Prehispanic Life in a Man-made Island Habitat in Chignahuapan Marsh, Santa Cruz Atizapan, State of México, México

Faunal remains identified from Santa Cruz Atizapan

María de la Paz Gil Nuncio carried out the identification of faunal materials recovered from the 1997 excavations in the Laboratorio de Paleozoología, Instituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas, UNAM. These materials together with their proveniences are summarized in Appendix 3. In general terms, the presence of Odocoileus virginianus and diverse fowl (Figure 9, shown above), particularly Anas spp., indicate the exploitation of woodland fauna together with local lacustrine resources such as migratory waterfowl. The diversity of fowl is notable even though frequencies are relatively low. Poor preservation of many specimens limited the possibility of obtaining more precise identifications in many cases, but the frequency of bones pertaining to medium and large mammals suggest greater diversity. On the other hand, the apparent absence of significant quantities of lacustrine resources such as fish and amphibians is surprising although inadequate recovery techniques cannot be ruled out (Figures 10, 11, and 12, shown below). Dogs (Canis familiaris) are frequent as well.

Once again the reconsideration of these materials in association with features and other archaeological materials as well as the evidence for chemical residues will provide a more meaningful interpretation of the possible uses of faunal resources by the prehispanic population of Santa Cruz Atizapan.

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