Artifact size and freqency in the analysis of Hohokam habitation refuse using a high resolution method

Abstract

The distribution of refuse artifacts by size and frequency is the result of site formation processes which involve size-based artifact sorting and artifact size-reduction. Previous archaeological research on artifact size is reviewed in detail. Important artifact size-reduction processes include foot traffic and the effects of a variety of natural forces. Important artifact size-sorting processes include discard behavior and refuse clearing activity. Artifact size and frequency is examined at a Hohokam habitation site in the upper bajada of the northern Tucson Basin using a high resolution method. The high resolution method is applied to a small surface area (10 x 50 meters) of habitation site "sheet trash." The results of the analysis include evidence for the preservation of large sherds in trash mounds, sherd size-reduction resulting from foot traffic, and refuse clearing.