A Revision of the Archaeological Sequence in Sinaloa, Mexico

Abstract

An archaeological sequence for the Sinaloa coastal strip of western Mexico had previously been developed by Sauer and Brand, Isabel Kelly, and Gordon Ekholm. Investigations carried out by Southern Illinois University and associates from 1952 to 1958 in Durango, across the Sierra Madre Occidental to the east of Sinaloa, have established an independent archaeological sequence. The presence of trade pottery and other artifacts from Sinaloa in the Durango sites makes possible an independent check of the Sinaloa sequence. This cross correlation essentially confirms the basic Sinaloa sequence of (early to late) Chametla, Aztatlan, and Culiacan periods, but indicates that there is some overlap between these major horizons and that the Aztatlan period is actually divisible into three more or less sequent phases: an early Lolandis phase, an intermediate Acaponeta phase, and a terminal Guasave phase. Re-examination of the Sinaloa sequence confirms and expands these conclusions, resulting in this revision of the archaeological sequence for Sinaloa. For consistency, a revised terminology for the various phases is also presented.

The Ceramics of Huistla, a West Mexican Site in the Municipality of Etzatlán, Jalisco

“…In addition, similarities exist with the supposedly earlier red-on-buff ceramics called Lolandis Red-rim Ware by Kelley and Winters (1960). It therefore cannot be stated with full assurance that Huistla ceramics fall within the specific period of the Cerritos and Guasave phases, dated by Grosscup (1964: 242-3) between A.D. 900 and 1250.…”

“…This complex or time horizon, first defined by Sauer and Brand (1932) as a culture area, was based on a series of surface collections from sites in the Sinaloa coastal lowlands. Later, with more data at hand from excavated sites, Kelly redefined the Aztatlan complex, and finally Kelley and Winters (1960), using data from Durango excavations, abandoned the concept altogether and replaced the complex or horizon with three phases: the Lolandis, Acaponeta, and Guasave phases. Grosscup (1964: 207), in his analysis of Amapa ceramics, essentially follows Kelley and Winters, except that he places the Guasave phase somewhat earlier and gives local phase names for Amapa.…”

“…Grosscup (1964: 207), in his analysis of Amapa ceramics, essentially follows Kelley and Winters, except that he places the Guasave phase somewhat earlier and gives local phase names for Amapa. Table 3 summarizes the recent work of Kelley and Winters (1960) and Grosscup (1964) in defining phases falling within the time span of the older concept of the Aztatlan complex.…”

“…From the above discussion, it is clear that the ceramics of Huistla are most similar to types or wares placed within the so-called Aztatlan complex of Kelly (1938Kelly ( , 1945b or the temporally analogous local phases of Kelley and Winters (1960) and Grosscup (1964). The most striking similarities exist in particular design styles held in common by certain lowland types and Huistla Acueducto Red'Owbuff and Engraved Bumished'black, the latter being nearly identical to Amapa's Tuxpan Engraved.…”

Prehispanic Northwest and Adjacent West Mexico, 1200 B.C.–A.D. 1400: An Inter-Regional Perspective

“…A material culture pattern that implies proliferating craft specialties and social differentiation is found from the Río Tomatlán to the Río Sinaloa, with centers located typically midway between the coast and the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental. The Ortelius Map, of 1570 identifies the coastal part of the Aztatlán region as an indigenous cultural area, and Sauer and Brand (1932) and Kelly (1938Kelly ( , 1945Kelly ( , 1948Kelly ( , 1949 worked to define it archaeologically and chronologically (Grosscup 1964;Kelley and Winters 1960;Meighan 1976).…”