An analysis of the Homol'ovi fauna with emphasis of ritual behavior

Abstract

An extensive analysis of the faunal material recovered from the four Homol'ovi pueblos yielded data on the past environment and changes in human and animal interactions. Life-history models incorporating ethnographic and ecological literature were developed and used to identify behaviors associated with the acquisition, processing, use, and disposal of animals in general, and specifically animals used in ritual context. The expectations created by these models were evaluated using a detailed, deposit driven, contextual analysis of each structure. Changes in ritual behaviors involving the fauna, ritual objects, and structures were identified; and included the introduction of new or expanded ritual abandonment processes at the two large, aggregated villages of Homol'ovi I and II. These changes in ritual behaviors suggest that ritual specialization occurred as a possible response to scalar stress during the plaza-oriented aggregation period (post A.D. 1330), and that ritual-based social power was enhanced by this specialization.