, I argue that in places where Fremont territory abuts foragers, there is a fuzzy border. Conversely, to the south where they are butting up against other farmers, there is a clear social boundary. We see this in the pottery. It all depends on what you want to call Fremont. I call the foragers cozying up to the Fremont farmers butt-kissers who are trying to get their hands on corn. They're either marginalized former Fremont, or people coming in from other foraging groups who are trying to cash in on corn and a higher prestige lifeway.
I have yet to see any believable evidence for a true Fremont forager from an area that is not a borderland. The whole argument is based on cattail at Backhoe and evidence from areas without a clear social boundary. It has no legs to stand on.
3 comments:
Glad to hear, Chris. I'll have to read your stuff--does Cady or someone have it? My sense, too, was that it's not a strong enough model to hold, though I don't know the facts well enough be as black and white about it and you. But the Backhoe cattail theory is just dumb, so I'm totally with you there.
What I'm looking at, though, specifically is a survey data set from a nice middle area--Vernon, where else--that lies somewhere between the West Desert and the Valley...though, granted, it certainly fits West Desert far better than it does the more villaged areas. My main issue is just finding the right way to build the test up so that my survey data can address the questions. But Joel has been sub-contexting a "this is crap" line to me ever sense we started looking at it, albeit very lightly. Whatever I do, it's gonna have to be quick cuz I turned in a Fulton app. on it using some sketchy tense work to sound like the research is done! Oy!
More to come...
Chris, I believe that you mentioned Judd's interpretation of the Fremont in your thesis as calling the Fremont "puebloid". Personally, I think that is a very good quick description. Again, just look at the pre-ceramic Ancestral Pueblo pithouses and Pueblo period pottery. Similarities abound.
Cady,
What a wonderful final statement concerning our buddies Dave and Steve. Respect.
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