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

在Gary Feinman博士的指导下，Christopher Fisher先生将为他的博士论文收集数据。目前，费舍尔先生正在墨西哥西部的帕兹夸罗湖盆地进行考古研究，国家科学基金会的支持将允许放射性碳分析来确定文化特征的年代，检查植物样本和研究地质沉积物。帕兹夸罗湖盆地在中美洲史前史上占有重要地位，因为该地区发展了一个巨大的史前国家，并挑战了阿兹特克人的统治地位。在与欧洲人接触时，该地区是塔拉斯坎州的核心，塔拉斯坎州控制了墨西哥西部的大部分地区。最近在该盆地进行的考古调查发现，在最近暴露的湖床上，有大片残存的高地、运河和小规模的定居点。这片土地在欧洲人接触时被淹没，考古和古环境证据表明，这些特征可以追溯到古典晚期。这个以前未知的湿地农业综合体的完整性质以及确定农业特征和定居点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现场系统，以获得数据，以便在区域考古范围内放置水管理特征。在挖掘过程中回收的样本将进行放射性碳测定，以确定年代。此外，将进行广泛的植物学和土壤学分析，以进一步表征沉积物。这些数据将与住区形态资料结合起来，在此基础上将有可能阐明帕兹夸罗湖地区环境改变、人口增长和政治组织变化之间的关系。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。他们注意到，在世界许多地区，等级社会制度的出现和诸如灌溉系统之类的大规模农业项目似乎是齐头并进的。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方法倾向于强调人口压力和中央集权的官僚管理是建设和维持集约化农业项目的必要先决条件。然而，最近的考古调查挑战了这一观点，并表明这种管理系统可以在国家之前的环境中找到。然而，大部分的研究都是不确定的，Fisher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。它将揭示早期国家发展背后的过程。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.