A Study in Sourcing Hohokam Basalt Ground Stone Implements

Abstract

Ground stone implements were important tools for the Hohokam because they relied heavily on plant foods in their diet. Current data suggest that in the Phoenix Basin vesicular basalt materials were favored for the rectangular mano and trough metates common at most Hohokam sites. The distribution of basaltic materials is relatively limited' however, and specific outcrops were exploited as quarries. Experiments with low-power reflected light and BSE-EDX microscopic sourcing techniques indicate that several regional basalt sources exist, and that these sources may be identifiable in ground stone assemblages. The composition of various source materials at different sites has the potential to provide insights into Hohokam ground stone production and trade.