Fremont Culture: Restatement of Some Problems

Abstract

AbstractCurrent emphasis on the definition of areal variation within the Fremont culture requires a re-examination of existing hypotheses of Fremont origins. The evidently very early appearance of regional variation suggests that Fremont crystallized out of a partial unification of several already differentiated Archaic (Desert culture) variants. This crystallization occurred at least partially as a result of adoption by Archaic groups of a horticultural complex of ultimately Mexican origin. Many of the characteristics which bind the Fremont regional patterns into a broader Fremont culture are elements of this horticultural complex, although the earlier Archaic variants presumably also shared basic similarities which contributed to the general unity of the later Fremont culture. Earlier hypotheses of Fremont origins are evaluated from this viewpoint. This is a revised version of a paper delivered in the Fremont Culture Symposium, 35th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, April 30-May 2, 1970, Mexico City, D. F., Mexico.