ABSTRACT
More than 20 years ago, Heizer published an article entitled, “Physical Analysis of Habitation Residues,” in which he summarized half a century of efforts to interpret plant and animal remains. Because of the clarity of the Guila Naquitz living floors, rodent burrows were extremely easy to recognize. In addition, some plants showed evidence of human food preparation that ruled out introduction by animals. Some rodents did make burrows in the cave, and their burrowing occasionally moved small plant remains from upper levels to lower levels. Wild onions were pulled up by the roots, and some might have been eaten on the spot. Maguey is a plant whose harvest and processing produce several different kinds of archaeological remains. There is one additional set of studies the people would like to have but do not: an input-output analysis comparing the calories and protein expended to procure the Guila Naquitz foods with the calories and protein obtained from them.
