Ritual and Duality
Early Agricultural Period Figurines from the Tucson Basin
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5982484 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Mark L Chenault (corresponding author) |
| Year | 2016 |
| Volume | 82 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 387-402 |
| Publication date | 2016-10-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | KIVA (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0023-1940 • E-ISSN: 2051-6177 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/00231940.2016.1239052 |
| OpenAlex | W2540305890 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 8 |
Archaeologists working along the Santa Cruz River in the Tucson Basin have found numerous small figurines dating to the San Pedro and Cienega phases of the Early Agricultural period (1500 B.C.–A.D. 150). Excavations at a large multi-component site (the Dairy Site) have added to this assemblage. Previous researchers believed that the most common type of Early Agricultural period figurines depicted human females and functioned in household ceremonies related to ancestor veneration. Although the figurines have human traits, it has been suggested that they also depicted human male genitalia. If this is the case, then the figurines might display duality, a common theme in prehistoric art and religion in the New World. In those figurines, both male and female traits are displayed in a single object. These depictions suggest symbolism related to sexuality or fertility. Rather than functioning in ceremonies of ancestor veneration, the Early Agricultural figurines may have played a role in puberty or fertility rites
Ancestor · Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Fertility · Geography · Period (music) · Prehistory · Sociology · Veneration · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Archaeology and Natural History · Archaeology and Rock Art Studies · Demography · History
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |