New Method of Surfacing Wood Specimens for Study

Abstract

The types of wood identified from tree -ring specimens of 78 archaeological sites in the area of Flagstaff, Arizona were analyzed for changes through time. The sites span a period from Basketmaker III through Pueblo III times. Most of the specimens are from constructional materials. The wood identifications were also compared with the tree types growing on the sites today (1960). The analyses show that there is a great uniformity of types of wood used and the relative percentages of the various woods throughout the time span. This uniformity exists regardless of the location of the site geographically, or in relation to the modern tree distribution. Only the sites constructed during Pueblo I times are different. This group is restricted to the present ponderosa pine limits, and they did not yield a single specimen of either juniper or oak, both of which are found in all the other time divisions. Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, piñon pine and Populus sp. occur in relatively consistent percentages throughout the time span, despite the change in dwelling type from pithouses to pueblos. Since the Indians used trees other than those closest at hand for building purposes, they had to haul large quantities of wood from the areas where the trees grew. Distances to the nearest places where the wood types can be found today are as much as 15 miles from the sites. Some strong motivation must have inspired so great an expenditure of effort, but the reason is not apparent.