(LANL) provided me with the financial support and encouragement needed to complete this project. Hector Hinojosa from the Ecology group at LANL provided editorial advice and support. I would never have completed this thesis without the efforts of John Isaacson, Joyce Ortega-Tapia, and Christine Serrano, all of whom stressed the importance of finishing and made sure I had time to work on it. John was particularly helpful throughout this process, providing editing suggestions, asking difficult but provocative questions, and letting me talk through my ideas.The staff of Laboratory of Anthropology in Santa Fe, particularly Robyn Richards, Tim Seaman, Scott Geister, Dee Dee Snow, and Louanne Haecker, were very helpful in answering my questions and providing me with space to work with their files.Ricky Karl at the University of Arizona gave me access to AZSite and provided some additional information about several of the Arizona sites in my study. I look forward to working with Drs. Robert L. Brooks, Patricia A. Gilman, and Paul E. Minnis in the future. All three of them provided advice, guidance, and sometimes food. Their doors were open to me, and they were willing to listen to my ideas and to vi help me develop them. These professors provided opportunities for fieldwork, funding, and teaching that I would not have had at many universities and for this, I am grateful.Drs. Morris Foster and Robert Rundstrom participated in the final stages of this research and contributed some alternative perspectives on ways to consider my ideas. I also thank my ANTH 1113 students, as they challenged me to become a better instructor and reminded me why I was in graduate school.Dr. Marjy Duncan has provided unwavering support and has kept me on target in many of aspects of my life. I thank Dr. John Duncan who is always willing to engage me in philosophical talks about my research. I learned so much from John, and my dissertation would not be what it is, were it not for his thought provoking questions.Throughout the years, conversations with fellow graduate students and others have greatly improved this research. I cannot possibly thank all of them individually, but I hope they know how important they are to me. Special thanks to Aaron Gonzales, Debby Green, Dr. Valli Marti, Tim Martinez, Karin Rebnegger, Beau Schriever, Dr.Robert J. Stokes, and Steven J. Swanson for their questions, comments, and advice about this research. Steven was instrumental in providing access to environmental and location data for sites in my analysis. He helped coordinate some last minute data acquisition and created figures for me when I was at a loss! Steven also provided me with one last opportunity to excavate a communal structure as part of the Blue River Archaeological Project. It was a great experience and great fun to work with him again. Kari M. Schmidt is so many things to me it is difficult to know how to thank her.She is a friend, sister, roommate, co-worker, and traveling companion. She has always been there to listen, and to provide insight int...
