Status and Stones in the Casas Grandes Region: Analysis of Debitage from the 76 Draw Site (LA 156980)

Abstract

There has been a shortage of studies of Medio period (A.D. 1200–1450) lithic assemblages, and even fewer of these have come from outside the immediate vicinity of Paquimé. Here I analyze thousands of flaked-stone artifacts from the 76 Draw Site in Luna County, New Mexico, in order to gain a more complete understanding of stone reduction practices during the Medio period, as well as the economic and social processes that governed stone reduction across the Medio period world. The data suggest that the inhabitants of 76 Draw reduced locally available material through generalized core reduction. Further, a comparison of the 76 Draw flaked-stone assemblage to several Medio period sites reflects the use of similar reduction strategies. Finally, a comparison of raw materials between Medio period sites reveals a disparity in access to high-quality stone, which may reflect trade, gifts, and/or migration from the periphery into Paquimé.