Douglas R Mitchell | Arizona State University (original) (raw)

Papers by Douglas R Mitchell

Kiva, 2008

Recent observations an d arch ival research on th e archaeo logy of the Puerto Penasco area at t... more Recent observations an d arch ival research on th e archaeo logy of the Puerto Penasco
area at the northern end of the Gulf of California, Sonora, Mexico, have provided
additional insights into the prehis tory of the region . The northern Gulf of California
has long been recognized as the source of raw marine shell used in the produ
ction of shell ornaments by the Hohokam of southern and central Arizona,The
mos t obvious archaeological manifestations in the area are the shell midden sites
tha t occur along the margins of the ocean an d estuaries of th e region . Based on a
sma ll sample of diagnostic flaked stone and ceramic artifacts, a Late Archaic period
through Late Ceram ic per iod (Ho hokam) use of the area is evident. Asmall number
of indepe ndently derived rad iocarbon dates appear to su ppo rt th is conclusion.
Wesummarize archaeological, chro nometric, environmental, and geomorphic da ta
from the area.

Radiocarbon, 2015

Previous studies of live-collected pre-weapons testing mollusk shells in the northern Gulf of Cal... more Previous studies of live-collected pre-weapons testing mollusk shells in the northern Gulf of California have demonstrated that the local radiocarbon reservoir effect (ΔR) is large and highly variable. To test the validity of this observation for paired charcoal and shell samples from archaeological contexts, we dated samples from four shell midden locations and six midden layers from the eastern shoreline of the Gulf of California near Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico. Dated charcoal samples were small twigs or brushy plants used to cook shellfish and the shells dated within each midden showed signs of burning. Ages range from approximately 5700 to 1900 cal BP. The offset between the modeled marine 14C age for calibrated ages of the middens and measured shell 14C age (ΔR) averaged 425 yr with a standard deviation of 115 yr.

Journal of Island & Coastal Archaeology, 2015

This article integrates geological, biological, ethnographic, and archaeological lines of eviden... more This article integrates geological, biological, ethnographic, and archaeological
lines of evidence to reconstruct fishing patterns between approximately
4100 and 500 BC in the northern Gulf of California. In
addition to shell collecting along the coast, several species of fish were
captured,mainly endemic sciaenids of the upper gulf. Our study focuses
onthenorthern Sonorancoastwhere recent archaeological studieshave
discovered scores of otoliths (fish ear bones) in archaeological contexts.
We report the species composition (chano, corvina, totoaba) and relative
size of the prehistoric catch and discuss themodern biology of these
species known to inhabit this area. Our evidence suggests that this area
offered an important resource for Archaic hunters and gatherers who
were drawn here to exploit fish at certain times of the year. Following
sea level stabilization around 6,000 years ago, particular geomorphic
settings provided opportunities to easily harvest large quantities of fish
by spearing, netting, or hand catching them.

Kiva, 2008

Recent observations an d arch ival research on th e archaeo logy of the Puerto Penasco area at t... more Recent observations an d arch ival research on th e archaeo logy of the Puerto Penasco
area at the northern end of the Gulf of California, Sonora, Mexico, have provided
additional insights into the prehis tory of the region . The northern Gulf of California
has long been recognized as the source of raw marine shell used in the produ
ction of shell ornaments by the Hohokam of southern and central Arizona,The
mos t obvious archaeological manifestations in the area are the shell midden sites
tha t occur along the margins of the ocean an d estuaries of th e region . Based on a
sma ll sample of diagnostic flaked stone and ceramic artifacts, a Late Archaic period
through Late Ceram ic per iod (Ho hokam) use of the area is evident. Asmall number
of indepe ndently derived rad iocarbon dates appear to su ppo rt th is conclusion.
Wesummarize archaeological, chro nometric, environmental, and geomorphic da ta
from the area.

Radiocarbon, 2015

Previous studies of live-collected pre-weapons testing mollusk shells in the northern Gulf of Cal... more Previous studies of live-collected pre-weapons testing mollusk shells in the northern Gulf of California have demonstrated that the local radiocarbon reservoir effect (ΔR) is large and highly variable. To test the validity of this observation for paired charcoal and shell samples from archaeological contexts, we dated samples from four shell midden locations and six midden layers from the eastern shoreline of the Gulf of California near Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico. Dated charcoal samples were small twigs or brushy plants used to cook shellfish and the shells dated within each midden showed signs of burning. Ages range from approximately 5700 to 1900 cal BP. The offset between the modeled marine 14C age for calibrated ages of the middens and measured shell 14C age (ΔR) averaged 425 yr with a standard deviation of 115 yr.

Journal of Island & Coastal Archaeology, 2015

This article integrates geological, biological, ethnographic, and archaeological lines of eviden... more This article integrates geological, biological, ethnographic, and archaeological
lines of evidence to reconstruct fishing patterns between approximately
4100 and 500 BC in the northern Gulf of California. In
addition to shell collecting along the coast, several species of fish were
captured,mainly endemic sciaenids of the upper gulf. Our study focuses
onthenorthern Sonorancoastwhere recent archaeological studieshave
discovered scores of otoliths (fish ear bones) in archaeological contexts.
We report the species composition (chano, corvina, totoaba) and relative
size of the prehistoric catch and discuss themodern biology of these
species known to inhabit this area. Our evidence suggests that this area
offered an important resource for Archaic hunters and gatherers who
were drawn here to exploit fish at certain times of the year. Following
sea level stabilization around 6,000 years ago, particular geomorphic
settings provided opportunities to easily harvest large quantities of fish
by spearing, netting, or hand catching them.