Maney Publishing

Formative Lacustrine Adaptation: Botanical Remains from Terremote-Tlaltenco, D. F., Mxico

Author(s): Emily McClung de Tapia, Mari Carmen Serra Puche and Amie Ellen Limn de Dyer
Source: Journal of Field Archaeology, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Spring, 1986), pp. 99-113
Published by: Maney Publishing
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/529914
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Lacustrine
Formative
Adaptation:
BotanicalRemainsfrom
Terremote-Tlaltenco,
M6xico
D.F.,
EmilyMcClungde Tapia
MariCarmenSerraPuche
EllenLim6nde Dyer
Amrnie

Instituto
de Investigaciones
Antropol6gicas
de Mexico
Universidad
NacionalAut6noma
Mexico,D.F., Mexico

DistritoFederal, Mexico,
The extensiveexcavationof Terremote-Tlaltenco,
data concerning
in thesouthernBasin ofMexico, has providedsignificant
humanadaptationto lacustrineconditionsduringtheMiddle and Late Formativeperiods in thisregionofMesoamerica.Resultsof theanalysisof
abundantlypreservedarchaeobotanicalremainsfromthesite are described
here in an attemptto illustratetheirrole in understanding
prehispanicsubsistenceactivitiesin theBasin.

Introduction
is situatedon an
The Late Formative
periodsiteof Terremote-Tlaltenco
shoreofLakeChalco,the
artificial
island(FIGS.1,2) attheedgeoftheancient
southernmost
of a seriesof shallowinlandlakesthatcharacterized
theBasin
of Mexicoin prehispanic
times.The prehistoric
of
the
area was
occupation
Armillas
Pedro
who
carried
out
test
excavations
atthe
initially
investigated
by
sitein 1970,andlaterbyPaulTolstoywhoexcavatednearby
at El Terremote
in 1972.1In 1976theextensive
excavation
ofTerremote-Tlaltenco
was undertakenby Mari CarmenSerraPuche2undertheauspicesof theInstitute
for
National
Autonomous
of
Mexico.
Six
Research,
Anthropological
University
moundsandthreetrenches
wereexcavated
twofieldseasons,from1976
during
to 1978, and in situmacrobotanical
as well as flotation
specimens
samples
wererecovered
fromselectedcontexts
theexcavatedareas.
throughout
The following
describes
theplantremains
fromMounds8, 9, and 1,
report
andprovides
a preliminary
all
of
botanical
remains
identified
todate.
summary
1. PedroArmillas,
"Gardenson Swamps,"Science174 (1971) 653-661;Paul Tolstoyet al.,
oftheBasinofMexico,"JFA4 (1977)91-106;C. EarleSmith,
Communities
"EarlySedentary
Jr.andPaulTolstoy,
andManintheBasinofMexico,"Economic
"Vegetation
Botany35 (1981)
415-433.Terremote-Tlaltenco
is thesitethatArmillas,
as
op. cit.(in thisnote)661, designated
to it as sitenumber
50. This
14QMS972324.Tolstoyet al., op. cit. (in thisnote)92, referred
samesiteis labeledXO-LF-2in Jeffrey
R. Parsonset al., "Prehispanic
Settlement
Patterns
in
theSouthern
14 (1982)
Valleyof Mexico:The Chalco-Xochimilco
Region,"MMichMusAnth
116. Sitenumber
inTolstoyet al., op. cit.(in thisnote)92, is referred
to by
51, as designated
Parsonset al., op. cit.(in thisnote)94, as XO-EF-2.Thissiteis locatedca. 350 m tothesouth
of#50,anditis thesiteoftheEarlyFormative
referred
tobyTolstoy
as El Terremote.
occupation
2. The surfacesurvey,
and
excavation
of
was
carried
outunder
mapping,
Terremote-Tlaltenco
thedirection
of Mari CarmenSerraPucheduring1976-1978.AmieEllen Lim6nde Dyer
theseparation
andpreliminary
identification
ofbotanical
fromfloated
soil
completed
specimens
andinterpretation
withrespect
tosampleproveniences
samples.Thereviewofbotanical
specimens
was carried
outbyEmilyMcClungde Tapia.

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100 FormativeLacustrineAdaptation,Mexico/Tapia,Puche, and Dyer

WWI v

ow

(a)

(b)

Torfemote -Tlaftonco

MMOUD

MOUND

10MUNDI

(c)ON

MOUND 15
10
0

20

C. Terremote-Tlaltenco.
B. TheBasinofMexico;
A. Mesoamerica;
ofTerremote-Tlaltenco.
1. Location
Figure
as
enlightenment
The botanicalmaterialsthusfaridentified
providesignificant
the
as well as information
regarding
to the subsistencebase of the settlement
of
kindsof exploitativeand productiveactivitiescarriedout by theinhabitants
theLate Formativecommunity.
of
Tolstoy's test excavationsat El Terremoteand elsewherein the Basin
because
here
our
for
purposes
Mexico, howeversmall in scale, are significant
an effortwas made to recoverstratigraphic
samplesof botanicalmaterial.The
analysisof these specimens,carriedout by Dr. C. Earle Smith,Jr.,provided
conditionsin the
directbotanical data relativeto Formativeenvironmental

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Journal
13, 1986 101
ofFieldArchaeology/Vol.
S_____

--

-.~-

site

Sierra

Lill

Archaeological

SAN FRANCISCO-

TLAPACOYA

Modern Chinampas

x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Ox
x
x
~-~u
?x
x"=
x
xx
x
x
X
X
x
X
x
x
x'.
x
x
N
x
X-:?x
14UpperPiedmon
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
C
--V\1
x
x
X,
x
x
x
x
x
xXx
x
xx
x
xx
xx
-X
x:
x
x
X
x
x
X
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
X
X
X
x
x
X
X
X
- WUpand
---X--Allviu
xxxx
x----xxX
-x xx
W
xxX
X
xxxxxc"I/x x
Xxxxxx
STLALTENCO

-TERREMOTE
TLALTENC
~

~--

-Lake

LakeshoreAlluvium
System

LowerPiedmont

.UUppaer

Piedmont
-

-Upland
x** * *2

zonescharacteristic
ofthesouthern
BasinofMexico.North
is attop.
Figure2. Environmental

Basin of Mexico and, in particular,

to thepatterns
of exploitation
of plant
resources
local
human
by
populations.
Terremote-Tlaltenco
a rural(butby no meansmarginal)
settlerepresents
an areaofca. 6-7 ha, situated
in a marshy
zoneat theformer
ment,covering
edgeofLake Chalco.The moundswhicharevisibletodayon thedrysurface
weresubmerged
a seriesofchangesinthelake
during
longperiods,following
ofpartsofthelake
level,priorto the16thcentury
(whenlarge-scale
drainage
was
initiated
the
The
Formative
system
by Spaniards). recognizable
occupation
is distributed
across15 mounds,whichwerecreatedand/or
reinforced
by a
characteristic
of
of
lacustrine
technique alternating
(bullrushes
layers
vegetation
andsedges)andmud,withwood-and-stone
structures.
Moundsvary
retaining
fromca. 60 cmto 2 m in height,
andthesiteitselfis situated
at an elevation
of 2,242m abovesea level.
ofTerremote-Tlaltenco
Chronology
WhileTolstoyplacedtheoccupation
of nearby
El Terremote
within
theEarly
Formative
and
Manantial
1400-1200
B.C.,
(Ayotla Early
phases,
EarlyHoriexcavations
atTerremote-Tlaltenco
indicate
a latersettlement
zon),3therecent
3. Although
theauthors
use traditional
alternative
BasinofMexicoperiods
periodterminology,
andphasesareprovided
in Table 1. DivisionoftheFormative
IperiodintoFirstIntermediate
V is basedon WilliamT. Sanders,Jeffrey
R. Parsons,and RobertS. Santley,TheBasin of

Mexico: Ecological Processes in the Evolutionof a Civilization(Academic Press: New York

1979)93. PhasesforthesiteofZohapilcoarebasedonChristine
Niederberger,
Zohapilco:Cinco

Milenios de Ocupaci6n Humana en un Sitio Lacustre de la Cuenca de Mexico (INAH: Mexico

ofvariousauthors,
1976) 10. FortheValleyofMexico,phasesarebasedon a synthesis
among
them:Niederberger,
ibid. 10-11; GeorgeC. Vaillant,"Excavations
at Zacatenco,"AnthPapAmMusNHist
32 (1930) 1-197;idem,"Excavations
atTicoman,"
32 (1931)
AnthPapAmMusNHist
Culture
intheBasinof
199-451;PaulTolstoyandLouiseParadis,"EarlyandMiddlePreclassic
Mexico",Science167 (1970) 344-351;Sanders,Parsons,and Santley,1979 op. cit. (in this

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Alluvium

102 FormativeLacustrineAdaptation,Mixico/Tapia,Puche, and Dyer

Table1. Formative
period
oftheBasinofMexico.
chronology

PERIODS
(PARSONS etal 1982)
300AD(NIEDERBERGER

150
0

BASIN OF MEXICO
ZOHAPILCO

VALLEYof MEXICO

TERREMOTE- TEOTIHUACAN
+
CSANDERS,PARSONS

TLALTENCO
(PARSGN97)(ASN1t82)1
1976) (PARSONSetl1982)(SERRAPUCHEI9801982)
MICCAOTLI

EARLYCLASSIC F.I.M

200

F. I. T

TZACUALLI

LATE
FORMATIVE
-CUANALAN

200
PATLACHIQUE

F.111400
"N
F" -

TICOMAN

600

TEZOYUCA

300

500
600

ZACATENCO-6
700FIRST
MIDDLE

800

100 BC

.
FPATLACHIQUE200
FT fI1
TICOMAN

300

500

31

TTZACUALLI

i00 BC TERMINAL
FORMATIVE

400

g
',,SI979.MILm.OI
MICCAOTLI

7OO
INTER-

700

CUAUTEPEC-700
LA PASTORA

FORMATIVE MEDIATE

CHICONAUTLA800

MANANTIAL

900

EL

I000

ARBOLILLO

,900
ALTICA

BOMBA

1150
EARLY

1000

MANANTIAL

HORIZON1300

BC

bothLate Manantial(1000-800 B.C.) and Zacatencophase (800incorporating

400 B.C.) occupation.The greatestsettlement
densityoccursduringtheTicoman
phases
phase (400-200 B.C.) of theLate Formativeperiod,or FirstIntermediate
2B, 3A, and partof 3B (see TABLE1).
Evidence forsite expansioncorrespondsto the Late Formativeoccupation,
and the majorityof the ceramic data pertainsto this period as well. The
chronologyof thesiteis based on thepresenceof diagnosticFormativeceramic
fromtypologiesformulated
by Vaillant,4McBride, Barba de
typesdetermined
PifiaChan,6 and Niederberger.7
Diagnostic ceramic groups include rose granular,white,and gray wares.
Ollas (jars) and bowls are dominantamong the domesticwares. The group
referredto by Vaillant8as Ticoman Bay Ware is quite common.The most
of ollas withflaringrims
commonvessel formsincludea heavyconcentration
and compoundsilhouettebowls.
abandonedduringthe
was apparently
of Terremote-Tlaltenco
The settlement
laterhalfof theTicomanphase (duringthePatlachique-Tezoyuca
phase in the
is based on Tolstoyet al., loc.
note) 93. Middle FormativechronologyforTerremote-Tialtenco
cit. (in note 1). Formativeperiod phases for Teotihuacanare synthesizedfromRene Millon,
Bruce Drewitt,and George L. Cowgill, Urbanizationat Teotihuacan:theTeotihuacanMap Part
I, (Universityof Texas Press: Austin1973) 79.
4. Vaillant, 1930 op. cit. (in note 3) 80-97; idem, 1931 op. cit. (in note 3) 269-292.
Patternsin the Cuauh5. Harold W. McBride, "FormativeCeramicsand PrehistoricSettlement
titlanRegion, Mexico," unpublishedPh.D. dissertation
(UCLA 1974).
6. BeatrizBarba de PifiaChan, "Tlapacoya: Un Sitio Prechisicode Transici6n,"Acta Antropol6gica, Epoca 2 1 (1956) 59-94.
7. Niederberger,1976 op. cit. (in note 3) 109-208.
8. Vaillant, 1931 op. cit. (in note 3) 270-275.

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JournalofField Archaeology/Vol.
13, 1986 103
olla rims)
sincethelatestceramics(principally
Valley of Mexico terminology),
correspondto thispointin time.9

Environmental
Settingsin theBasin ofMexico

The modemvegetationof theBasin of Mexico and itspossibleantecedents,

as partiallyreconstructed
fromtheresultsof pollenanalysesand corroborating
and
faunal
evidence, have been describedelsewherein some
climatological
detail.o10
In general,theentireBasin has undergoneprofoundecologicalmodification,
reachingback to Formativetimes.More thana thousandyearsof
undoubtedly
intensiveagriculturein almostall suitablepartsof the region,in additionto
the consequencesof large-scaledrainageand grazingfollowingthe Spanish
Conquest,have greatlyalterednaturalconditionsto a pointbeyondreconstructionin mostareas. Whilemodemvegetation
belowthe2,700-mcontourreflects
the most substantialdegree of modification,
it is also important
to note that
have
been
for
forest
and
reforestation
products,
higherslopes
heavilyexploited
projectsin recentlyprotectedareas have fosteredthe replacementof many
naturallyoccurringspecies by importedpines, whichdevelop morerapidly.
A descriptionof the southernBasin of Mexico in termsof severaldistinct
environmental
zones, each characterized
by different
plantcommunities,
provides a moremeaningful,
albeitgeneral,contextwithinwhichto place thesite
of Terremote-Tlaltenco
(FIG. 2). The followingzones were proposedfirstby
and
later
Parsons1"
by Sanders,Parsons,and Santley.12
The Lake Systemconsistsof a seriesof fiveshallow lakes, ranging1-3 m
in depth,and formingeithera single or severalbodies of water,depending
theBasin floorat thetime
upon seasonal conditions.This systemcharacterized
of the Spanish Conquest. The saline centralportion(Lake Mexico-Texcoco),
locatedat thelowestelevation,was theultimatedestination
forall drainageof
otherwatersources,includingthe less saline Lakes Xaltocanand Zumpango
to the northand the freshwater
southerncomponentof Lakes Chalco and
Xochimilco. The lakes and theiradjacent marshesprovidedsignificant
resources such as aquatic fauna,flora,and migratory
in
addition
to
waterfowl,
theirrole as a communications
network.Centuriesof intentional
have
drainage
eliminatedmostof the lake areas, and thosethatremain(e.g., Lake Texcoco
and the chinampasin the modem urbanzones of Xochimilco,Tlahuac, and
Chalco) are ecological disasterareas owingto poordrainage,highsaltconcentrations(Texcoco), and/orcontaminationfromurban wastes (XochimilcoChalco).
9. Serra Puche, 1982 op. cit. (in note 3) 16-18, Cuadro 2.
10. JerzyRzedowski,"Vegetaci6ndel Pedregalde San Angel(DistritoFederal,Mexico)," Anales
de la Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biol6gicas, IPN 8 (1954) 59-129; J. Rzedowski et al.,
"Cartograffade los PrincipalesTipos de Vegetaci6nde la Mitad Septentrionaldel Valle de
Mexico," Anales de la Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biol6gicas, IPN 13 (1964) 31-67; Marina
Villegas D., "Estudio Floristicoy Ecol6gico de las Plantas Arvensesde la ParteMeridionalde
la Cuenca de Mexico," Anales de la Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biol6gicas, IPN 18 (1970)
of the Basin of Mexico," The
17-89; AntonKovar, "The Physicaland Biological Environment
TeotihuacanValleyProject: Final ReportI. Occasional Papers inAnthropology
3. (Pennsylvania
State University:UniversityPark 1970) 13-67; Niederberger,1976 loc. cit. (in note 3); idem,
"Early SedentaryEconomyin theBasin of Mexico," Science 203 (1979) 131-142; Mari Carmen
Serra Puche, "Ecologia y EconomfaLacustresen el Sur de la Cuenca de Mexico," Ciencia 31
(1980) 7-16; Tolstoyet al., loc. cit. (in note 1).
11. Jeffrey
R. Parsons, "The Developmentof a PrehistoricComplex Society: a Regional Perspectivefromthe Valley of Mexico," JFA 1 (1974) 81-108.
12. Sanderset al., 1979 op. cit. (in note 3) 84-89.

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104 FormativeLacustrineAdaptation,Mexico/Tapia,Puche, and Dyer

The Saline Lakeshoreconsistsof a band of saline soil adjacentto theshores
of Lake Texcoco, Lake Xaltocan, and Lake Zumpango.This shorelinewas
sourceof salt.
exploitedin antiquityas an important
wide stripsof fertileland along
TheDeep Soil Alluviumconsistsof relatively
the easternedge of Lake Texcoco and Lake Chalco betweenTeotihuacanand
Chalco, in additionto theNWcornerof Lake Texcoco and thesw side of Lake
Zumpango.
The Lower Piedmontrefersto a stripof gentleslopes of varyingelevation
in antiquity
below the2,350-mcontour,characterized
deep and
by sufficiently
humidsoils for maize-basedagriculture.Naturalvegetationin this area was
probablydominatedby oak forestpriorto deforestation.13
domThe Middle Piedmontoccursbetween2,350-2,500 m and is currently
inatedby a dense oak, broadleafforestin thefewareas wheretracesof natural
vegetationstilloccur.14
The UpperPiedmontrefersto the zone 2,500-2,700 m in elevation,characterizedby shallow soils, a high degreeof soil erosion,and a highriskof
frosts.Before deforestation
occurred,the area may have been coveredby a
forestof oak, pine, cypress,alder,etc.15
mixedbroadleaf-conifer
The Sierra extendsfrom2,700 m to as highas 5,800 m in the SE and has
as a sourceof forestproducts:mainlywood for
been exploitedpredominantly
charcoal
and
fuel,
construction,
production.16

1976-1978
Excavationsat Terremote-Tlaltenco:
Archaeologicalevidence suggeststhattheearliesthumanoccupationof the
in thesouthernzone, close to theshoresof
Basin of Mexico was concentrated
Lakes Chalco and Xochimilco.Demographicgrowth,however,graduallyled
to the expansion of agriculturalpopulationsinto the surrounding
piedmont
and the degreeof nucleationintensified,
areas. As the numberof settlements
so did theprocessof increasinghierarchical
sociopoliticalorganization.By the
Late TerminalFormativeperiod (ca. 650 B.C.-150 A.C.; First Intermediate
phases 2, 3, and 4) thereis a clearlyestablishedpatternof hierarchicalsettlecontrolledrelatively
centersthatapparently
ments,dominatedby supraregional
100 ha withsubover
settlements
centers
(nucleated
covering
large regional
and theirsurrounding
stantialcivic architecture)
villages.17 The focusof settlementin the Basin of Mexico changesthen,fromthe lakeshoreplain to the
apparentlydevelopedinto a
piedmontzone. The site of Terremote-Tlaltenco
"regionalcenter,"possiblydependentupon Tlapacoya and Cuicuilco in some
in itsown righton thebasis of itsstrategic
measure,butpresumablysignificant
access to lacustrineresourcesas well as to the fertilealluvial soils on the
lakeshoreplain. An additional,as yetunexcavated,sitelocatedon themainland
to thenorthof Terremote-Tlaltenco
(San FranciscoTlaltenco,FIG.2) mayhave
for
the
community.
products
providedagricultural
Fluctuationsin lake level, principallyresultingfromintenseseasonal rains
a seriousproblemfortheoccupants
and consequentflooding,wereundoubtedly
of a series of artificialmoundsin the marshzone
of the site. The formation
13. Ibid. 87.
14. Ibid. 88.
15. Ibid.
16. Ibid.
17. Ibid. 55.

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JournalofField Archaeology/Vol.
13, 1986 105
ratherthanfurther
inland,however,suggeststhatthe importanceof abundant
lacustrineresourcesfaroutweighedthe risksto a settlement
in such environmentalcircumstances.
The moundsof Terremote-Tlaltenco
are primarilyresidentialand contain
one or two houses, withtheexceptionof Mound 1, whichis characterized
by
a substantially
different
typeof architecture.
The house moundsare builton foundations
constructed
of alternating
layers
of mud and vegetation,held in place by a frameof wood and stone. Mud
floorsare outlinedin places by double rows of stones,whichprobablyserved
as bases forwalls of wattleand daub. The abundanceof fragmentary
remains
of petates (woven reed mats) embeddedin mud floorssuggeststheiruse as
floorcoverings(and possiblyon walls as well).
units,thediscoveryofdiscrete
Duringthecourseofexcavatingthehabitation
concentrations
of different
of
artifacts
(needles, baskets,metates,plant
types
thedesignationof specificactivityareas.18
remains,etc.) permitted

BotanicalRemainsfromTerremote-Tlaltenco
Because of theavailabilityofarchaeologicaldataofconsiderablesignificance
fortheinterpretation
of possible subsistenceactivitiesfromMounds 8, 9, and
1, the plant remainsfromthese threeunitswill be consideredindividually
(TABLES 2, 3, 4). In order to provide an idea of the range of plant genera,
however,and the kinds of vegetal materialsthathave been preservedat the
site of Terremote-Tlaltenco,
theresultsof thepreliminary
analysisof archaeobotanicalremainsare summarizedin Table 5.
Mound 8
The distribution
of specificartifactsand organic remainsin relationto
featuressuch as hearthsand house walls was analyzedby means of cluster
analysisin orderto develop a methodfordetermining
specificactivityareas.19
Identifiable
carbonizedplantremainsfromtheoccupationfloorsof thismound
are not abundant,however,althoughthe followinggenera and familiesare
(TABLE 2):
represented
Zea mays(kernels,cupules) - maize
Gramineae(caryopses)- Grass family
Chenopodiumsp. (seeds) - probablyC. nuttalliae,huauhtzontli
Amaranthussp. (seeds)
Mollugo sp. (seeds)
- Mexican cherry,capulin
Prunuscapuli (seed coat fragments)
Phaseolus vulgaris(cotyledons)- beans,frijol
Cactaceae (seeds) - Cactus family
wood charcoal
calcifiedfibers
The associationof maize, beans, amaranth,chenopodium,and cacti with
apparenthearthareas suggeststhat these plants may comprisepart of the
18. Mari Carmen Serra Puche, "La Unidad Habitacional en Terremote-Tialtenco,
D.F.: Un
Anilisis de Distribuci6nEspacial para DefinirAreas de Actividad(PrimeraParte),"Anales de
Antropologia17 (1980) 167-185.
19. Ibid.

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106 FormativeLacustrineAdaptation,Mexico/Tapia,Puche, and Dyer

Table 2. Botanicalremains
recoveredfromMound 8, by genus
and excavationunit.

in in in0 n0 0 0
_
7 + 5+

(kernels)
(cobs)
(cupules)

Zea mays
It..t

"
Gromineoe
Fiam.
Scirpus
sp
Chenopodium sp
"

01

o0

If

27

4
3

2
5
5

sp

Amaranthus
Mollugo
sp
Prunuscapull
Phassolus vulgaris

If
2

Phasesolus sp.
Fam. Coctaceae
Unidentifiedseeds
Unidentifiedwood
FIBERS
Unidentified
fibers

2f

2
2 + 1+
X
(carbonized)

(calcified)

TUBERS
Unidentifiedtuber

4
86
X

If
X
X

f= Fragments, +=Additional fragments ,

X= Presence

Table 3. BotanicalremainsrecoveredfromMound 9, bygenusand excavationunit.

GENUS
Zee mays

(kernels)
(cobs)

I +

(cpulpes)
.11

Forn
Graomineoe (coryopes,)
M

*
Scirpussp
Cyper

20 f 44+

(stem)

"

I
1&

(stelm)

0
o

1f

-3

-3

-3

10

Portuloce
Prantscopu# ,sp
/s
aseousrvulfpr
Phoaseots
coccinus
Phaseo/usop.
p
Opunt/lao
Foan.Coctacea

cuFrblo
pepo
sp.
Cucur'to

If
233
+

-3

9f

372

-3

468

12

28
2

4+

8o0

If

Unidentified
seeds

(calcified)
(carbonized)
(calcfied)

23

30

200

13

+.Adltione!fragments
.

7
I

faFregments .

If
4f

I f

II
I
X
X

colculatedbased on weightof 10 grems.

vFlresquency

10 + _ 6
+

If

(carborized)

838

I f

288

-2

108

If

(peatncl)

Is

6t

1+

60 '228
I

-I7
I

If

"Oblongseed"

Unidentified
embryo
wood
Unidentifled
FIBERS
Unidentified
Ropes
PVropites oustroNa

-3

735

Chenopo.dum
Chno - Amrs op.3.

-3

..

up

AmornthusSp

Is

48 + 19 f

X Presence .

,**aKemels withsevpules

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53
I f

JournalofField Archaeology/Vol.
13, 1986 107
subsistencebase, althoughtheirfrequenciesin thismoundare relativelylow.20
It shouldbe noted,in any case, thatwhile maize and beans representdomesticatedagricultural
products,cacti, amaranth,and chenopodiummay well be
wild, gatheredgenera.
The carbonizedseeds ofAmaranthus
recoveredfromthesitehave an average
diameterof 1.0 mm, whichfallswithinthe averagesformodernwild species
in Northand Middle America.21 Similarly,the archaeologicalspecimensof
Chenopodiumhave an average diameterof 1.5 mm, again, withinthe range
of modernwild species. With respectto seed size, it will be necessaryto
investigatethe range of variationin wild CentralMexican species of these
genera.It is also unclearat presentwhattheeffectsof a highwatertable and
fertilealluvial soils may be on thegrowthconditionsof wild "weedy" genera
such as Amaranthusand Chenopodium.Consequently,thevalidityof a factor
such as relativeseed size is notwithoutitsproblems.On theotherhand,these
particulargenerado not apparentlyundergosignificant
morphologicalchange
as a resultof cultivation,and seed size togetherwithhighfrequencymay be
the only potentialhallmarkof theirintentional
propagation.In summary,this
particularassociationof apparentlyuncultivated
plants,togetherwithmaize
and beans, does call attentionto the potentialimportanceof gatheredplant
of Mound 8.
resources,in spiteof thelow specimencountscharacteristic
Mound 9
Mound 9, situatedon the westernrimof the island (FIG. Ic), is difficult
to
in termsof the distribution
of houses and activityareas. Several
interpret
hearthswere foundaccompaniedby ollas fullof plantremains,butit was not
thelimitsof anyparticularstructures
since no associated
possibleto determine
walls could be located.
The followingplant materialshave been identifiedfromflotationsamples
and in situcontextsfromMound 9 (TABLE3):
- maize
Zea mays(kernels,cupules,cob fragments,
stemfragments)
Gramineae(caryopses)- Grass family
Scirpus sp. (seeds) - bullrush,tule
Cyperussp. (seeds) - sedge, tule
Chenopodiumsp. (seeds) - huauhtzontli
Amaranthussp. (seeds)
Portulaca sp. (seeds) - purslane,verdolaga
Prunuscapuli (seeds) - Mexican cherry,capulin
Phaseolus vulgaris(cotyledons)- bean,frijol
P. coccineus(cotyledons)- runnerbean, ayocote?
Cactaceae (seeds) - Cactus family
"oblong seed"
unidentified
carbonizedseeds
unidentified
calcifiedfibers
carbonizedrope fragments
Phragmitesaustralis- calcifiedand carbonizedfibers
FrequenciesforPhaseolus vulgarisare based on the numberof cotyledons
presentin a 10g sample. The abundanceof P. vulgaristendsto distortthe
20. The recoveryof soil samplesfromMound 8 was particularly
difficult
because of theextreme
hardnessof the livingsurfacesthatwere excavated.
21. AlexanderC. Martinand William D. Barkley,Seed Identification
Manual (Universityof
CaliforniaPress: Berkeley 1961) 151, 153; Marina Villegas y de Gante,Malezas de la Cuenca
de Mexico (M6xico, D.F., 1979) 30-38.

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108 FormativeLacustrineAdaptation,Mixico/Tapia,Puche, and Dyer

of otherplantgenera,a resultof thechancefindof suchlarge

frequencies
withhearths.
ofbeansin thevesselsassociated
concentrations
Mound 1

Mound 1 is locatedin the NE sectorof the site of Terremote-Tlaltenco

ofcarbonized
and
becauseoftheimmense
(FIG.ic), andis important
quantities
and
from
remains
recovered
excavation
flotation
uncarbonized
during
plant
material
to stratigraphic
thebotanical
according
samples.Table4 summarizes
of
instances
ofextremely
within
unit
the
mound.
Several
each
excavation
layer
The
and
are
amaranth
of
outstanding. majority
highfrequencies maize,beans,
ofbaskets
thecontents
oftheseelevatedfrequencies
and,inonecase,
represent
conditions.
all
characterized
an earthenware
preservation
by exceptional
pot,
tend
to
bias
the
counts
Theseisolatedcasesofhigh-volume
samples
frequency
in themoundas wellas fromotherparts
forplantgenerafromothercontexts
ofthesite.
thus
The islandupon whichthe site is locatedresemblesa half-moon,
is
the
water
level
to
the
south
where
area
a
semi-circumscribed
thought
creating
is somewhat
faceofall ofthemounds
tohavebeenlower.Thenorthern
steeper
is
thelocationof a dockingarea.Thishypothesis
and mayin factrepresent
a
of
of
Mound
where
series
from
excavation
the
evidence
1,
by
supported
woodenposts,rootedinthelakebedandheldinplacebyropes,wasuncovered
ofcarbonized
thelargedeposits
(particularly
(FIG.3). In addition,
plantremains
from
thisareasuggest
recovered
and
baskets
maizeandbeans),ceramic
vessels,
back
as a dockforcanoesusedin transporting
itspossiblefunction
products
andforth
fromthemainland.
excavatedat the site is situatedon Mound1, and
The largeststructure
The earlierstageis
two
to
stagesof occupation.
appears represent different
X
thebase
which
m
6
8
a
indicated
stone
m,
provided
apparently
platform,
by
six
wooden
ofwhichis suggested
thepresence
fora roofedstructure,
posts
by
that
was coveredwithlayersof sand,suggesting
foundin situ.The platform
at somepoint,followedbyreconthispartof theislandhad beeninundated
torepairandenlargeit),raisingitabove
oftheplatform
struction
(presumably
ofthe
marksthesecondstageofoccupation
thewaterlevel.Thismodification
mound(FIG. 3).

fromMound1 as a unit
The principal
plantgenera(FIGS.4-9) recovered
the
include following:
- maize
cob fragments,
Zea mays(kernels,
cupules,stemfragments)
- Grassfamily
Gramineae
(caryopses)
Chenopodiumsp. (seeds) - huauhtzontli
Amaranthussp. (seeds)
- avocado
Persea americana (seed fragments)
Mollugo sp. (seeds)
Portulaca sp. (seeds) - purslane,verdolaga
Prunuscapuli (seeds) - Mexican cherry,capulin
Phaseolus vulgaris(cotyledons)- bean,frijol
P. coccineus (cotyledons)- runnerbean, ayocote?
Cactaceae (seeds) - Cactus family
Solanaceae (seeds) - (not Capsicumsp.)
Cucurbitapepo (uncarbonizedseeds, peduncles)- squash
wood charcoal
carbonizedand calcifiedfibers(Gramineae,Amaryllidaceae,
Cyperaceae)
"oblong seed"

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Journal
13, 1986 109
ofFieldArchaeology/Vol.
Table4. Botanical
remains
recovered
from
Mound1,bygenusandexcavation
unit.
[
[
1-;
IGENUS
YI[....'
Pinus Sp

-.I

(bark)

Zeo mos
S(cobs)
i
" "

38

(kernels)
(stem

Fam.Gramineae (corypsi)
S

Chnowpo~wn

29 f
4 f

31

(stem)
(spine)

1+

!.!,,i',"o

I + 7931
3

13
3f

cupuis)

"
Agve sp
Scirpus p

'

23

3
X

70

23

5
6

Mollugo sp

31'
16

10

6+

5029
if

29.+

Oxoi@ sp
Famn.Coctaceas

Physlis
sv..2
sp

1+
2
21
4
If

S+

9f

If

(seeds)

I f

(pedutcle)

I+

I 16

seed
O"Fom
Unidentifiedseeds

61

Unidentifiedwood
(corbonized)
UniSpntifiedwood
(uncorbonized)
FIBERSIIrames
oustrols
Fao. Graminas
(carbonized)
0
(uncorbonized)
"
Unidentified
(calcified)
Unidentified
(corbonized)
Stems
(unidentified)

3+
X

X
X

If tIf

2
2
X

X
X
X

3 ..18"
X

7
X

2f

I +

+*Aditi

lI fromnts.

5+
X

3+

I+

221

39

1
X

4+
X

X
X
x

fIFregneats,

13

4+

2 f
X

X
-

X
X

ark)

of 10 grem.s
*Frequency based on weight

X
X

x
X

Xm
PPresence

basket
roe
38Aropes

isi'
83
16

8A3
2l

I16I

38
If

4+

2i

If
+

Fam. Leguminoeas

'

2+

Prunwe
cpuit
nPhseolus vulgor/s
Ph. occinus
Phoaolus gp.

sp.
Ficus sp
_Agave

20 441
I
f

w1

2+

Famn.
Carophyllacea
Perseo americeane

Cucurbite

2
5

Prtfotco
esp

Solanun
u
Fam. Solonoceas
Cucurbito pop
"
"

04
601 141
I f

3
5

so

Cheno-Ams
,moronr

"

1p
I

A3

ofMound1,showing
Figure3. Partial
profile
possibleembarcadero
area).
(docking

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A3
I

A3

2f

110 FormativeLacustrineAdaptation,Mixico/Tapia,Puche, and Dyer

ofCucurbita
4. Peduncles
pepo
Figure
(Mound1,SquareB4, LayerXII).

seedsofCucurbita
Figure5. Carbonized
pepo(Mound1, SquareB4, LayerXI).

formaize,
It willbe notedin Table4 thatseveralof thehighfrequencies
of
of
a
on
the
based
and
beans
are
(10 g) thetotal
amaranth,
weight proportion
that
unit.
We
excavation
from
a
emphasize theseexcessively
sample
particular
out of context,becauseof the
not
be
considered
should
highfrequencies
theirsurvivalandbecauseof
thatpermitted
conditions
excellentpreservation
or
basket
vessel
thenatureoftheirprovenience
contents).
(i.e.,
By no means
evidencefora proportional
as definite
shouldtheybe misconstrued
dependence
products.
upontheseagricultural
As was thecase withthespecimensfromMounds8 and 9, theaverage
inthesamplesfrom
Mound
andChenopodium
ofseedsofAmaranthus
diameter
true
therangeofmodemwildspecies.Thesameis apparently
1 is wellwithin
which
of
as wellforthecarbonized
Portulaca,
vary
archaeological
specimens
thesamerangeas modemwild
in diameter
between0.5-1.0 mm,exhibiting
of a
at present
seedsof thatgenus.We noteherethatthereis no indication
as
has
been
such
and
Amaranthus
between
Chenopodium
possiblerelationship
in the
tentatively
suggestedduringtheClassic periodat urbanTeotihuacan
or simulBasin of Mexico,eitherin termsof specimen
northern
frequencies
is clearlymoreabundant
Amaranthus
in sampleunits.22
taneousoccurrence
evenwhentheexceptionally
at Terremote-Tlaltenco,
thanChenopodium
high
mentioned
are
of
Amaranthus
de-emphasized.
previously
frequencies
ofBotanicalRemainsfromTerremote-Tlaltenco
The Interpretation
Detailedanalysisof the maize (Zea mays)and beans (Phaseolusspp.)
We
has notyetbeenundertaken.
recovered
duringSerraPuche'sexcavations
those
in
with
are
accordance
observations
that
our
cansayatpresent,
however,
examined
ofthemaizekernels
as themajority
of SmithandTolstoy,23
insofar
to date appearsto be nearlyisodiametric
(of equal dimensions),
suggesting
theirpossibleinclusionin theNal-Tel/Chapalote
complex.We haveassigned
themajorityof thebean specimens(FIG.10)to Phaseolus vulgaris,in addition

Agavepoints
Figure6. Carbonized
(Mound1, SquareA4-B4,LayerIX).

ofZea
kernels
Figure7. Carbonized
mays(Mound1, SquareB4, LayerX).

as P.
identified
whichhavebeententatively
of specimens
number
to a limited
coccineus (runner
bean).24
to datefromthesiteof
On thebasis of thebotanicalmaterialidentified
traditional
that
the
we
Terremote-Tlaltenco
5), argue
(TABLE
maize/beans/squash
theFormative
inexistence
wasundoubtedly
period,
during
complement
dietary
Itis alsoquite
forBasinpopulations.
sourceofnutrients
a significant
providing
subsistence
was not the onlyimportant
evident,however,thatagriculture
this
communities
lake-associated
some
of
the
for
at
least
during period.
activity
ofTerremotethatthepopulation
evidencesuggests
Thepresent
archaeological
materials:
sourcesof subsistence
Tlaltencoheavilyexploitedthreepotential
resources.
and
terrestrial
lacustrine,
agricultural,
subsisofFormative
as theinterpretation
insofar
thatremain,
Theproblems
A
in
nature.
are fundamentally
is concerned,
tenceactivities
methodological
the
to
be
remains
seeds
of
unidentified
number
especially
reanalyzed,
large
intheTeotihuacan
22. EmilyS. McClungde Tapia,"PlantsandSubsistence
Valley.A.D. 100Ph.D. dissertation
(Brandeis1979).
750,"unpublished
23. SmithandTolstoy,
op. cit.(in note1) 428.
thepresenceofP. lunatus(sievabean),andit is possiblethat
24. SmithandTolstoymention
whenthe
as P. coccineus(runner
someof ourspecimens
bean)willbe reclassified
designated
reviewofdatais completed.

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JournalofField Archaeology/Vol.
13, 1986 111
from
remains
recovered
Table5. Botanical
bygenusandmound(orpit).
Terremote-Tlaltenco,
8 MOUNDw9
MOM10 MOU10
15 PIT4
tMOUND
IMbON 5MOUND6fMOUND

GEM/S

Pinus ( bark) 1s

Zeo
m(nbryo)
mays

Typho sp.
*

?,
.

(kernels)

N *

*0959

(cobs)

lt f

(cPis)
(stem)

29f

Famr. Grominso

* *

(caryopsis)

(stem)

WA
AgpveSp (pine)

Cyperus

SP

Mollup
A.

28

22 f

8 .

13

16

Perseo americono

12

14

136

21

12

46

* 5137
6

S_

I+

15

2f
289

2
6

15

.56.

12

Oxolls ~*p

If

Opunfio spp
Fan. Coctoceoe

26

Capsicsn $.

Soloanm SpI

Fam.Soonceae

Cuoarbito pepo

*a

sp,
Cuabito

2
It

(seed)

(pedwnc.)

17+

If

If

Logenorn sicarrio (reid)

1obkngseed*

wunideifidsee&d
otherundentified
remains

wood
(corbonized)
umidentified
FIBERS

Ficus (bork)

349
44,
I

94

377
26

6
I

arisrli.s
........
PIuvpniwAts
Fam.
Gromineoe
(coroba*ed)
(unc.rba.ipd)

(colciied)
unidetified
ropes

.......

x..

TUBERS

X
bond on weight of 10 grams;

X* Presemse

(uncorbontrzd)

stem (utIdentlfed)
*Frecuency

27

2f

Fomr
.Laguminooe

unidentified

If
7f

It1
.

Phesl coccia"1

179

24

Prunus cpildi
PhOseors vulgorls

46
If

6f
52

5f

2235

Portuloco ap.
Fan. Corophylloceae

Physolis

18

_30

41,820

Cheno- Ams

Of

Chenopodi,
Amronfthus

56

sp.

Sclrpus

PIT 5

fS

Frenmnts,

--Mdttiese

fragments.

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X
X

112 FormativeLacustrineAdaptation,Mixico/Tapia,Puche, and Dyer

Figure8. SeedsofPrunuscapuli(Mound
1,SquareB3, LayerVIII).

......

4ALA
CS

calcified
fibers,
Figure9. Unidentified
(Mound1,
rope,andreedfragments
SquareA3, LayerII).

unknown
theex"oblongseed"whichoccursin highfrequencies
throughout
cavationunitsstudied,25
thedetailedanalysisofmaizeandbeanspecimens
is
andwe haveyettodevelopcomplete
collections
forthe
pending,
comparative
ofwoodcharcoalandfibers.
identification
The majordifficulty,
lies
however,
in thesearchfora suitablemodelforthereconstruction
of Formative
subsistenceactivities,
andespeciallyforthemeansbywhichto evaluatethesignifof thesubsistence
icanceof thecomponents
base vis d vis one another.
One
of botanicaldatafromotherarchaeological
approachis through
comparison
sitesdatingto thesametimeperiod.Butarchaeobotanical
remains
havebeen
recovered
fromfewsitescorresponding
to theperiodin question.Ironically,
in thenorthern
datafroma Middle-Late
Formative
Basinof
periodsettlement
are available,butare virtually
uselessforour
Mexico,Loma Terremote,26
contextfromwhichthe specimenswere
purposessince the archaeological
recovered
at Terremote-Tlaltenco.
storagepits)is notrepresented
(bell-shaped
In addition,
interms
ofpresence-absence,
thuseffectively
thedataarereported
otherthana superficial
comparison.
eliminating
anything
We findthatthecomponents
oftheFormative
subsistence
base intheBasin
ofMexicoarecompletely
consistent
withwhatis reported
fortheClassic27and
Postclassic28
andethperiods,andwithwhatis knownbothethnohistorically
thatthereare indications
of a broadrange
The fact,however,
nographically.
ofvariability
ofsitesoccupying
in thesubsistence
different
system
ecological
contexts
duringthesamechronological
perioddoes suggestthata morefirm
basisis necessary
in orderto generalize
abouttheevolution
anddevelopment
ofprehistoric
subsistence
economies.
Conclusion
Based on the architectural
characteristics
of thehabitation
unitsand the
"ceremonial-civic"
Terremote-Tlaltenco
platform
(Mound1),
maybe classified
as a specializedvillagestrategically
situated
on thelakewithmaximalaccess
tonumerous
lacustrine
resources.
Theassociation
oflargequantities
oforganic
materials
as
wild
and
cultivated
bones
of
wa(such
plantremains,
migratory
withabundant
artifactual
remains
terfowl,
fish,and turtles)
(suchas
organic
tools(fiberscrapers),
baskets,ropes,andwovenmats),as wellas processing
involvedin the manufacture
and
suggestsa highlyspecializedcommunity
distribution
offinished
based
on
lacustrine
resources
within
the
southproducts
ernBasinofMexico.
thesuggestion
Additional
datareinforce
thatthemainsubsisarchaeological
tenceactivity
of theLate Formative
of
the
site
on the
centered
occupants
of
fish
lacustrine
and
other
resources,
exploitation
principally
aquaticfauna,
andthecollection
ofaquaticfiberplantsforthemanufacture
ofbaskets,mats,
andrope.The well-preserved
remains
of theseobjects,particarchaeological
25. The "oblongseed"mayin factbe Salvia sp. (chia). We do nothavesufficient
comparative
at present
to confirm
theidentification.
material
"Resultados
del AnilisisBotinico
26. Rosa MariaReynaRoblesandLauroGonzailez
Quintero,
Estadode Mdxico,"Arqueode Formaciones
Troncoc6nicas
en Loma Torremote,
Cuauhtitlan,
botdnica:
(INAH: Mexico,D.F. 1978)33-42.
Mgtodosy Aplicaciones
de RestosBotinicosProce27. McClungde Tapia,loc. cit.(in note22); idem,"Interpretaci6n
dentesde SitiosArqueol6gicos,"
17 (1980) 149-165.
Analesde Antropologia
R. Parsons,ElizabethM. Brumfiel,
28. Jeffrey
MaryH. Parsons,VirginiaPopper,andMary
on LakeChalco-Xochimilco:
Taft,"LatePrehispanic
Preliminary
Report,"
Agriculture
Chinampa
Nacionalde Antropologia
e Historia,
ResearchReportSubmitted
to theInstituto
Mexico,D.F.,
andtheNationalScienceFoundation,
D.C., 1982.
Washington,

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JournalofField Archaeology/Vol.
13, 1986 113

withdefined
domestic
andcraftactivity
areas,29together
ularlyin association
withtheapparent
absenceof agricultural
tools,providesa broaderpictureof
economicactivity
in theBasinof MexicoduringtheFormative-Classic
transition.It is frequently
assumedthatagriculture
thefundamental
subprovided
sistenceactivityfor the majorityof the Late/Terminal
Formativeperiod
intheBasin.Terremote-Tlaltenco,
communities
however,
appearstorepresent
an exampleofa specializedoccupation
ina clearlydefined
ecologicalcontext.
evidencefromTerremote-Tlaltenco
the
Furthermore,
archaeological
supports
as yetuntested
thatFormative
assumption
periodsitesintheBasinweresituated
in areaswithaccessto specificresources,
to thedevelopment
of
contributing
theintensesymbiotic
thatarebelievedto characterize
socioeco- Figure10. Carbonized
relationships
of
cotyledons
nomicrelations
thesubsequent
ClassicandlaterPostclassic
Phaseolusspp.(Mound10,SquareC4,
during
periods.
We are suggesting
thatTerremote-Tlaltenco
maynotbe an essentially
agri- LayerII).
therearesignificant
ofagriculsettlement,
culturally-based
although
quantities
turalplantremainsamongthebotanicalspecimens
recovered.
In theirrecent
ofthearchaeological
from
summary
plantremains
Tolstoy'searlierexcavation
atEl Terremote,
totheapparent
SmithandTolstoy30call attention
significance
of wild plantmaterial:wild grassfoliageand stems(Gramineae);foliage,
of sedges(Cyperaceae);andOpuntiaseeds(Cactaceae).
stems,andrhizomes
Remainsof beans (Phaseolusvulgaris)weresparse,and carbonizedmaize
kernelsand cob fragments
thebulkof thesmallsamplethatwas
comprised
recovered.The extensiveexcavationof Terremote-Tlaltenco,
however,has
of cultivated
whichtendto balancethe
yieldedlargequantities
plantremains
a muchbroader
Thus,we areableto report
picturesomewhat.
rangeofplant
knownfromthe site. Identification
resourcesthanwas previously
of these
ofmoreconcrete
resources
theformulation
withrespect
to
permits
hypotheses
thenatureoftheFormative
lacustrine
subsistence
economyand,moreimportherelationship
betweenexploitative
andproductive
subsistence
activtantly,
itiesin a lacustrine
environment.
to Terremote-Tlaltenco
subthen,severalhypothetical
Initially
approaches
sistenceactivities
thepossibility
ofa "typical"
maybe considered:
agricultural
withaccesstoabundant
lacustrine
resources
as well;thepossibility
community
of a settlement
of lacustrine
redependent
principally
upontheexploitation
sourceswithagricultural
as a secondary
the
and,finally,
production
activity;
ofheavyconcentration
onthegathering
we favoratpresent,
ofwild
possibility
plantresources(forfood and raw materials),
supplemented
by agricultural
as thebasis of an
communities)
products
(probablyobtainedfrommainland
andfinishing
oflacustrine
bytheexploitation
products.
economydominated

I
6@*
0m

29. SerraPuche,op. cit.(in note18) 174-176.

30. SmithandTolstoy,
op. cit.(in note1) 426-429.

EmilyMcClung de Tapia is a ResearchAssociate, in chargeof the

Research,
Paleoethnobotany
Laboratoryat theInstitute
forAnthropological
NationalAutonomousUniversity
Mexico,
of
Delegaci6n Coyoacan 04510.
She receivedher Ph.D. in Anthropology
in 1979.
fromBrandeis University
Mari CarmenSerra Puche is currently
a ResearchAssociate in
Researchand is completing
Archaeologyat theInstitute
for Anthropological
her doctoraldissertationbased on researchat Terremote-Tlaltenco.
AmieEllen Lim6nde Dyer receivedher undergraduate
degree in Biology
fromtheNationalAutonomousUniversity
ofMexico in 1981 and herM.A. in
in 1983, specializingin
Anthropology
fromArizonaState University
palynology.

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