Brian S Shaffer
Biographic Data
| ID | 199415 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Brian S Shaffer |
| GIVEN NAMES | Brian S |
| FAMILY NAME | Shaffer |
| SIGNATURE | SHAFFER B S |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of North Texas, Denton |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 16 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 65 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 16 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1989 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1999 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Female Jar Carriers of the Mimbres
Historically, the transportation of water for the Pueblos of the American Southwest was an important activity conducted primarily by females. Water commonly was transported in a jar, balanced on the top of the female's head. The antiquity of this practice has gone undetermined in the archaeological record because it represents a behavioral, instead of a material, aspect of society. As a result, virtually the only way to identify this practice and…
Assumptions about Species
Identifying animal remains is the most basic aspect of zooarchaeological research; the accuracy of all subsequent interpretations hinges on this process. Recently, the zooarchaeological community reiterated the need for researchers to be explicit in reporting their identification methodology. We review this problem and provide an example from our own research showing the interpretation problems that can arise when such methods are not described i…
Wolves in sheep's clothing
The use of hunting disguises by Native Americans is well documented historically as a means to increase hunting success. The use of such disguises in prehistory, however, is not well documented. Four prehistoric motifs are presented here that show the use of hunting disguises approximately 900 years ago. These motifs were painted by the Mimbres‐Mogollon, a Puebloan group in southwestern New Mexico. Not only is the use of disguises shown, but so t…
Sugar Reflotation and Curation
Sugar reflotation of matrix containing archaeological material appears to be a relatively inexpensive, safe, and reliable method for the recovery of botanical remains. Using high concentrations of sugar to increase the specific gravity of water to make flotation viable for botanical recovery will, however, also saturate archaeological material (e.g., botanical, faunal, and some artifactual materials) with sugar that could damage the materials or …
News and Short Contributions
JFA announces a new award for outstanding artwork and photographs published in the Journal. The award will be called the JFA Award for Graphic Excellence. The winner will receive a certificate identifying the artwork, the artist's name, and the title and author of the article in which it appeared. The winner will be selected by JFA art director David Ford, assisted by the editors, and all decisions will be final. Our main interest is in line draw…
How Many Epidermal Ridges per Linear Centimeter? Comments on Possible Pre-Clovis Human Friction Skin Prints from Pendejo Cave
The identification of human friction prints by Chrisman et al. (1996) from Pendejo Cave, New Mexico, some dating more than 36,000 years B.P., is tenuous given the incongruence between data presented in the text and data illustrated in the figures. The identification of these structures as human friction prints hinged largely on the frequency of epidermal ridges per linear centimeter. As such, the validity of this evidence to justify the presence …
News and Short Contributions
Bioturbation of Submerged Sites by the Asiatic Clam
Burrowing clams represent a poorly studied threat to shallowly buried and submerged archaeological sites across North America. Test excavations at a formerly submerged prehistoric terrace site in SW Texas unearthed burrowing clams (Asiatic clam Corbicula fluminea) in, under; and around features. A review of this clam's ecology, burrowing habits, geographical distribution, and presence in this and other archacological sites illustrates the potenti…
An Unusual Birth Depicted in Mimbres Pottery
Hegmon and Trevathan's (1996) contention that Mimbres figurative pottery was probably painted by men ignorant about birthing, as evidenced by a virtually impossible birthing scene, is unsubstantiated. This claim was due to a lack of familiarity with the birthing motif they described, as well as selective and unrepresentative use of relevant ethnographic and historical data. We find no evidence that men painted Mimbres pottery
Possible Mimbres Documentation of Pueblo Snake Ceremonies in the Eleventh Century
Ceremonies using live snakes are highly publicized events of many southwestern Pueblos, due in part to the handling of rattlesnakes. Although some of these ceremonies have been described at length, little is known of their antiquity. While informants indicated that such ceremonies are quite old and greatly precede documentation by western anthropologists, no chronological dates were specified. Without written records or clear archaeological evide…
Environment and Animal Procurement by the Mogollon of the Southwest
Prehistoric horticulturalists of the American Southwest relied on crop complexes for much of their vegetal diet, but also relied heavily on hunting and trapping. Permanent settlement by the Mogollon resulted in resource depression of larger animal taxa (primarily artiodactyls) in some areas that could not withstand sustained human predation. This resulted in the predation of smaller animals (primarily jackrabbits, cottontail rabbits, and rodents)…
Comparison of 1/8′′- and 1/4′′-Mesh Recovery of Controlled Samples of Small-to-Medium-Sized Mammals
Most previous screen experiments have assessed various mesh-size biases in the recovery of faunal remains from specific archaeological samples. These tests provided detailed information about recovery biases at those sites. To augment these previous tests, Shaffer (1992) conducted 1/4′′-screen tests on modern comparative mammal skeletons to assess specific biases for the taxa tested. However, because 1/8′′ screens are now widely used in archaeolo…
Quarter-Inch Screening
Fine screening of archaeological materials is often too expensive or too time-consuming for large assemblages. Consequently, 1/4" has become a standard size of mesh used among North American archaeologists. Unfortunately, the effects of 1/4" screening on bone recovery and the biases in interpretations are poorly documented. One-quarter-inch screening biases faunal recovery towards "larger" bone specimens, but previous studies fail to document bia…
Intrusive Anuran Remains in Pit House Features
The recognition of intrusive fauna in archaeological assemblages has been attempted through many methods, although no single technique can be applied in all situations. The high number of anuran remains recovered from the WS Ranch site in west-central New Mexico is problematic as regional archaeological and ethnographic discussions of this taxon are scarce. For this reason, a suite of methods has been used to assess the status of these remains. A…
Interpretation of Gopher Remains from Southwestern Archaeological Assemblages
Latep Prehisto Cfaunal Subsistence On The South Texas Plains
The examination of the 2813 vertebrate faunal remains recovered from the Bums site, 41VT66, in Victoria County, Texas (Fig. 1), provides an excellent opportunity to examine one of the largest bison sites discovered in the plains of southern Texas. The Bums site is located on the coastal plain in west central Victoria County, Texas. This site is situated on a bluff overlooking Coleto Creek, a tributary of the Guadalupe River. At least one Archaic …
Comparison of 1/8′′- and 1/4′′-Mesh Recovery of Controlled Samples of Small-to-Medium-Sized Mammals
Most previous screen experiments have assessed various mesh-size biases in the recovery of faunal remains from specific archaeological samples. These tests provided detailed information about recovery biases at those sites. To augment these previous tests, Shaffer (1992) conducted 1/4′′-screen tests on modern comparative mammal skeletons to assess specific biases for the taxa tested. However, because 1/8′′ screens are now widely used in archaeolo…
Quarter-Inch Screening
Fine screening of archaeological materials is often too expensive or too time-consuming for large assemblages. Consequently, 1/4" has become a standard size of mesh used among North American archaeologists. Unfortunately, the effects of 1/4" screening on bone recovery and the biases in interpretations are poorly documented. One-quarter-inch screening biases faunal recovery towards "larger" bone specimens, but previous studies fail to document bia…
Environment and Animal Procurement by the Mogollon of the Southwest
Prehistoric horticulturalists of the American Southwest relied on crop complexes for much of their vegetal diet, but also relied heavily on hunting and trapping. Permanent settlement by the Mogollon resulted in resource depression of larger animal taxa (primarily artiodactyls) in some areas that could not withstand sustained human predation. This resulted in the predation of smaller animals (primarily jackrabbits, cottontail rabbits, and rodents)…
An Unusual Birth Depicted in Mimbres Pottery
Hegmon and Trevathan's (1996) contention that Mimbres figurative pottery was probably painted by men ignorant about birthing, as evidenced by a virtually impossible birthing scene, is unsubstantiated. This claim was due to a lack of familiarity with the birthing motif they described, as well as selective and unrepresentative use of relevant ethnographic and historical data. We find no evidence that men painted Mimbres pottery
Interpretation of Gopher Remains from Southwestern Archaeological Assemblages
Possible Mimbres Documentation of Pueblo Snake Ceremonies in the Eleventh Century
Ceremonies using live snakes are highly publicized events of many southwestern Pueblos, due in part to the handling of rattlesnakes. Although some of these ceremonies have been described at length, little is known of their antiquity. While informants indicated that such ceremonies are quite old and greatly precede documentation by western anthropologists, no chronological dates were specified. Without written records or clear archaeological evide…
Assumptions about Species
Identifying animal remains is the most basic aspect of zooarchaeological research; the accuracy of all subsequent interpretations hinges on this process. Recently, the zooarchaeological community reiterated the need for researchers to be explicit in reporting their identification methodology. We review this problem and provide an example from our own research showing the interpretation problems that can arise when such methods are not described i…
Intrusive Anuran Remains in Pit House Features
The recognition of intrusive fauna in archaeological assemblages has been attempted through many methods, although no single technique can be applied in all situations. The high number of anuran remains recovered from the WS Ranch site in west-central New Mexico is problematic as regional archaeological and ethnographic discussions of this taxon are scarce. For this reason, a suite of methods has been used to assess the status of these remains. A…
Latep Prehisto Cfaunal Subsistence On The South Texas Plains
The examination of the 2813 vertebrate faunal remains recovered from the Bums site, 41VT66, in Victoria County, Texas (Fig. 1), provides an excellent opportunity to examine one of the largest bison sites discovered in the plains of southern Texas. The Bums site is located on the coastal plain in west central Victoria County, Texas. This site is situated on a bluff overlooking Coleto Creek, a tributary of the Guadalupe River. At least one Archaic …
Latep Prehisto Cfaunal Subsistence On The South Texas Plains
The examination of the 2813 vertebrate faunal remains recovered from the Bums site, 41VT66, in Victoria County, Texas (Fig. 1), provides an excellent opportunity to examine one of the largest bison sites discovered in the plains of southern Texas. The Bums site is located on the coastal plain in west central Victoria County, Texas. This site is situated on a bluff overlooking Coleto Creek, a tributary of the Guadalupe River. At least one Archaic …
Quarter-Inch Screening
Fine screening of archaeological materials is often too expensive or too time-consuming for large assemblages. Consequently, 1/4" has become a standard size of mesh used among North American archaeologists. Unfortunately, the effects of 1/4" screening on bone recovery and the biases in interpretations are poorly documented. One-quarter-inch screening biases faunal recovery towards "larger" bone specimens, but previous studies fail to document bia…
Intrusive Anuran Remains in Pit House Features
The recognition of intrusive fauna in archaeological assemblages has been attempted through many methods, although no single technique can be applied in all situations. The high number of anuran remains recovered from the WS Ranch site in west-central New Mexico is problematic as regional archaeological and ethnographic discussions of this taxon are scarce. For this reason, a suite of methods has been used to assess the status of these remains. A…
Interpretation of Gopher Remains from Southwestern Archaeological Assemblages
Comparison of 1/8′′- and 1/4′′-Mesh Recovery of Controlled Samples of Small-to-Medium-Sized Mammals
Most previous screen experiments have assessed various mesh-size biases in the recovery of faunal remains from specific archaeological samples. These tests provided detailed information about recovery biases at those sites. To augment these previous tests, Shaffer (1992) conducted 1/4′′-screen tests on modern comparative mammal skeletons to assess specific biases for the taxa tested. However, because 1/8′′ screens are now widely used in archaeolo…
Possible Mimbres Documentation of Pueblo Snake Ceremonies in the Eleventh Century
Ceremonies using live snakes are highly publicized events of many southwestern Pueblos, due in part to the handling of rattlesnakes. Although some of these ceremonies have been described at length, little is known of their antiquity. While informants indicated that such ceremonies are quite old and greatly precede documentation by western anthropologists, no chronological dates were specified. Without written records or clear archaeological evide…
Environment and Animal Procurement by the Mogollon of the Southwest
Prehistoric horticulturalists of the American Southwest relied on crop complexes for much of their vegetal diet, but also relied heavily on hunting and trapping. Permanent settlement by the Mogollon resulted in resource depression of larger animal taxa (primarily artiodactyls) in some areas that could not withstand sustained human predation. This resulted in the predation of smaller animals (primarily jackrabbits, cottontail rabbits, and rodents)…
How Many Epidermal Ridges per Linear Centimeter? Comments on Possible Pre-Clovis Human Friction Skin Prints from Pendejo Cave
The identification of human friction prints by Chrisman et al. (1996) from Pendejo Cave, New Mexico, some dating more than 36,000 years B.P., is tenuous given the incongruence between data presented in the text and data illustrated in the figures. The identification of these structures as human friction prints hinged largely on the frequency of epidermal ridges per linear centimeter. As such, the validity of this evidence to justify the presence …
News and Short Contributions
Bioturbation of Submerged Sites by the Asiatic Clam
Burrowing clams represent a poorly studied threat to shallowly buried and submerged archaeological sites across North America. Test excavations at a formerly submerged prehistoric terrace site in SW Texas unearthed burrowing clams (Asiatic clam Corbicula fluminea) in, under; and around features. A review of this clam's ecology, burrowing habits, geographical distribution, and presence in this and other archacological sites illustrates the potenti…
An Unusual Birth Depicted in Mimbres Pottery
Hegmon and Trevathan's (1996) contention that Mimbres figurative pottery was probably painted by men ignorant about birthing, as evidenced by a virtually impossible birthing scene, is unsubstantiated. This claim was due to a lack of familiarity with the birthing motif they described, as well as selective and unrepresentative use of relevant ethnographic and historical data. We find no evidence that men painted Mimbres pottery
Sugar Reflotation and Curation
Sugar reflotation of matrix containing archaeological material appears to be a relatively inexpensive, safe, and reliable method for the recovery of botanical remains. Using high concentrations of sugar to increase the specific gravity of water to make flotation viable for botanical recovery will, however, also saturate archaeological material (e.g., botanical, faunal, and some artifactual materials) with sugar that could damage the materials or …
News and Short Contributions
JFA announces a new award for outstanding artwork and photographs published in the Journal. The award will be called the JFA Award for Graphic Excellence. The winner will receive a certificate identifying the artwork, the artist's name, and the title and author of the article in which it appeared. The winner will be selected by JFA art director David Ford, assisted by the editors, and all decisions will be final. Our main interest is in line draw…
Female Jar Carriers of the Mimbres
Historically, the transportation of water for the Pueblos of the American Southwest was an important activity conducted primarily by females. Water commonly was transported in a jar, balanced on the top of the female's head. The antiquity of this practice has gone undetermined in the archaeological record because it represents a behavioral, instead of a material, aspect of society. As a result, virtually the only way to identify this practice and…
Assumptions about Species
Identifying animal remains is the most basic aspect of zooarchaeological research; the accuracy of all subsequent interpretations hinges on this process. Recently, the zooarchaeological community reiterated the need for researchers to be explicit in reporting their identification methodology. We review this problem and provide an example from our own research showing the interpretation problems that can arise when such methods are not described i…
Wolves in sheep's clothing
The use of hunting disguises by Native Americans is well documented historically as a means to increase hunting success. The use of such disguises in prehistory, however, is not well documented. Four prehistoric motifs are presented here that show the use of hunting disguises approximately 900 years ago. These motifs were painted by the Mimbres‐Mogollon, a Puebloan group in southwestern New Mexico. Not only is the use of disguises shown, but so t…
Archaeology (16 works) · Geography (15 works) · Biology (7 works) · History (7 works) · Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (7 works) · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies (5 works) · Geology (5 works) · Geology (5 works) · History (5 works) · Paleontology (5 works)