Rio Grande Prehistory: Prelude to Contact

Cordell, Linda

The basic descriptive and chronological framework for Rio Grande prehistory was established early in the 20th century (e.g., Kidder, 1915, 1916, 1924; Hewett, 1906; Nelson, 1914). Before the advent of various chronometric dating techniques the Rio Grande area was especially attractive to prehistorians, because it offers the ruins of villages abandoned during the historic period. Archaeologists could then begin from a known abandonment date and, as their excavations proceeded down through various strata, work their way back into prehistory. Not only were documents crucial for chronology, but historic accounts and observations of the modem Pueblo Indian villages provided the context for interpreting archaeological finds. The Rio Grande Pueblo Indians were considered living analogs for their ancestors by generations of archaeologists. New data have been assembled since the early days and syntheses have been prepared periodically (e.g., Cordell, 1979; Lang;I977; Wendorf and Reed, 1955). Yet only within the past five years have southwestern prehistorians begun to evaluate in a systematic manner the discrepancies between the late prehistoric and historic periods and the kinds of changes within Pueblo culture begun by initial contact with Europeans (e.g., Cordell and Plog, 1979; Cordell, 1984; Upham, 1982). Once the changes are fully appreciated and understood, a clearer picture will emerge of the culture encountered by the Spaniards in 1540.