Foragers in Transition: The Middle Archaic in the Northern Rio Grande Valley

Abstract

Current research on the Southwest Archaic has focused on understanding the origins of agriculture and the transition from foraging to farming economies. This transition varied widely across the region depending on the local setting. However, significantly fewer studies have given their attention to understanding the process leading up to the initial use of cultigens. We present the results of our research on the Middle Archaic occupation in the Northern Rio Grande valley circa 3500 to 1500 B.C. A comparison of grassland and woodland areas reveals a complementary pattern of long-term land use between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico, a pattern that is also represented by two separate historical trajectories which provided alternative opportunities for these foraging groups.