The Village Ecodynamics Project:Modeling Pueblo Historical Ecology

A.D. 600 – 1760

Village Ecodynamics Project (VEP)

The VEP conducts empirical studies and modeling to examine interaction between Pueblo Indians and their

environment between A.D. 600 and 1600 and use the results of this research to better understand human social evolution

Dynamics of Coupled

Natural and Human Systems

Research and Education Sponsoredby the National Science Foundation

Institutional Partnerships

The VEP Integrates a Computer Simulation and

the Analysis of All Known Archaeological Sites

in Our Two Study Areas

Modeling agricultural productivityfor use in the computer simulation

Synthesizing information to modelpopulation dynamics of sites

Village Ecodynamics Project II:Ancestral Pueblo Settlement in SW Colorado and

theNorthern Rio Grande: AD 600-1280

Archaeological Sites Database

18,000 sites, 7600 habitations

6,000 sites, 1750 habitations

VEP North Study Area

VEP South Study Area

VEP II CMV Population History

600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 13000

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

Total

Dolores

Hovenweep

McElmo

Mancos

Mesa Verde NP

Ute Piedmont

Modeling period midpoint(CE)

Tota

l mom

enta

ry p

opul

ation

Revised Population History

900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 18000

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

Total

Chama

Pajarito

Santa Fe

Cochiti

Velarde

Phase end date (CE)

Aver

age

mom

enta

ry p

opul

ation

A New Look at MVR and NRG Population UPDATE

600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 18000

4000

8000

12000

16000

20000

24000

28000

MVRNRG

Year CE

Popu

latio

n

The Village Ecodynamics Project:Average Agricultural Yields A.D. 600–1300

(Image Courtesy Kyle Bocinsky)

Annual Maize Productivity A.D. 600–1300:The Village Ecodynamics Project

(Image Courtesy Kyle Bocinsky)

American Indian Partnerships:The PFP Planning Meeting

Harold Polingyumptewa and Paul Ermigiotti

The Pueblo Farming Project

Hopi Farmers Provide the Seed for Planting

Hopi Farmers

Lee WayneLomayestewa

OwenNumkena

LeighKuwanwisiwma

MorganSaufkie

Ahkima Honyumptewa

Donald DawahongnewaRonald Wadsworth

HaroldPolyingyumptewa

RaleighPuhuyaoma

StewartKoyiyumptewa

Location of Experimental Gardens

The Check Dam Garden

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Range VEP

Average VEP

Average PFP

Yiel

d: K

ilogr

ams/

Hec

tare

Comparing VEP Computer Estimateswith PFP Actual Yields:

Aggregated Data

VEP Related Education Products:NSF-CRPA Grant and Other VEP Funding

• Exhibits at the new History Colorado Center in Denver

• New online, distance-learning VEP educational product

• Educational computer game focused on Pueblo farming practices

History Colorado MuseumNSF-CRPA Grant to Develop Exhibits

Publications for theProfession and the Public