Secondary Raw Material Sources of Pedernal Chert in the Albuquerque Basin, New Mexico

Abstract

Prehistoric quarries targeted primary outcrops of Pedernal chert at Cerro Pedernal and San Pedro Peaks in north-central New Mexico. A long-standing tradition of secondary-source Pedernal chert use is also evident throughout the archaeological record of the Albuquerque Basin. Santa Fe Group gravels distributed across the basin contain abundant recycled Pedernal chert clasts that provide an important locally available source of this lithic raw material. LA-ICP-MS analysis of Pedernal chert collected from primary sources, Santa Fe Group gravels, and Pedernal chert artifacts from the basin revealed no significant chemical differences among these materials. Pedernal chert is most often associated with its primary source at Cerro Pedernal; however, geologic evidence reveals that recycled Pedernal chert clasts within Albuquerque Basin gravel deposits most likely originated from outcrops along the San Pedro–Sierra Nacimiento range. Size distributions among Pedernal chert gravels found within differing portions of the Albuquerque Basin present specific limitations on lithic reduction strategies. As such, regional settlement distributions and lithic assemblage variability reflect patterned variation in the use of these secondary deposits through time.

Prehistoric canteras están ubicadas en primaria afloramientos de cuarzo Pedernal en el Cerro Pedernal y San Pedro picos en la parte norte-central de Nuevo México. Una larga tradición de fuente secundaria cuarzo Pedernal utilice también es evidente en todo el registro arqueológico de la cuenca de Albuquerque. Grupo Santa Fe gravas distribuida en la cuenca contienen abundantes clastos reciclados de cuarzo Pedernal que proporcionan una importante fuente local disponible de esta lítica materia prima. LA-ICP-MS análisis de cuarzo Pedernal recopilados a partir de fuentes primarias, Grupo Santa Fe y gravas, cuarzo Pedernal artefactos de la cuenca no reveló diferencias químicas significativas entre estos materiales. Cuarzo Pedernal se asocia más a menudo con la fuente primaria en Cerro Pedernal; sin embargo, evidencias geológicas revela que recicla clastos de cuarzo Pedernal en Albuquerque depósitos de grava de la cuenca probablemente originada en afloramientos en de la Sierra de San Pedro. Las distribuciones de tamaño entre cuarzo Pedernal gravas encontrados dentro de diferentes partes de la cuenca de Albuquerque presente limitaciones específicas sobre estrategias de reducción lítica. Como tal, el sitio arqueológico regional distribuciones y ensamble líticos variabilidad muestran variación en el uso de estos segundario gravas a través del tiempo.

KEYWORDS:

• Pedernal chert
• Secondary sources
• Albuquerque Basin
• Geochemical analysis
• Lithic procurement

Acknowledgments

We extend our deepest gratitude to Walter Cristobal, Julian Garcia, and Mike Garcia of the Pueblo of Santa Ana Historic Preservation Office who accommodated and participated in the Jemez Reservoir project. Mike Bremer of the Santa Fe National Forest provided support regarding the collection of raw material samples from primary sources at Cerro Pedernal and San Pedro Parks in conjunction with the Nine Mile Hill and Cerro de Los Lunas excavation projects. Special thanks are extended to Phillip Shelley for providing an initial review of this paper. Hector Neff with the Institute for Integrative Research in Materials, Environments, and Societies at California State, Long Beach conducted the LA-ICP-MS analysis. Lastly, we would like to thank our peer reviewer for their thoughtful comments.