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Radiocarbon Evidence for Initial Early Formative Period Occupation in Coastal Oaxaca, Mexico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 May 2019

Guy David Hepp*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, California State University, San Bernardino, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407-2318USA ([email protected])

Abstract

Seven AMS radiocarbon dates (1950–1525 cal BC) from controlled contexts demonstrate Early Formative period occupation in coastal Oaxaca, Mexico. These dated elements from the site of La Consentida include hearths, occupational surfaces, carbon adhering to pottery from a midden, and human bone collagen processed with XAD purification. They were excavated from primary contexts and do not represent redeposited materials. An eighth sample, dated to the Middle Formative period, is considered postoccupational. The diversity of dated deposits and features, their distribution, and their overlapping calibrated ranges indicate settlement by an initial Early Formative period village.

En este informe se detalla la procedencia de siete fechados radiocarbónicos obtenidos por AMS (1950–1525 cal aC) que muestran una ocupación del período Formativo temprano en la costa de Oaxaca, México. Los elementos fechados del sitio La Consentida incluyen fogones, superficies de ocupación, carbón adherido a la cerámica proveniente de un basurero y colágeno óseo humano procesado con purificación XAD. Estas muestras fueron obtenidas de contextos primarios y no representan materiales redepositados. Una octava muestra, fechada en el período Formativo medio, se considera post-ocupacional. La diversidad de depósitos y elementos fechados, su distribución y sus rangos calibrados superpuestos ponen en evidencia el asentamiento de una aldea del período inicial del Formativo temprano.

Type
Report
Copyright
Copyright © 2019 by the Society for American Archaeology 

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