Dating construction events at Grasshopper Pueblo: New techniques for architectural analysis

Abstract

The analysis of architecture as a separate but important class of material culture has seen a resurgence of interest in archaeology in recent years. However, a body of analytical techniques equivalent to those used for the analysis of other types of material culture is still lacking in architectural analysis. Computer aided drafting programs offer one means of facilitating architectural analyses by providing both an analytical tool as well as a means of organizing spatial information. Computer techniques are used to combine a construction phase model with tree-ring dates at Grasshopper Pueblo. In the course of the analysis, principles for assigning temporal information to undated construction units are discussed and applied. Finally, the results of the combination of these two sets of information are discussed and a slightly revised site chronology is offered.