Pithouse Retirement and Dedication in the Mimbres Mogollon Region of Southwestern New Mexico

2015/11/20 by Barbara J. Roth, Bernard Schriever, Bernard A. Schriever · 1 citation
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Social Sciences · #Archaeology and Natural History #Archaeology and Rock Art Studies #Archaeology and ancient environmental studies

paper · doi:10.1080/00231940.2015.1118740

openalex publication_date 2015/11/20 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

The Mimbres Mogollon region of southwestern New Mexico has been a key area where evidence of the ritual dedication and retirement of communal structures has been found. We present data that extends these activities to domestic contexts, documenting evidence for the incorporation of dedicatory objects during pithouse construction and the ritual retirement of several Late Pithouse period (AD 550–1000) structures in the Mimbres region. We suggest that symbolic activities associated with construction and abandonment were important components of Late Pithouse period occupations and discuss the implications of their presence in relation to household rituals.

Cited by

• Mimbres Great Kivas and Plazas During the Three Circle Phase, ca. AD 850–1000†

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