Chapter 3 Project Analyzing a Systematic Site Survey Background: On pp. 97–99 of your book you learned about the Teotihuacan Mapping Project. “Teo”, as Mesoamerican archaeologists affectionately call the city, was one of the largest urban areas in the world during its heyday ( AD 200 to 650), but until recently very little was known about the layout and growth of this metropolis. How can an archaeologist even begin to study such a large site? The researchers on the Teotihuacan Mapping Project found their answer in reconnaissance survey, specifically relying heavily on surface survey . From the location of artifacts collected through systematic surface collection , the archaeologists were able to construct a picture of what different areas at “Teo” were used for. They also were able to see how the city grew over time. After systematically surveying over 10 square miles of the site, they determined that the central 4.5 square miles of “Teo” was extensively planned on a grid pattern and that parts of the city had been subjected to a sort of “urban renewal” to bring them in line with the planned grid. The archaeologists were able to define this remarkably planned city with almost no costly excavation. References: Million, René. 1964. “The Teotihuacan Mapping Project.” American Antiquity 29(3):345–352 Millon, René, R. Bruce Drewitt & George L. Cowgill. 1973. Urbanization at Teotihuacan, Mexico . Volume 1. Austin: University of Texas Press Your Project: You have been asked to evaluate a newly discovered archaeological site outside Mexico City. As a starting point, you decide it is best to engage in reconnaissance survey (see p. 76), choosing to perform a systematic surface survey (see pp. 77, 79) of the site and recording your findings in a grid. From your results you hope to understand some basic information about the site and decide where it is best to begin excavations.

Your Results: On the grid below you have marked the locations where you collected certain types of artifacts on the site surface. Finish the map by drawing a possible boundary line around the site using the information you gathered . (10 points)

Questions (4 points each, #1-5): 1. Approximately how many square meters does your site cover?

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How did you estimate this? 2. If you were an archaeologist who was particularly interested in obsidian blade production, where might you consider excavating based on these surface survey results? ANS- Look for spots with lots of broken tools and leftover materials. Check areas showing signs of big-scale production or workshops. Target places near trade routes or where artifacts suggest obsidian trade. Focus on regions that align with the city's growth phases to uncover obsidian blade production clues. 3. During the surface survey, burnt wood, ceramic sherds, animal bone, and an obsidian flake were collected from the southwest portion of the site. Based on this assemblage of artifacts, what might that area of the site have been used for? Ans- The stuff they found—burnt wood, broken pots, animal bones, and an obsidian flake— hints that the southwest part was probably where people lived. They likely did regular household things like cooking and making tools there. 4. In grid square A16 a single pottery sherd was found and no other artifacts were collected from nearby. Does this mean that grid square A16 is not part of the site? Ans- Just because they only found one piece of pottery in A16 and nothing else close doesn't mean A16 isn't part of the site. It could be there's not many artifacts there, or they need more digging to be sure. 5. Now that you have completed your surface survey, you discover you have enough money to excavate five test pits at the site. Each test pit can be 1 square meter. Which squares would you choose to excavate and why ? Ans- I'd dig in A16 cause it had a pottery piece. Also, look at spots with lots of stuff found in the surface survey, especially tools or special activities. Check places that match changes in time or were close to trade routes. Those pits could give us a good look at what's going on in different parts of the site. 6. Design a research question that can be addressed with the data you have collected.

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