Material Evidence of Immigrant Diversity within the Perry Mesa Tradition, Central Arizona

Abstract

Poised between the Sonoran Desert and Colorado Plateau, Perry Mesa and Black Mesa constitute a rugged landform split by the Agua Fria River of central Arizona.  This landscape was largely unoccupied prior to the late thirteenth century but witnessed a steady and rapid stream of immigrants beginning around A.D. 1250-1275.  Today, the region is enjoying newfound archaeological attention, much of which is focused on why immigrants chose this place as a destination and how they survived after arrival.  Our research and this article are more concerned with whether those who arrived did so as an homogenous population or as disparate groups.  Elsewhere, we have suggested that what is referred to as the Perry Mesa Tradition began as a diverse collection of peoples from throughout the Southwest.  Within a culture-history framework, we describe diversity in the local archaeological record and identify, where possible, nonlocal analogues.  This effort is designed to synthesize past and current observations, illustrate opportunities for future research, and stimulate dialogue regarding demographic movement to and from Perry Mesa.