Paleo-Indian and Archaic Cultural Systems in the Southwestern United States

Despite its intrinsic significance, the long period that preceded the development of sedentary life in the Southwest, at about the beginning of the Christian era, remains very incompletely investigated and poorly understood. This is due partly to the lower density of population and the concomitant sparsity of archaeological remains, and partly to their relatively unspectacular nature, which resulted in a degree of scientific neglect. However, from the still scanty data certain major patterns are beginning to emerge. These still shadowy outlines reflect the complex interplay of a large number of factors, including the changing climatic and environmental context, technological innovation and adaptations, shifting population size and demographic structure and the socio-religious network which integrates these elements into human culture.尽管该时段具有内在的重要性，但约始于公元纪年之初、美国西南部（Southwest）定居生活形成之前的漫长时期，迄今仍未得到充分研究与透彻认知。造成这一状况的原因，一方面在于当时人口密度较低，伴随而来的是考古遗存相对稀少；另一方面则是该时期的考古遗存面貌相对平淡无奇，因而在一定程度上遭到了学术忽视。尽管如此，从目前仍较为有限的资料中，若干核心模式已初现端倪。这些尚显模糊的轮廓，反映出众多因素间的复杂交互作用，其中包括气候与环境背景的变迁、技术革新与适应策略、人口规模与人口结构的动态变化，以及将这些要素整合为人类文化的社会宗教网络。