EMAP Flying Fish – LA37767 Unit 51, 1998

The following is a summary of site LA 37767 unit 51 in the 1998 EMAP (Eastern Mimbres Archaeological Project) field season, conducted in the Mimbres region of Southern New Mexico. The project is directed by Dr. Margaret Nelson and Dr. Michelle Hegmon of ASU (Arizona State University), with the assistance of graduate staff and undergraduate students. Unit 51 in site LA 37767 is located in the Seco drainage on a terrace overlooking a wash and a rock face with petroglyphs decorating the surface. Unit 51 connects to unit 50, a habitational room that is part of the western most room block on the site. Original speculation designated unit 51 as a storage area for unit 50, and excavation supported this hypothesis. This area is grassland populated with Pinon, Juniper and presently has a steady flow of water, even in drought conditions. Accompanying this unit are other room blocks on the terrace within the canyon area. Unit 51 was chosen for excavation when excavation in unit 50 expanded into the area occupied by unit 51. Initially there was to be no excavation in unit 51, however while trying to locate a south wall in unit 50 excavation extended into unit 51. It was then decided to continue excavation into unit 51.

以下为1998年东明布雷斯考古项目（Eastern Mimbres Archaeological Project, EMAP）野外季中，新墨西哥州南部明布雷斯地区LA 37767遗址51号发掘单元的概况。本项目由亚利桑那州立大学（Arizona State University, ASU）的玛格丽特·纳尔逊博士与米歇尔·赫格蒙博士主持，得到了研究生团队与本科生的协助。LA 37767遗址的51号发掘单元位于塞科流域的一处台地上，该台地俯瞰一处冲沟与一处表面饰有岩画（petroglyphs）的岩壁。51号发掘单元与50号发掘单元相接，50号单元为居住用房，属于该遗址最西侧的房址建筑群。最初学界推测51号发掘单元为50号单元的储藏空间，后续发掘工作证实了这一假说。该区域为草原生境，分布有皮诺松（Pinon）与杜松（Juniper），即便遭遇干旱也能保持稳定的水源补给。该峡谷台地上还分布有其他房址建筑群，与51号发掘单元同处该区域。原本并未计划对51号发掘单元开展发掘，但在50号单元的发掘过程中，为寻找其南墙，发掘范围延伸至了51号单元的覆盖区域，随后团队决定继续对51号单元进行发掘。