Abstract
ABSTRACTTwo sealed prehistoric jars recovered from the Pinaleno Mountains in east-central Arizona yielded a total of 4.56 kg (10.05 pounds) of unginned cotton in excellent condition. The fibers, seeds, and boll segments composing the sample were analyzed in detail and compared with modern and prehistoric cottons. Discussions of the history and biology of cotton provide a framework for interpreting the recovered material. The cultural perspective is provided in summaries of aboriginal cotton agriculture and the economic and ceremonial roles of cotton in the Southwest. The jars and fibers also contained a significant quantity of other plant materials, including 4 cultigens and 16 wild plant taxa, that offered additional insights into the subsistence base and agroecology of prehistoric farmers along the Gila River.
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