Development in The Lower Pecos Canyonlands

In the Edward’s Plateau, the Hill Country of East Texas, the Lower Pecos Canyonlands rests between the merging of three rivers; the salty Rio Grande River, the sweet Devils River, and the muddy Pecos River (Texas Beyond History, n.d.). The shallow and mineral rich Pecos River bends and blends the three meeting together in a canyon, where it has carved into the rock formations over tens of thousands of years (Texas Beyond History, 2008). To understand the changes in this area, we must understand the history and evolution of the landscape and people within it. Each period of inhabitation introduced different technology and culture to the evolving people living here, as they adapted to the shifts in environment and weather.

There were largely four main periods of development and environmental change in this area: the first is known as the Paleoindian period, from around 12,500 - 7000 B.C. or 14,500-8500 RCYBP. The second is known as the middle to late Archaic Period from 4000-1500 B.C. or 6000-3000 RCYBP and 1500 B.C to A.D. 1000 or 3000-1200 RCYBP. The third and last period of habituation was the Late Prehistoric/Protohistoric Period, which was closer to modern times, A.D 1000 to 1500 or 1300-500 RCYBP (Texas Beyond History, 2008). Once, in the cooler and wetter Paleoindian period, life was lush and full of large herbivore life such as mammoth and bison, now in modern day since the Archaic period; it is a xeric or arid, desert environment and the canyon rock walls are far above the river level (Texas Beyond History, n.d.). Since the late Archaic period, with climate change, it is a lone blending of rivers lined by overhanging rock shelters and cave systems carved into the canyon in a dry, unpopulated desert. In modern times, far removed from the Paleoindian lush period, the average rainfall now is as little as 10-19 inches a year in this area of Texas (Texas Beyond History, n.d.). Before temperatures were not as extreme, it was a place of bustling life and culture, as found by archaeologists that have examined the multiple rock shelters and bone pits in the area. This current desert weather, sheltered sites, and xeric environment is the secret to the unending archaeological discoveries in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands. Similar to a temperature controlled glass case in a museum, the rock shelters have literally preserved and sheltered biological, environmental and man-made artifacts from the elements, and time.

Using technologies such as stratigraphy, a technique of analyzing layers of strata of the earth from oldest being farthest down to youngest dating artifacts being closest to surface (Refrew, Bahn, & DeMarrais, 2024). Archaeologists can use this method to date the Bonfire Shelter Bone Beds, which have been excavated by archaeologists multiple times and continue to find more layers below the already discovered Bone Beds of Bison and other animal remains (Texas Beyond History, 2001). Stratigraphy was also used to date thousands of years of history at the excavation at Arenosa Shelter. According to Texas Beyond History (2008), this site was located on at a lower terrace of the Pecos River, therefore in the layers of rock buildup Archaeologists were able to determine “periodic flooding in the area due to thick deposits of tan silt between equally thick gray ashy midden deposits created by the prehistoric people”. Another method archaeologists can use in the canyons is radiocarbon dating. Measuring the carbon-isotope ratios (Dering, 2006) in human bones found in the Trans-Pecos and Lower-Pecos regions, we can tell what people in the region ate. Archaeologists can combine radiocarbon dating with other methods such as examining the coprolites— human feces, found within the rock shelters (Dering, 2006). Preservation of coprolites and artifacts of this kind is unprecedented in most archaeological sites, and thanks to the arid environment and literal shelter from all elements the rock shelters provide, archaeologists can examine the preserved human feces. Found inside of the coprolites aged at 8,300 to 5,700 BCE especially, was agave plant and prickly pear cactus seeds. Prickly pear especially, since the seeds do not break down in the intestines of humans, was found in 74%-82% of the coprolites of various studies (Dering, 2006). Native Americans in this area were hunter gatherers, as deciphered from their tools and hunting artifacts found (Texas Beyond History, 2008). Animal bones such as deer and rabbit were found amongst various cacti and agave remains in the caves (Texas Beyond History, 2011). They also used plants in the area for more than just food, including medicine and implements needed to hunt and fish, found in the rock shelters were several baskets, ropes, sandals, and netted pack frames (Texas Beyond History, 2001). There were also Folsom and Plainview projectile points (Texas Beyond History, 2005) including Archaic dart points with fiber bindings still attached. Also found have been sandals, discarded plant and animal food, basketry fragments, twisted cords, grass-lined beds and even linens for bed sheets amongst various sites in the region (Texas Beyond History, 2001).

Perhaps the most significant artifact or find, and most famous, is the preserved pictograph and petroglyph rock wall art found within the rock shelters (Texas Beyond History, 2001). These works of art give us significant insight into the spiritual and cultural aspects of the people who lived there, and these paintings are known to be one of the best preserved examples of rock art anywhere in the world. The images painted use red, black, white and yellow paint, created from some of the same plants and animals as consumed by the hunter-gatherer people as early as 5,500 years ago (Texas Parks and Wildlife, 2011). “The White Shaman” is the most famous image from this artwork, featuring an anthropomorphic or humanoid figure in white, referred to as a shaman due to its otherworldly stature and pose. We do not know what these images mean, even today, and they are still being studied by archaeologists. As amazing as the history of this area is, it is reported to be less developed by archaeologists than many other sites and areas of Texas (Texas Beyond History, 2011). Serious study of this site began in the 1960s, and today research continues through several archaeologists, including Carolyn Boyd (Texas Parks and Wildlife, 2011), who wrote the book “The White Shaman” documenting many of the pictographs and artifacts of the canyonlands.



References

Boyd, C. (2016). The white shaman mural: An enduring creation narrative in the rock art of the Lower Pecos. University of Texas Press.

Dering, P. (2006). Daily bread and healing balm: A deep history of native plant use in the Trans-Pecos of Texas. The Sabal, 23(1), 1-5. https://nativeplantproject.com/SABALS/SABAL0106.pdf

Perttula, T.K., et al. (2021, June 28). Prehistory. Texas State Historical Association Handbook of Texas. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/prehistory

Refrew, C., Bahn, P., & DeMarrais, E. (2024). Archaeology essentials: Theories, methods, and practice (5th ed.). Thames & Hudson.

Texas Beyond History. (2001, October 1). Bonfire shelter. https://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/bonfire/

Texas Beyond History. (2005, July 30). Hinds cave. https://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/hinds/

Texas Beyond History. (2008, May). Lower Pecos canyonlands. https://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/pecos/

Texas Beyond History. (n.d.). Natural world of the Lower Pecos. Texas Beyond History. https://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/pecos/natural.html

Texas Parks and Wildlife. (2011, August 30). Window to the past: Rock art of Lower Pecos, Texas [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w2uf3JnAl8