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Late Pleistocene Human Friction Skin Prints from Pendejo Cave, New Mexico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Donald Chrisman ,
Richard S. MacNeish ,
Jamshed Mavalwala  and
Howard Savage
Donald Chrisman
Affiliation:
Andover Foundation for Archaeological Research, Box 83, Andover, MA 01810
Richard S. MacNeish
Affiliation:
Andover Foundation for Archaeological Research, Box 83, Andover, MA 01810
Jamshed Mavalwala
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A1
Howard Savage
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A1
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Abstract

In the excavation of Pendejo Cave (FB 9366) near Orogrande, New Mexico, 16 friction skin imprints were found in five stratified zones on clay nodules, baked at over 120°C. After careful analysis, expert dermatoglyphologists determined that these imprints had positive primate characteristics. The imprints are probably of human origin, since no other primates are known to have existed in prehistoric New Mexico. Eight of the imprints occurred in three well-dated zones falling in the late Pleistocene. These zones have direct radiocarbon dates between 12,000 and 37,000 B.P. In addition to their association with radiocarbon determinations, the prints come from three of 24 stratified zones, intensively studied by geologists and pedologists, that are dated in sequence by 34 other radiocarbon determinations acquired from four different laboratories. The imprints are associated with a column of over 35,000 paleontological specimens and more than 15,000 botanical remains. These specimens indicate Pleistocene changes and supply evidence of human transportation and modification of various materials. The prints are also associated with artifacts, ecofacts, features of human construction, and human remains. The imprint specimens therefore provide evidence of Pleistocene human occupation in the New World.

Resumen

Resumen

En la excavatión de la Cueva Pendejo (FB 9366) cerca de Orogrande, Nuevo México, se encontraron 16 huellas de fricción de piel en nódulos de arcilla cocidos a más de 120°C, en cinco zonas estratificadas. Un análisis detallado realizado por dermatoglifólogos determinó que estas huellas tienen caracteristícas de primates. En otras palabras, estas huellas probablemente son de origen humano, debido a que no existieron otros primates en Nuevo México prehistórico. Ocho de las huellas ocurrieron en tres zonas que datan del Pleistoceno tardío. Estas zonas tienen fechados radiocarbónicos entre 12.000 y 37.000 a.P. Además de su asociación con fechados radiocarbónicos, las huellas se originan en tres de las 24 zonas estratificadas fechadas en secuencia por otras 34 determinaciones radiocarbónicas y obtenidas de cuatro laboratorios diferentes. Las huellas estdn asociadas con una columna paleontológica, estudiada en detalle por geólogos y pedólogos, de más de 35.000 especímenes y más de 15.000 restos botánicos, los cuales indican cambios en el Pleistoceno y proveen evidencia de transporte humano y/o modification de varios materiales. Las huellas estdn asociadas con artefactos, ecofactos, rasgos de constructión humana, y restos humanos. Estas huellas, por lo tanto, son evidencia de occupatión humana del Pleistoceno en el Nuevo Mundo.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 61 , Issue 2 , April 1996 , pp. 357 - 376
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1996

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