A Reanalysis of First Reported Archaeomagnetic Dates from the Hohokam Area, Southern Arizona

Abstract

Because of the inability to evaluate the primary data, archaeologists are questioning the accuracy of the first archaeomagnetic dates obtained from the Hohokam area in southern Arizona. Since many important dates have been disregarded in recent chronological reconstructions, an attempt is made in this article to reevaluate these first reported dates to ascertain whether or not significant information might still exist. A method of reanalysis is devised, but the usefulness of the temporal information contained in the majority of the samples is severely limited by not knowing the sample paleopole location relative to the archaeomagnetic master curve. As a result, the temporal precision of the reanalyzed samples is decreased and inaccurate temporal interpretations are identified for a small but significant set of samples. While insufficient data exist for archaeomagnetic dating to contribute significantly to the pre-A.C. 700 segment of the chronology, this dating technique has been the focus of an intensive effort to revise and strengthen that portion of the Hohokam chronology between A.C. 700 and 1500. Support is provided for portions of the established chronology that postulates major cultural changes occurring ca. A.C. 900 and A.C. 1050–1150. Other implications of the temporal reinterpretations for Hohokam prehistory are discussed. The entire exercise serves to illustrate the importance of publishing complete archaeomagnetic information.