Dietary, paleoclimatic, and ethnohistoric evidence indicates that alterations in regional systems of exploitation and selective pressures were associated with the diffusion of farming in unrelated periods of Southwestern and Great Basin cultural development. Artifacts and coprolite/macrofloral remains from the Clydes Cavern and Hogup Cave Fremont sites suggest that the spread of maize farming coincided with: (a) the development of grass collecting; (bj the expansion of a grassland environment; (c) outside cultural contacts; and (dj genetic modifications in corn. Ethnohistoric evidence indicates that the diffusion ofNuma horticulture in the early historic period also occurred in a context of environmental change. However, unlike the Fremont example in which natural environmental modifications were present, the spread of Numa farming occurred as a result of disruptions to the native plant communities and the seed gathering cycle caused by external cultural pressures. Both examples demonstrate that while the specific reasons for the adoption and growth of farming differed depending upon the regional situation, the overall pattern of horticultural diffusion in the Southwest and Great Basin may have been favored by selective pressures involving environmental alteration, population expansion and contact influences.

Analysis of the style of architecture and related sculpture, contemporaneous with part of the Late Classic period, prevalent in what have traditionally been designated as the Rio Bee and Chenes regions of the Maya lowlands, suggests the advisability of reconsideration of these regional designations. The Rio Bee and Chenes styles cannot readily be differentiated either in time or space and are, therefore, appropriately no more than substyles in a wider Central Yucatan regional style. In this style, internal distinctions are markedly less than those between other regional styles of the Maya lowlands. Further, on the basis of these same architectural and sculptural considerations, the Central Yucatan style is more appropriately the first phase of the Florescent period of Yucatan than the middle of the Late Classic period of the Peten with which it is contemporaneous.

The obsidian artifact distribution in some 13,000 m3 of excavated fill from 17 Maya sites is analyzed. Large regional centers, characterized by abundant monumental art and architecture, have five times more obsidian per capita than do smaller centers. Central place redistribution, rather than central place market exchange (Rathje 1971), appears to be the best organizational mode for this long-distance trade. That is, obsidian in the Late Preclassic-Early Classic was a status good reflecting religious and political behavior. Its everyday use was largely restricted to elite households. By the Late Classic increases in transport efficiency may have permitted a more widespread usage of obsidian.

The shift from llama pastoralism to potato agriculture in the Jauja-Huancayo basin of highland Peru has previously been considered a result of the Wari conquest. An alternative hypothesis, based on population pressure, is suggested here. As an adjunct to the description of population distribution, the concepts of an exploitable territory threshold model and of site catchment as a part of central place theory are explored.

Microscopic identification and chemical reagents are used to identify organic use residues on stone tools. A basic distinction is made between plant and animal residues on stone tools from prehistoric sites in east central Arizona. Morphological identification undertaken in a crime lab independently supports the chemical technique. Other possible techniques and controls are discussed, as well as the implications for further research.

A set of modern Tijuana vessels has been used to test some solutions to problems involved in the reconstruction of the morphology and capacity of vessels in ceramic assemblages. The technique employs morphological criteria to partition and reconstruction the modern assemblage. The results of these experiments are described.

An iron-nickel bead from Mound 9 at Havana, Illinois is distinctly different from samples from the Hopewell and Turner Mounds in Ohio. Whereas the source of the Ohio material appears to have been the Brenham, Kansas meteorite, there is no known North American meteorite having a composition closely similar to that of the Havana bead.

A basic, effective, water-conserving flotation system is described. Reference to this procedure's adaptability to various research goals and suggestions concerning the presentation of the material to the analyst are discussed.

The results of an experiment applying orthophoto mapping techniques to the Loeve-Fox site in Central Texas are presented. This new mapping technique is described and suggestions for its application to archaeological situations are made.

Thermoluminescent dates for the Julsrud collection, excavated near Acambaro, Guanajuato, Mexico, are shown to be invalid. Evidence is offered showing that these figurines were fired shortly before they were found.

Many archaeologists continue to assume that spear thrower adjuncts were intended to serve some practical purpose related to the performance of the weapon despite the inconclusive results of the experimental use of the “weighted” spear thrower. Contrary to popular opinion, there is little evidence to substantiate the claim that atlatl weights increase the range or velocity of projectiles to any significant degree. A new approach to the problem is suggested by referring back to the original descriptions of archaeologically recovered spear throwers from the American Southwest. The fact that Basket Maker II atlatls were described as being characteristically flat in cross-section with surprisingly flexible shafts as well as reference to the former use of flexible spear throwers by A boriginal tribes of north A ustralia suggests that spear thrower adjuncts may have been intended as a means of exploiting the potential of such a weapon.

A tendency for many precolumbian buildings to align east of north is examined for possible astronomical motives. Stellar and solar phenomena are suggested as possible influences. The importance of clearly establishing the relative positions of observer and point of reference in any archaeo-astronomical analysis is emphasized. Certain misconceptions concerning chronological correlations of alignments and a new dimension in establishing orientations are discussed.

A series of experiments to replicate prismatic blades with use of direct percussion, indirect percussion, and pressure techniques are discussed. Similar prismatic blades can be produced by a number of techniques and comparison is made with blades from some archaeological sites in Texas. It is suggested that Paleoindian blade technology employed direct percussion exclusively, and later small blade technologies used other techniques as well.

Archaeological explanations of Hohokam canal design have stressed the importance of preventing seepage and evaporation. These features are shown to be less important to flow than is the shape of the ditch (ceteris paribus). Models which accurately reflect prehistoric irrigation practices must be based on accurate assumptions about water delivery systems.

A small sample of Fremont skeletal material was examined for antemortem tooth loss. Females were found to have a statistically significant higher antemortem tooth loss than males. Although the exact reasons for this finding are unknown at this time, it is hypothesized that an unidentified cultural factor put additional strain on the female masticatory system resulting in an increased tooth loss during life.

The type-variety system of ceramic taxonomy is widely accepted, but some difficulties exist in the identification and interpretation of "wares" in the study of Maya pottery. Although the ware concept was formulated to incorporate technological data, such as paste composition, into the classificatory scheme, in practice ware definitions are frequently limited to variables of surface treatment. A redefinition of the ware concept and the creation of a new unit of paste composition analysis which crosscuts types is suggested. This will realign theory closer to what is current practice and will enhance the potential and actual contributions of the type-variety system to the anthropological study of pottery.

The case recently made by Madsen and Berry (1975) for human abandonment of the entire eastern Great Basin between approximately 3200 and 1500 B.P. is critically reviewed. The stratigraphic and radiocarbon data on which their argument is based are shown to be inadequate to support it.