A Preliminary Analysis of Burial Clusters at the Grasshopper Site, East Central Arizona

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Abstract
From 1963–66 almost 200 human burials, in 7 clusters, were recovered at Grasshopper, a 14th century pueblo in east central Arizona. The burials and associated grave offerings are the data for this study. Considerable variability was observed among the clusters. Three possible causes were considered: sampling error, temporal and social factors. Sampling error was dismissed because the size of the burial population remains unknown, and the sample used was the maximum available. Temporal factors were insignificant. Grasshopper was occupied for about a century, too short a period to explain the variation as due to change through time. Two different kinds of cemeteries were defined which could accomodate all of the original burial clusters. The first were common cemeteries located in trash mounds peripheral to the site. The second was an area of high status burials associated with the Plaza in the western unit of the site. Using analogies drawn from modern Western Pueblo society, a model was generated for the social structure of Grasshopper. Social units based on each one of the following were considered: kinship, territoriality, sodalities and stratification. Evidence for the first 3 categories was scanty; evidence for social stratification was abundant. It suggests that status was ascribed at birth through membership in kin groupings.

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