Dissertation Research: The Role of Agricultural Intensification in the Formation of the Tarascan State

在加里·费曼博士的指导下，克里斯托弗·费舍尔先生将为他的博士论文收集数据。目前，Fisher先生正在墨西哥西部的Patzcuaro湖盆地进行考古研究，国家科学基金会的支持将使放射性碳分析能够确定文化特征、植物样本的检查和地质沉积物的研究。帕茨夸罗湖盆地在中美洲史前时期占有重要地位，因为该地区形成了一个庞大的史前国家，对阿兹特克人的统治构成了挑战。在欧洲人接触的时候，该地区是塔拉斯卡纳州的核心，控制着墨西哥西部的大部分地区。最近对该盆地的考古调查发现，在最近裸露的湖床上有大片残留的隆起的田地、运河和小规模的定居点。在欧洲人接触的时候，这片土地被淹没了，考古和古环境证据都表明，这些特征可以追溯到古典晚期。这片此前不为人知的湿地农业综合体的完整性质，以及确定农业特征和聚落的日期的能力，提供了一个极好的研究机会。费希尔先生目前正在挖掘田野系统，以获取数据，以便在区域考古背景下放置水管理特征。在挖掘过程中发现的样本将进行放射性碳年代测定，以建立年代学。此外，还将进行广泛的植物学和土壤学分析，以进一步确定沉积物的特征。这些数据将与聚落模式信息结合起来，在此基础上将有可能阐明环境变化、人口增长和帕茨卡罗湖地区不断变化的政治组织之间的关系。考古学家希望了解复杂的社会是如何发展并达到国家组织水平的。他们指出，在世界许多地区，等级制度的出现和灌溉系统等大型农业项目的出现似乎是齐头并进的。然而，导致这两种现象的确切因果关系和因素还没有得到很好的理解。拉丁美洲史前对这一问题的传统做法往往强调人口压力和集中的官僚管理是建设和维护集约农业项目的必要先决条件。然而，最近的考古调查对这一观点提出了质疑，并表明这种管理系统可以在国家之前的环境中找到。然而，这项研究的大部分都是非决定性的，费希尔先生的工作将提供直接相关的信息。这项研究之所以重要，有几个原因。它将为支撑早期国家发展的过程提供新的线索。它将提供许多考古学家感兴趣的数据，并帮助培养一位有前途的年轻科学家。

Under the direction of Dr. Gary Feinman, Mr. Christopher Fisher will collect data for his doctoral dissertation. Currently Mr. Fisher is conducting archaeological research in the Lake Patzcuaro Basin in Western Mexico and National Science Foundation support will allow radiocarbon analyses to date cultural features, examination of botanical samples and the study of geological sediments. The Lake Patzcuaro Basin figures prominently in Mesoamerican prehistory because of the large prehistoric state which developed in that region and which challenged the Aztecs for domination. At the time of European contact, the area was the core of a Tarascan state which controlled most of Western Mexico. Recent archaeological investigations in the basin have revealed large tracts of relict raised fields, canals and small scale settlements located on recently exposed lake bed. This land was inundated at the time of European contact and both archaeological and paleo-environmental evidence suggest that these features date to the Late Classic period. The intact nature of this previously unknown wetland agricultural complex and the ability to date the agricultural features and settlements provides an excellent research opportunity. Mr. Fisher is currently excavating the field system to obtain data which will allow placement of the water management features within a regional archaeological context. Samples recovered during the excavation will be radiocarbon dated to establish chronology. In addition, extensive botanical and pedalogical analysis will be conducted to further characterize sediments. These data will be combined with settlement pattern information and on this basis it will be possible to elucidate the relationships between environmental modification, demographic growth and the changing political organization in the Lake Patzcuaro region. Archaeologists wish to understand how complex societies develop and reach a state level of organization. They have noted that in many areas of the world, the appearance of hierarchical social systems and large scale agricultural projects such as irrigation systems seem to go hand and hand. Yet the exact causal relationships and the factors which lead to both these phenomena are not well understood. Traditional approaches to this question in Latin American prehistory have tended to emphasize population pressure and centralized bureaucratic management as necessary preconditions for the construction and maintenance of intensive agricultural projects. However recent archaeological investigation has challenged this perspective and suggested that such management systems can be found in pre-state contexts. Much of this research however is inconclusive and Mr. Fisher's work will contribute information of direct relevance. This research is important for several reasons. It will shed new light on the processes which underly the development of early states. It will provide data of interest to many archaeologists and assist in training a promising young scientist.