Prehistoric Political Economy in Mesoamerica's Northern Periphery

位于墨西哥马尔帕索山谷的La Quemada遗址多年来一直为考古学家所熟知，因为它的大型建筑、相关的道路系统以及表明重大仪式活动的相关“球场”。该遗址也引起了考古学家的兴趣，因为它位于墨西哥山谷以北，这一时期的大多数大型遗址都位于那里。然而，令人惊讶的是，人们对该遗址知之甚少，也几乎没有进行过挖掘。纳尔逊博士和他的合作者、墨西哥考古学家彼得·希门尼斯将带领一个团队，在拉奎马达进行为期一季的研究。他们将制作一张详细的地图，在垃圾堆中进行试掘，以恢复文化资料，在仪式球场进行挖掘，并对获得的资料进行分析。这样收集的数据应该可以建立一个详细的年表。通过对助产士和墓葬物品之间的差异进行分析，也应该可以确定遗址的社会分层程度。最后，通过对陶瓷的研究和绿松石的化学分析，调查人员将确定La Quemada与墨西哥山谷和美国西南部的当代遗址之间的关系。这将使考古学家能够将该遗址纳入更广泛的区域图景，并阐明美国中部和美国西南部之间的关系。近年来，考古学的重点已从特定的遗址转向更具地区性的视角，研究人员已经意识到，社交复杂性的发展与扩大的区域网络密切相关。通过对可能是北方“前哨”或“异常值”的研究，纳尔逊博士和他的同事们应该会对美国中部文明的兴起有新的认识。

The site of La Quemada located in the Malpaso valley of Mexico has been known to archaeologists for many years because of its large scale architecture, its system of associated roads, and its associated "ball court" which indicates major ceremonial activities. The site has also interested archaeologists because of its unusual location, well North of the Valley of Mexico where most large sites from this time period are situated. However, surprisingly little is known about the site and little excavation has been conducted there. Dr. Nelson and his collaborator, Mexican archaeologist Peter Jimenez, will lead a team and conduct one season of research at La Quemada. They will produce a detailed map, conduct test excavations in trash middens to recover cultural material, excavate in the ceremonial ball court, and analyze the materials obtained. The data thus collected should permit a detailed chronology to be established. It should also be possible, through analysis in the differences between middens and grave items, to determine the degree of social stratification at the site. Finally, through study of ceramics and chemical analysis of turquoise, the investigators will determine the relations between La Quemada and contemporary sites both in the Valley of Mexico and the U.S. Southwest. This will permit archaeologists to fit the site into a broader regional picture and to elucidate the relationships between Middle America and the Southwest U.S. In recent years archaeological focus has shifted from a site specific to a more regional perspective, and researchers have come to realize that the development of social complexity is closely tied to expanded areal networks. Through study of what may be a northern "outpost" or "outlier", Dr. Nelson and his colleagues should gain new insight into the rise of Middle American civilization.