Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant: The Social Value of Ornaments from Pueblo Bonito and Aztec Ruin

在Patricia Crown博士的指导下，Hannah Mattson将对与查科文化相关的两个最大的考古遗址--Pueblo Bonito和Aztec废墟--的装饰品的含义和用途进行论文研究。在11世纪和12世纪初，查科峡谷是一个复杂的文化系统的中心，该系统延伸到美国西南部北部。Pueblo Bonito是位于查科峡谷的一座有800个房间的Pueblo，在其盛开时期(公元950-1100)是查科地区系统的主要仪式和/或政治中心。阿兹特克废墟是一座拥有450个房间的建筑，位于查科峡谷以北60公里处，在峡谷社区衰落后的13世纪是一个主要的中心。跨文化研究表明，个人装饰往往是社会群体身份的关键视觉指标；在世界范围内，珠宝象征着各种社会差异，包括部落隶属、性别、年龄、地位和意识形态信仰。人们预计，在过去，装饰品也会传达这样的社会信息。考古学家在Pueblo Bonito和Aztec遗址发现了大量的装饰品，特别是与墓葬和仪式结构中的其他独特文物有关的装饰品。因此，在以普韦布洛·博尼托为区域中心转移到阿兹特克为区域中心的人口重组时期，装饰品是研究查科人身份变化的理想文物类型。马特森的研究将促进人们对伴随着人口剧变时期的社会身份和仪式实践的变化的了解。此外，她的研究集中在一个未被充分研究的文物类别--装饰品上，并包括对从未被充分分析的博物馆收藏品的研究，例如来自阿兹特克废墟的装饰品的收藏。此外，这项研究还涉及考古学中一种相对较新的非破坏性技术的应用--使用分光光度计测量装饰品的颜色。这项研究还将通过加强几个国家公园和研究机构之间的伙伴关系而产生更广泛的影响。这项研究的结果将在专业会议上介绍，并提交国家期刊发表，以及提供给后代土著社区。完成后，这项研究还将在各博物馆向本土珠宝商和普通公众展示。游客的公开讲座将在阿兹特克遗址国家纪念碑和查科峡谷历史公园举行。最后，作为对哲学博士学位要求的部分满足，这项研究将有助于培养年轻的科学家。

Under the supervision of Dr. Patricia Crown, Hannah Mattson will conduct her dissertation research on the meaning and use of ornaments from two of the largest archaeological sites associated with the Chaco Culture, Pueblo Bonito and Aztec Ruin. During the 11th and early 12th centuries, Chaco Canyon was the center of a complex cultural system that extended across the northern U.S. Southwest. Pueblo Bonito, an 800-room pueblo located in Chaco Canyon, was the major ceremonial and/or political center for the Chacoan regional system during its florescence (A.D. 950-1100). Aztec Ruin, a 450-room structure located 60 km north of Chaco Canyon, was a major center in the 13th century, after the decline of the canyon communities. Cross-cultural research has shown that personal adornment is often a key visual indicator of social group identity; worldwide, jewelry signals social differences of various kinds, including tribal affiliation, gender, age, status, and ideological beliefs. It is expected that ornaments would convey such social information in the past as well. Archaeologists have recovered large numbers of ornaments at both Pueblo Bonito and Aztec Ruin, particularly in association with other unique artifacts in burials and ritual structures. Ornaments are thus an ideal artifact type for investigating change in Chacoan identity in the period of demographic reorganization represented by the shift from Pueblo Bonito to Aztec as regional centers.Ms. Mattson's research will advance knowledge of changes in social identity and ritual practice that accompany periods of demographic upheaval. In addition, her research focuses on an understudied artifact class, ornaments, and includes the study of museum collections that have never been fully analyzed, such as the collection of ornaments from Aztec Ruin. Furthermore, the study involves the application of a relatively new and non-destructive technique within archaeology - the use of a spectrophotometer for color measurements of ornaments. This research will also have broader impacts by reinforcing partnerships between several national parks and research institutions. The results of this research will be presented at professional meetings and submitted for publication in national journals, as well as provided to descendant native communities. Upon completion, the research will also be presented to both native jewelers and the general public at various museums. Public lectures for visitors will be given at Aztec Ruins National Monument and at Chaco Canyon Historical Park. Finally, as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree, the research will aid in the training of a young scientist.