Year of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Name

Anthropology

Department or School/College

Department of Anthropology

Committee Chair

Meradeth Snow

Commitee Members

John Douglas, Chris Palmer, Katie Baca, Michael Searcy

Abstract

Across the span of nearly eight hundred years, from AD 700-1450, the societies of the Casas Grandes region waxed and waned and left an astounding representation in the archaeological record. Best-known through the temporally older site of Convento (occupied during what is known as the Viejo Period) and the later site of Paquimé (occupied during the Medio Period), gradual cultural expansion and florescence across this period are witnessed through a variety of findings across decades of anthropological investigation.

Along with the artifacts and architecture unveiled during initial excavations at Paquimé and Convento, remains of 654 individuals were catalogued as well. Of these 654 individuals across time and space in the area, 42% of the remains were those of skeletally immature individuals, or subadults. To date, no large-scale bioarchaeological studies have been undertaken regarding these individuals to understand the role they played in their society. Considering children are an integral and active part of any society, past or present, we cannot say with confidence that we truly understand the full mechanics of an ancient society without understanding the lives of the children, as well as the adults.

This investigation aims to finally explore in detail the lives of Casas Grandes subadults across time and space through the lens of the human remains present at Convento and Paquimé with skeletal and molecular analyses. With these analyses, insight into physiological health, experienced trauma, physical postmortem treatment, funerary accompaniments, biological sex, and isotopic migration evidence will be gained to add to the evolving understanding of the Casas Grandes ancient society.

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© Copyright 2026 Holli Kaye McDonald