Research

Peru

The domestication of camelids and advent of pastoralism in the Lake Titicaca Basin, Peru

This research at the CARI facility in Puno, Peru investigated the transition from specialized hunting to early herd management of camelids in the Lake Titicaca Basin, a high-altitude plateau in South America's Altiplano. While previous research focused on the development of socio-political complexity, understanding the subsistence practices of the earliest inhabitants is key to comprehending this evolution, especially in adapting to harsh environments. Analysus of faunal data showed a dietary emphasis on wild camelids over deer, with few small animals. Over time, camelids became increasingly important, suggesting early intensification and possibly leading to their eventual domestication in the region.

Revelant Publications

Haas, Randall, James Watson, Tammy Buonasera, John Southon, Jennifer C. Chen, Sarah Noe, Kevin Smith, Carlos Viviano Llave, Jelmer Eerkens, and Glendon Parker. "Female hunters of the early Americas." Science advances 6, no. 45 (2020): eabd0310.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abd0310

Noe, Sarah J., Weston C. McCool, and Kurt M. Wilson. "A cross-regional examination of camelid herding practices in Peru from 900 BCE to 1450 CE: Insights from stable isotopes in camelid bone collagen and fiber." PloS one 19.10 (2024): e0306205.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0306205

Noe, Sarah J., Randall Haas, Mark Aldenderfer."Hunting to Herding: Zooarchaeological insights into Archaic Period Subsistence in the Lake Titicaca Basin, 11.0 - 3.5 ka." Journal of Anthropological Archaeology (Accepted)

California

Change, Continuity and Foodways: The Persistence of Indigenous Diet and Identity at Mission Santa Clara

This research focused on animal remains from food refuse features at Mission Santa Clara (1777-1836) to understand the impact of the Spanish colonial mission system in Alta California on traditional fodoways practices. It examined how these changes affected traditional subsistence methods and food patterns. The research focused on the differences in how Indigenous and colonial inhabitants of the Alta California mission system sourced and prepared their daily meals. A distinct difference in the diets of Indigenous people and colonists was revealed, highlighted by Indigenous reliance on wild food sources and the preservation of traditional cooking techniques, particularly in making cattle meat stews. These insights offered a more nuanced view of dietary practices within the Spanish mission system and enhancde our understanding of Indigenous autonomy under colonial rule.

Revelant Publications

Noe, Sarah J. "Indigenous foodways as persistence in the Alta California mission system." American Antiquity 88, no. 4 (2023): 451-475.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/aaq.2023.53

Noe, Sarah J. "Subsistence and Persistence: Indigenous Foodways Within Mission Santa Clara de Asís." California Archaeology (2023): 1-39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1947461X.2023.2191239

Noe, Sarah J. "Zooarchaeology of Mission Santa Clara de Asís: bone fragmentation, stew production, and commensality." International Journal of Historical Archaeology 26.4 (2022): 908-950.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10761-021-00632-5

Illinois

Subsistence Strategies in Mississippian Societies: A Comparative Study of Cahokia and Central Illinois River Valley Settlements

This research examined the subsistence strategies of the Mississippians, concentrating on the American Bottom and Central Illinois River Valley during the 11th to 14th centuries. It explored how the organizational differences between the major urban center of Cahokia and smaller CIRV settlements influenced hunting strategies amidst environmental and societal shifts. Key aspects include analyzing the impact of the Medieval Climatic Anomaly on agricultural and population growth, tracing the rise and decline of Cahokia in parallel with regional population trends.

Revelant Publications

Noe, Sarah J., Gregory D. Wilson, Amber VanDerwarker, Richard J. George, and Douglas J. Kennet. "Deer, drought, and warfare: Managing risk in the central Illinois river valley (CIRV) from the eleventh through fourteenth centuries." Quaternary International (2023).

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2023.08.001

Noe, Sarah J., Amber M. VanDerwarker, Steven R. Kuehn, Gregory D. Wilson, and Hannah Haas. "Hunting, fishing, and foraging in times of conflict: the implications of choosing safety in the Mississippian Central Illinois River Valley." Southeastern Archaeology (2024): 1-20.

https://doi.org/10.1080/0734578X.2024.2420149

Noe, Sarah J., Gregory D. Wilson, Steve Kuehn, Amber VanDerwarker,."Faunal Patterns at Cahokia and the CIRV: A Comprehensive Review." (in prep)