The Redención del Campesino Valley Archaeological Survey

Conclusions

During the first phase of the Redención del Campesino Archaeological Survey the valley was intensively surveyed in order to ground-truth the site prediction model. The survey tracks were established in accordance to the high probability areas identified by the model. Of the sites visited only four were in close proximity to the high probability areas. The first, Santa Rosa represents a site that although may have been of certain ritual importance, it certainly did not constitute a political center. The second, Agua Sucia, consisted of a couple of mounds that perhaps functioned as a checkpoint for incoming-outgoing traffic. The third site, San Arturo, although a more complex multi-structure site was definitely not a center of administrative importance rather more of a residential outlier. The natural opening on the sierra located near the site (Figure 13), did not constitute a passage to the coastal plain. On the other hand, the site of Álvaro Obregón 2 proved to be a site of quite impressive masonry structures, thus suggesting a focal role. Álvaro Obregón 2’s strategic positioning gives the site a commanding view of the valley from where it could have controlled traffic, while at the same time the steep hill on which it’s located makes it easily defendable.

Overall the results of the predictive model were more than satisfactory. It identified within an acceptable range, the location of a very important political center. However, more work needs to be done, the fact that the locations of Redención del Campesino and El Tigre were not picked up by the model indicates that this will need further refinement. Likewise, when completed, the ceramic analysis will assist us in defining the occupational history of the valley.

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