Subsistence

The macrobotanical and faunal data suggest
that large differences existed between the sub-
sistence of the Pueblo II-III inhabitants of the
Mesa Verde and Aztec area sites. The diet of
the Mesa Verde area inhabitants was based pri-
marily on agricultural products (corn, beans and
squash), supplemented by wild plant foods, and
domestic and wild animals. In contrast, the diet
of the Aztec area inhabitants was based primari-
ly on wild animals, supplemented by wild plant
foods and, to a lesser extent, cultivated corn.

 

As can be seen from this chart, corn was com-
mon in the samples from the Mesa Verde sites,
and rare in the samples from the Aztec sites.
Beans and squash were also found in samples
from the Mesa Verde sites, but were absent from
samples from the Aztec sites.

Lithic technology suggested that the Aztec area
sites were oriented toward hunting and gather-
ing activities. An examination of the faunal
assemblages from these sites supports this
assertion. Compared to the Aztec areas sites,
the Mesa Verde area sites contained relatively
few faunal remains.

The data also show that large mammal (deer,
elk and bighorn sheep) remains dominate the
Aztec area assemblage, while they represent
less than 50% of the Mesa Verde assemblage.
In contrast, bones from turkey represent 15% of
the Mesa Verde assemblage, but are absent
from the Aztec assemblage.