Utilization of Faunal Resources at Site 315 and Site 355: Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico

Faunal assemblages recovered from Site 315 and Site 355, located in the Casas Grandes region of northwest Chihuahua, Mexico, provided much needed information concerning the utilization of animal resources by the inhabitants of small Medio period (A.D. 1200 – 1450) pueblos surrounding Paquime. The analysis of the animal remains recovered from the two sites produced contrasting results. The Site 315 assemblage was dominated by lagomorph remains, although richness of taxa within the assemblage was high compared to other contemporary Casas Grandes sites, and numerous species were identified. Additionally, Site 315 also contained the remains of animals that can be interpreted as ritual fauna. The assemblage from Site 355 differed substantially by being comprised primarily of large mammal remains, containing no ritual fauna, and having limited richness of taxa. The variance of the results from the analyses potentially reflect actual differences in overall hunting and subsistence strategies, as well as different occupational histories between the two sites. However, poor bone preservation and small sample sizes are possibly influencing the results. Ultimately, the faunal data derived from the Site 315 and Site 355 faunal assemblages provides critical data for an understudied region, and adds to our overall understanding of human-animal interactions within the late prehistoric Casas Grandes region.